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On Thursday, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference announced that
Aimee Wronski was selected by the league as the Newcomer of the Year and an All-NSIC First Team forward. The honor was the first for Wronski since transferring to Upper Iowa from Illinois State last January.
Kelsey Taldone,
Madie Edwards and
Amanda Millard were also on the list. Taldone picked up a second team selection making it back-to-back years for the senior on the All-NSIC team, while it was the first award for Edwards and Millard. Edwards, who finished second on the team in scoring, earned a third team selection while Millard picked up honorable mention honors following her senior year.
"We're pleased that these four young ladies were recognized for their hard work this season," Head Coach
Brian Diaz said. "As much as this is an individual accomplishment, it's also a team award. It truly was a collective team effort to get to the point where we are as a team and a program. While these players were important to us, it's the team that allows them to shine. We're proud of these four special ladies and we are proud of this team."
Wronski scored a team-high and an NSIC second-best 11 goals this season in 15 conference matches. She had three multi-goal games against NSIC foes and led the Peacocks to a school-record 12 wins in NSIC play. The junior played in and started all 15 NSIC games for UIU and averaged .73 goals per game taking a total of 72 shots, which was second most in the Northern Sun. Wronski also finished tied for first in game-winning goals with 6 and tied for fifth in the conference with a team-high 6 assists. The Huntley, Illinois native earned a .528 shots-on-goal percentage and totaled 28 points against league opponents in 2013. Wronski totaled a season-high five points twice this year scoring two goals and adding an assist against the Huskies of St. Cloud State on Sept. 22 and most recently against the Wildcats of Wayne State on Oct. 27.
"Aimee has obviously had a fantastic season," Diaz said. "We think this Newcomer of the Year award is very appropriate for her and she deserves it. All year long she has been a dangerous player on the field for us and she has made our team better. Her teammates have helped Aimee rack up those kinds of numbers, but she's also been a great finisher. We're very happy with her performance and we hope there's more to come in the postseason."
Taldone is another native of Illinois who has spent the last four seasons on the Peacocks backline as a leader on one of the top defenses in the Northern Sun. Last season, Taldone was named an All-NSIC Third Team selection and an NSCAA All-Region Third Team performer. This year, she picked up second team honors after playing in 14 conference games and making nine starts. Taldone earned a career-high three assists during her final season in a Peacock uniform. With the help of her teammates, Taldone led the defense to eight shutouts while allowing just 18 goals.
"Kelsey is a true leader in every sense of the word, "Diaz said. "She's so vital for us on that backline. Even in the matches she wasn't able to participate in, she was so vocal and took such a commanding lead that she was able to make a difference. She brings a lot of energy to our team, but she can also bring a quiet sense of confidence and calm. Kelsey has great intangible leadership skills and that really makes for an outstanding player on and off the field."
After finishing second on the team with 9 goals in NSIC play, Edwards was named a Third-Team All-Conference selection. Like Taldone, Edwards is another Crystal Lake, Illinois native who played in all 15 conference matches while making 12 starts. Edwards burst on the scene on Sept. 22 against St. Cloud State when she racked up two goals and an assist against the Huskies. Edwards finished tied for sixth in the NSIC in points (23), tied for fifth in goals (9) and tied for seventh with 5 assists. Edwards may have had a slow start to the 2013 season, but in the month of October the sophomore midfielder scored five goals and added three assists.
"Madie has been a player who has shown potential from day one," Diaz said. "After a bit of a slow start to the season, she has really poured it on as of late. She's been a vital part to the success of our team and that's credit to her teammates as well. They have put her in a spot to capitalize on those opportunities and she's done that. She has been a bright spot over the last month and we feel like Madie is close to reaching her full potential. We're excited for her, not only in this postseason, but over the next two years as well."
Entering her final year at Upper Iowa, Millard stepped up big for the Peacocks early and often. The Madison, Wisconsin native scored three goals and added an assist in 2013 en route to an Honorable Mention selection. She then found the back of the net twice in the team's first two games before scoring again on October 27 against Wayne State in a 5-0 victory at home. Playing at the defensive center-mid position, Millard took just 12 shots in conference play, five of those on frame, but controlled the middle of the field transitioning from offense to defense at a moment's notice. She also earned her only assist of the season against an NSIC foe as the Peacocks defeated Northern State 3-0 on October 5. Millard played in and started 14 of the Peacocks 15 conference games in 2013.
"Millard is a bit of an under-the-radar type of kid," Diaz said. "She is an absolute workhorse in the center of the park for us. She might not catch your eye at first, but she does all the little things that make a difference for your team. She's the engine for the midfield and you can tell when she's on the field and when she isn't. Amanda is a tremendous leader and she's done a great job doing the things that don't necessarily show up on the stat sheet at the end of games. We were really happy that she was awarded for her efforts this season."
