Des Moines, Ia. – The Midwest Collegiate Conference has announced it women’s soccer All-Conference honors. Twenty-nine athletes were recognized as part of the All-Conference Teams as voted by the coaches; fourteen to the First Team and fifteen to the Honorable Mention Team.

For the second consecutive year, St. Ambrose University senior forward Amanda Wilford (Eldridge, Ia.) was voted as the MCC Player of the Year. In conference play, Wilford led the MCC in nearly every offensive category in 2007: shots (56), shots per game (6.22), goals (12), goals per game (1.33), points (25), and points per game (2.78). She was named the MCC Player of the Week twice and the Region VII Player of the Week once.

“Amanda will be the first to receive this award in back to back seasons, and she receives this award humbly and with admiration and praise for her teammates,” said St. Ambrose head coach Jon Mannall.

“Amanda has grown to become a team leader and captain and has built upon the honors she received in 2006, guiding her team to an undefeated conference season and postseason championship. She has proven once again that she is amongst the elite athletes in the region. As the returning MCC Player of the Year, she was a marked player by every opponent we faced and to reproduce the numbers and performances that she did in 2006 is quite remarkable and demonstrates why she is being recognized with this award for her achievements,” added Mannall.

Grand View College freshman defender Bailey Martin (Ankeny, Ia.) was deemed the MCC New Comer of the Year. Martin was an integral part of the Grand View defense that recorded nine shutouts this season (six consecutive) and experienced a nine-game unbeaten streak. Martin earned the MCC and Region VII Player of the Week honor in October.

St. Ambrose head coach Jon Mannall was selected by his peers as the MCC Coach of the Year. In his third year at the helm of the Queen Bees, Mannall led his team to a 6-1 MCC record and the MCC regular season and tournament titles. St. Ambrose received an automatic bid to semifinals of the NAIA Region VII tournament.

"The SAU Athletic Department would like to congratulate Coach Mannall on his Coach of the Year Award. The young ladies have experienced an outstanding season under the direction of Coach Mannall and his staff. It is nice that all the hard work, dedication and commitment of Coach Mannall and his staff is recognized. Much deserved,” said St. Ambrose athletic director Ray Shovlain of Mannall’s honor.

2007 Midwest Collegiate All-Conference Women’s Soccer Team

MCC Player of the Year:               Amanda Wilford – St. Ambrose
MCC New Comer of the Year:      Bailey Martin- Grand View
MCC Coach of the Year:               Jon Mannall – St. Ambrose

First Team