Northwestern University Athletics
NU Takes Three of Four Major ALC Awards
5/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
May 11, 2005
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EVANSTON, Ill. - The American Lacrosse Conference named its all-conference teams and handed out its major awards, and not surprisingly the No. 1-ranked Northwestern women -- ALC champions at 6-0 -- were well-represented.
Sophomore Kristen Kjellman was named the ALC Player of the Year, following up on her Rookie of the Year honor from last season. Kjellman is Northwestern's second-leading scorer this season, with a team-high 48 goals and 31 assists for 79 points. Her points-per-game average (4.94) is third nationally. In ALC play, Kjellman had 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points, again second among Wildcat players.
Senior goalie Ashley Gersuk capped off a stellar four-year career by earning the ALC's Goalie of the Year honor. Gersuk played nearly 300 minutes in conference play and boasted an incredible 4.15 goals-against average. Overall, Gersuk has a 5.92 GAA which leads the nation. Earlier this season, she became the program's all-time saves leader; currently her career total stands at 508 including 86 this season.
Finally, head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller was named ALC Coach of the Year for the second-straight season, not a surprise given the success her 'Cats had in 2005. Northwestern not only went unbeaten in conference play, the Wildcats also broke their own ALC record for goals (98) and shattered the mark for fewest goals allowed (28). Overall, NU is 17-0 -- the only unbeaten team in the nation -- heading into Thursday afternoon's NCAA Championship first-round game with Mount St. Mary's.
Kjellman and Gersuk also earned first-team All-ALC selection from the conference coaches, and were joined by teammates Lindsey Munday and Courtney Koester to give NU a league-high four first-team honorees.
Munday, a junior, leads the nation in points per game (5.35) and has 91 points overall; she is 11 shy of the school record heading into NCAA Championship play. In ALC action, she led the 'Cats with 21 goals and 14 assists for 35 points. Senior Koester, meanwhile, is among the national leaders in draw controls and has anchored a Northwestern defense that led the nation all season in scoring defense. She was a first-team All-America last year; this season, she joins Munday and Kjellman on the current 18-woman final list for the Tewaaraton Trophy, given annually to the nation's top lacrosse player.
Koester is now a three-time first-team All-ALC pick; Kjellman picked up first-team honors for the second time in as many years; and Gersuk and Munday were so honored for the first time.
Seniors Sarah Albrecht and Ashley Koester -- Courtney's twin sister -- were second-team selections, giving Northwestern six honorees which was more than any other school. Albrecht finished the regular season with 45 points (26 goals, 19 assists), and was the Wildcats' third-leading scorer in ALC play with 25 points. Koester was among the team leaders in all defensive-oriented stats and helped her sister lead the stingy Wildcat D.
NORTHWESTERN'S ALL-ALC HONOREES
Player of the Year
Kristen Kjellman, So.
Goalie of the Year
Ashley Gersuk, Sr.
Coach of the Year
Kelly Amonte Hiller
First Team All-ALC
Ashley Gersuk, Sr.
Kristen Kjellman, So.
Courtney Koester, Sr.
Lindsey Munday, Jr.
Second Team All-ALC
Sarah Albrecht, Sr./Jr.
Ashley Koester, Sr.
