Northwestern University Athletics
Three Wildcats Receive Big Ten Conference Honors
11/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 2, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill.-- The Big Ten conference today announced its 2005 Women's Soccer All-Big Ten selections with three Wildcats receiving honors. Senior forward Tabitha Lowey (Peachtree City, Ga./Mcintosh) was named to the All-Big Ten second team while freshman defender Laura Janowitsch (Grafton, Wis./Grafton) earned a spot on the All-Freshman team. Senior forward/midfielder Julie Lipinski (Tinley Park, Ill./Marion Catholic) received the Big Ten Sportsmanship honor for the 'Cats.
Lowey's honor marks the 12th-consecutive year Northwestern has placed at least one member on the Big Ten's first and/or second teams and is the 10th All-Big Ten selection in head coach Jenny Haigh's tenure. Janowitsch becomes just the fourth Wildcat to receive All-Freshman team honors.
Lowey finished tied for the team lead with six goals, ranking among the top 10 in the conference in goals and shots. The Georgia native was second on the team with 61 shot attempts with 37 on goal for a .607 shot-on-goal percentage. She led the Wildcats with three game-winning goals, including the game-winner in double-overtime against Ohio State Oct. 21. Lowey started 73-of-75 games during her career, including all 57 in the last three seasons. She is currently ninth on NU's all-time goals list with 15 and ninth on the all-time points list with 38. She also is a two-time academic All-Big Ten selection.
"Tabby was an inspiring player this season for us," Haigh said. "Everytime she was on the field she made something happen. She always wanted the ball, wanted to take responsibility, wanted to get it back when we lost it and always wanted to beat her opponent. She was a handful for our opponents' defense every minute of every game and had a special competitive spirit that simply elevated her play and inspired all of us."
Janowitsch established herself as one of the top youngsters in the Big Ten in her first season. She started all 19 games in her freshman campaign in the Wildcat backfield, helping the Wildcats record four shutouts in 2005. Janowitsch also tallied her first career assist in the 4-1 win at Texas Tech Sept. 2.
"LJ is certainly one of our best backs," Haigh said. "She's a tremendous one-on-one defender, is patient, quick and tough and has a wonderful sense of timing when she tackles. She consistently shut down so many attackers that she was matched up with and is an excellent competitor. She did a great job this year."
Lipinski receives the Big Ten sportsmanship award for Northwestern after starting 61 of 71 career games. This year Lipinski recorded two goals and one assist and had one goal and one assist for three points at Texas Tech Sept. 2. She took 16 shots, 12 on goal for a .750 shot-on-goal percentage. Lipinski also helped the Wildcats record four shutouts in 2005 and was a 2004 Academic All-Big Ten selection.
"Julie has truly exemplified good sportsmanship in her four years at Northwestern," Haigh said. "She has such a tremendous work ethic, such integrity on the field and in her approach to training, respect for the game of soccer and respect for her opponents. She has an amazing attitude of positive and selfless giving for the good of the team, but has a heart of a lion on the field. She is a tremendous diplomat for our program, the conference and the competitive nature of Big Ten women's soccer."
Northwestern's season came to a close with a 9-9-1 record overall with a 2-7-1 mark in the Big Ten, missing the Big Ten Tournament by one game. The young 'Cats will surely be a team to be reckoned with in 2006 as they return 10 starters and 80 percent of their scoring.
Big Ten Specialty Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Tiffany Weimer (Penn State)
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Christen Karniski (Illinois), Lindsay Bach (Penn State)
Freshman of the Year: Jessica Okoroafo (Purdue)
Coach of the Year: Paula Wilkins (Penn State)
