Northwestern University Athletics
Koester, Kjellman Earn IWLCA All-America Honors
6/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
June 1, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) announced its 2004 All-America Teams, and Northwestern was represented by two players on the second team -- senior Courtney Koester and freshman Kristen Kjellman.
Koester and Kjellman are the first two Wildcat players to earn such honors since the program was returned to varsity status in 2002.
Courtney Koester helped anchor a Wildcat back line that finished first in the ALC and fifth nationally in scoring defense. One of the Wildcats' tri-captains, she started all 18 games and earned first-team All-ALC for the second straight season. Koester led NU and finished third in the ALC with 45 draw controls, and tied twin sister Ashley with a team-high 20 caused turnovers. Recently, she was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team in the women's at-large category; she has another season of eligibility remaining, and plans to return for the 2005 campaign.
Kristen Kjellman, who was the only freshman to make any of the All-America Teams, was also the American Lacrosse Conference (ALC) Rookie of the Year and first-team All-ALC selection. She led NU with 53 goals (6th on NU's single-season list) and 17 assists (7th) for her 70 points (5th), finishing fourth in the ALC in regular-season goals scored and fifth in regular-season scoring. She was also second on the team and sixth in the ALC in draw controls. Kjellman recorded 13 multi-goal games, including a team-high nine with three or more goals, and had a hat trick in eight of NU's last 12 contests. She led all scorers in both of NU's NCAA Tournament games, with four points (3g, 1a) in the first round vs. Notre Dame and eight points (5g, 3a) in the quarterfinal round at Virginia.
"There are a lot of great lacrosse players out there now in college, and it is so hard to receive All-America of any sort," said NU head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. "However, I really feel Kristen and Courtney are deserving of this award. It says a lot that Kristen's efforts during her freshman year were recognized by the coaches around the country. That is a real accomplishment."
In addition to their national recognition, both Koester and Kjellman were recognized regionally by receiving first-team Regional All-America (Mid-Atlantic region). They were joined on the regional teams by four fellow Wildcats who were accorded second-team honors -- junior goalkeeper Ashley Gersuk, sophomore Laura Glassanos, senior Ashley Koester (twin sister of Courtney) and sophomore Lindsey Munday.
"I was really excited to see that happen," said Amonte Hiller. "We have not had any regional All-America players in the first two years, so to get six this season really spoke to the jump we made as a program. Other coaches recognized that we had players who can play with anyone."
2004 IWLCA/US LACROSSE ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
First Team
Attack
Amy Appelt, JR, Virginia
Michelle Allen, SR, Vanderbilt
Lindsay Biles, JR, Princeton
Meredith Simon, SR, Notre Dame
Lana Smith, SR, Dartmouth
Leigh-Ann Zimmer, SR, Syracuse
Midfield
Kelly Coppedge, SR, Maryland
Gail Decker, SR, James Madison
Heidi Pearce, SR, Johns Hopkins
Elizabeth Pillion, JR, Princeton
Teresa Sherry, SR, Princeton
Miles Whitman, SR, Yale
Defense
Michi Ellers, SR, Georgetown
Nikki Lieb, SO, Virginia
Katie Norbury, SR, Princeton
Goalkeeper
Elizabeth Tortorelli, JR, Penn State
Second Team
Attack
Caitlin Banks, SR, Virginia
Jessica Burnap, JR, New Hampshire
Delia Cox, SO, Maryland
Rachel Schuck, JR, Loyola
Midfield
Kristen Kjellman, FR, Northwestern
Gloria Lozano, SR, Georgetown
Meg Miller, SR, Duke
Jess Rogusky, SR, Vanderbilt
Defense
Jess Beard, SR, James Madison
Bridget Eder, JR, Hofstra
Andrea Kinnick, SR, Notre Dame
Courtney Koester, SR, Northwestern
Tara Singleton, SR, Loyola
Rowan Smith, SR, Dartmouth
Meghan Walters, SR, Duke
Goalkeeper
Meg Dentler, JR, George Mason
Third Team
Attack
Sydney Green, SO, Loyola
Monica Joines, JR, Syracuse
Sophie Melniker, SR, Yale
Sarah Oliphant, JR, Georgetown
Lauren Peck, SR, Vanderbilt
Midfield
Beth Ames, SR, North Carolina
Katie Chrest, SO, Duke
Regina Oliver, JR, Ohio State
Abby Owen, SR, Notre Dame
Suzanne Wosczyna, SR, Old Dominion
Defense
Janique Craig, SR, Penn State
Jennifer Kessel, SR, Yale
Bridget Morris, SR, Vanderbilt
Greta Sommers, JR, Maryland
Goalkeeper
Devon Wills, SO, Dartmouth
