Northwestern University Athletics
Trio of Wildcats Earn Preseason Big Ten Honors
8/13/2018 10:35:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern seniors Marisa Viggiano, Kayla Sharples and Hannah Davison were named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List, the conference announced Monday morning.
All three Wildcats are coming off of all-conference selections last season, when Northwestern finished second in the Big Ten, advanced to the final of the Big Ten Tournament, and made the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year.
Viggiano was named to the All-Big Ten first team last season for assisting on eight goals while scoring two. This is the second preseason honor for the senior midfielder, who already landed on the Mac Hermann Trophy watch list, given to the most outstanding player in collegiate soccer.
Sharples also received an All-Big Ten first team selection last season for anchoring a defense that posted 11 shutouts and notching three goals and three assists. This is the second straight year Sharples has earned a spot on the Preseason Big Ten Honors List.
Davison was named to the All-Big Ten third team for being a foundational piece of the Wildcats' vaunted defense, and chipping in two goals and two assists in attack. Like Sharples, she has made her way onto her second straight Preseason Big Ten Honors List.
In the preseason coaches' poll conducted by the conference, Northwestern was picked to finish fourth, behind Penn State, Ohio State, and Rutgers.
The Wildcats finished second in the Big Ten last season and took home a share of the conference title in 2016.
Northwestern opens its season officially this Friday with a trip to Bloomington, Ind. to face Miami of Ohio at 3:30 p.m. before facing Wake Forest at the same site on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
All three Wildcats are coming off of all-conference selections last season, when Northwestern finished second in the Big Ten, advanced to the final of the Big Ten Tournament, and made the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year.
Viggiano was named to the All-Big Ten first team last season for assisting on eight goals while scoring two. This is the second preseason honor for the senior midfielder, who already landed on the Mac Hermann Trophy watch list, given to the most outstanding player in collegiate soccer.
Sharples also received an All-Big Ten first team selection last season for anchoring a defense that posted 11 shutouts and notching three goals and three assists. This is the second straight year Sharples has earned a spot on the Preseason Big Ten Honors List.
Davison was named to the All-Big Ten third team for being a foundational piece of the Wildcats' vaunted defense, and chipping in two goals and two assists in attack. Like Sharples, she has made her way onto her second straight Preseason Big Ten Honors List.
In the preseason coaches' poll conducted by the conference, Northwestern was picked to finish fourth, behind Penn State, Ohio State, and Rutgers.
The Wildcats finished second in the Big Ten last season and took home a share of the conference title in 2016.
Northwestern opens its season officially this Friday with a trip to Bloomington, Ind. to face Miami of Ohio at 3:30 p.m. before facing Wake Forest at the same site on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
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