Four Warriors from No. 14 Westmont Women’s Soccer (13-6) have been named to the 2011 All-Golden State Athletic Conference team – Junior forward Ashley Correa of Lynnwood, Washington; sophomore defender Alison Hensley of Huntington Beach; junior forward Aolani Rueff of Santa Ynez and sophomore goalkeeper Lindsey Smith of Pleasanton.
Henlsey, along with senior midfielder Samantha Kleen of Menifee, was also recognized as a GSAC Scholar-Athlete.
Correa leads the team in both scoring and assists with nine in each category. Of her 68 shots, 33 have been on goal for a shots-on-goal percentage of .485. She has produced four game-winning goals in Warrior wins over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, The Master’s, #4 Point Loma Nazarene and #19 Concordia.
“Ashley is the one that other coaches and players recognize,” said Westmont head coach Kristi Kiely. “They have a lot of respect for her and she is often double-teamed. What I appreciate most about her contributions this year is the assist category. That is something that she has improved in, I think above our expectations and even her own. She has seen the fruit of her hard work.”
Rueff, one of three team captains, has scored seven goals for the Warriors and tallied two assists. Twenty-six of her 47 shots have found the back of the net, producing a shots-on-goal percentage of .553. She scored game-winners against both McKendree (Ill.) and San Diego Christian.
“Aolani Rueff has worked incredibly hard,” said Kiely. “She is a captain, which in this program is a lot of responsibility. She has carried that title with humility, with grace and with integrity. On the field she has had much more of an impact this year than in her sophomore year. She has grown into herself and matured as a player. Mostly, she has grown in her confidence to go forward 100 percent and have confidence in her abilities.”
Hensley has been a key component in the Warrior defense. She and Smith have helped hold Westmont opponents to just 16 goals this season against 40 for the Warriors. Smith has posted a goals-against-average of 0.87, producing 68 saves and six shutouts. Hensley also has a goal to her credit, scoring on a penalty kick against Fresno Pacific.
“What an anchor in the back for us,” said Kiely referring to Hensley. “What a leader on the team she is. Because of the way she conducts herself both on and off the field, she has the respect of her teammates. She has been consistent in the back through her play, her verbal domination on the field and through the way she leads.”
“I have thought of Lindsey as an All-American prospect from the moment she arrived here,” Said Kiely. “She has grown and developed in her fitness. She has vision and she has confidence that the entire goal box is hers. She has great hands, incredible distribution and enjoys leading from the back. She has been recognized by our conference and nationally as a defensive player of the week.”
Kleen, who is also a captain for the Warriors, has scored two goals and tallied one assist on the field. In the classroom, she has excelled as a biology major. Hensley’s academic success has come as a pre-med major.
“It is no surprise to me that Samantha and Alison would receive the scholar-athlete awards,” said Kiley. “I think they are the epitome of our vision of what a Westmont student-athlete should be. They love the classroom as much as they love the soccer field and recognize that the classroom is where their future is. They see soccer as a bonus, a great gift in which they get to spend time with these 21 other women. They also love the spiritual aspect of Westmont. They are incredibly well balanced.
“I appreciate when outside people recognize our players,” added Kiely. “But we also talk in our program about being one body. We are one body and it is not without all 23 players that those four can be successful. Lindsey wouldn’t deserve it without her back line and Alison wouldn’t deserve it without the rest of her back line. Aolani and Ashley couldn’t be as active without their midfielder and front players. While we appreciate their honors, we know that we must be good in all areas. It takes the entire body for some of us to be recognized.”
The Warriors are in the midst of play in the NAIA National Tournament. After defeating Cal State San Marcos 1-0 in double overtime in an opening round game, Westmont has advanced to the second round where they will face #4 Point Loma Nazarene for the third time this year. All second round and later games will be played at the Jack Allen Recreation Complex in Decatur, Alabama from November 28 through December 3. The Westmont-Point Loma game is scheduled for a four o’clock start on Tuesday, November 29.
