Six Women’s Soccer players named NAIA All-Americans
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kelli Beatty led the NAIA in Goals Against Average in 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  – Kansas Wesleyan University placed six women’s soccer players on the NAIA All-American teams for the 2007 season. All six selections were Honorable Mention selections.

The honorees include Heather Muilenburg, Kathleen Benton, Marisa Brownell, Eliana Parada, Janna Macy and Kelli Beatty.

Muilenburg

Muilenburg, a sophomore forward from Salina, led the Coyotes with 21 goals and 11 assists during the season. She was named KCAC Offensive Player of the Year last month. She finished the season third in the conference in goals per game, scoring 21 times in 24 games for a .88 per game average. Last month she was named First Team NAIA All-Region IV, and earned NAIA Region IV Player of the Year honors, beating out Park’s Maria Ruiz.

Benton

Benton, a junior midfielder from Mission Viejo, Calif., scored 17 goals and tallied 11 assists in helping Wesleyan lead the NAIA in shots per game at 31. The Coyotes also were ranked second in the nation in shots on goal per game at just over 17 per game. She was named as First Team NAIA All-Region IV last month.

Brownell

Brownell, a junior from Mission Viejo, Calif., was part of the Wesleyan defense that leads the NAIA in goals against average at .330. She also had one assist during the season. She earned First Team NAIA All-Region IV honors last month.

Parada, a junior from San Diego had 18 goals and 11 assists on the season. She was a key component of Wesleyan’s offense with her quickness and agility. She set up many plays allowing other scorers such as Benton and Muilenburg to find the net. She was also on the receiving end of many passes. Her 18 goals scored was fourth best in the KCAC this season, and she was also fourth in the KCAC in points per game. She earned First Team NAIA All-Region IV honors last month.

Parada

Macy, a senior midfielder from Covina, Calif., was part of the Coyote offense that scored 92 goals this season. Macy had 13 goals and seven assists. She was a leader on the field, directing the Wesleyan offense and setting up the high powered offense attack. She was also a strong defender, stopping several opponents’ potential attacks in the midfield. She earned First Team NAIA All-Region IV honors last month.

Macy

Beatty, a junior goalkeeper from Diamond Bar, Calif., headed up the stiff Wesleyan defense that allowed only eight goals all season long. Beatty allowed only four goals all season against her in goal. She leads the NAIA in goals against average, allowing .199 goals per 90 minutes. She earned First Team NAIA All-Region IV honors last month.

Wesleyan won its second consecutive regular season KCAC Championship, a third straight KCAC Tournament Title and secured its first ever NAIA National Championship berth with a 3-0 defeat of Park (Mo.) in the regional championship match. It was the first ever berth to the NAIA National Tournament for a women’s team from the KCAC since the National Tournament began in 1984.

Kansas Wesleyan finished its season with a 21-2-1 overall record, and advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Championships, where the Coyotes eventually bowed out to No.4 seeded Concordia (Ore.).

-- KWU SI --