CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) announced the 2023 Women’s Soccer All-Conference and marquee awards winners on Thursday.
For the second year in a row, Hanover College’s
Beth Cook (Goshen, Ind.) earned the title of Offensive Player of the Year after a dominant fall that saw the junior earn five offensive athlete of the week titles. Cook registered an impressive 22 goals on the season, to go with eight assists, dominating the league in the point category with 56. During the season, Cook fired off 126 shots in 2023, with 78 on goal, helping lead the Panthers to the regular season title, unbeaten in HCAC play.
Mount St. Joseph University picked up a runner-up finish in the regular season to go with a pair of post-season accolades.
Vivian Willis (Cincinnati, Ohio) was voted as the Defensive Player of the Year, while teammate
Mckenzie Schneeman (Cincinnati, Ohio) Midfield Player of the Year award. Willis helped lead the Lions defense that allowed the seven goals in conference play and 18 goals in 18 games, overall. The senior played in 1,368 minutes this season.
This is the second season the HCAC has recognized a Midfield Player of the Year, with Mount St. Joseph's Schneeman snagging the honor. The junior worked both sides of the field for the Lions, with over 980 minutes of play in 2023, playing in 18 games and starting in 16. She also added four goals and four assists for 12 points.
Lilia Steen (Lexington, Ky.) was named the 2023 HCAC Newcomer of the Year. The HCAC recognizes an individual in their first year of athletic participation who is a standout on the field. Steen was in the top-10 list of HCAC performers in league play in shots (12) and shots on goal (6) and ended the season with eight starts.
James Watts led the Panthers to the No. 1 seed following an unbeaten regular season, with a 8-0-1 mark. Watts was named the 2023 HCAC Coach of the Year in a vote of league coaches, after posting a 13-1-4 overall record.
Offensive Player of the Year – Beth Cook, Hanover College
Defensive Player of the Year – Vivian Willis, Mount St. Joseph University
Midfielder of the Year - Mckenzie Schneeman, Mount St. Joseph University
Newcomer of the Year – Lilia Steen, Transylvania University
Coach of the Year – James Watts, Hanover College
The HCAC also honors an All-Conference First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention team. The members of those teams are selected by a vote of league coaches and are listed below.
All Conference First Team
| Name |
POS |
Institution |
| Lauren Barker |
MF |
Franklin College |
| Kate Bettner |
D |
Hanover College |
| Beth Cook |
F |
Hanover College |
| Megan Foder |
D |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Maggie Hinegardner |
GK |
Hanover College |
| Nora Ludwig |
MF |
Hanover College |
| Kerigan Pollard |
F |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Audrey Rawls |
MF |
Transylvania University |
| Jostin Reeves |
F |
Hanover College |
| Mckenzie Schneeman |
MF |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Lilia Steen |
D |
Transylvania University |
| Isabella White |
F |
Transylvania University |
| Vivian Willis |
D |
Mount St. Joseph University |
All Conference Second Team
| Name |
POS |
Institution |
| Paige Adams |
MF |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Maddi Benjamin |
F |
Transylvania University |
| Hannah Caes |
D |
Anderson University |
| Lillie Casey |
MF |
Anderson University |
| Lily Dore |
GK |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Kyra Hicks |
F |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Lauren Marquardt |
MF |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Nina McGinn |
F |
Bluffton University |
| Anhely Montes |
F |
Anderson University |
| Kinsey Price |
D |
Franklin College |
| Molly Sheridan |
D |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Hailey Stowe |
D |
Hanover College |
| Erin Terry |
MF |
Hanover College |
All Conference Honorable Mention
| Name |
POS |
Institution |
| Mary Anhofer |
MF |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Mackenzie Buckler |
D |
Transylvania University |
| Jada Carter |
D |
Manchester University |
| Kaitlyn Hewitt |
D |
Franklin College |
| Makayla Hurey |
GK |
Earlham College |
| Alyssa Kester |
F |
Bluffton University |
| Kiana Martin |
MF |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Sarah O’Shea |
GK |
Defiance College |
| Grace Papazoglou |
F |
Manchester University |
| Isa Slone |
D |
Earlham College |
| McKenna Walker |
D |
Defiance College |
| Mandy Williams |
MF |
Anderson University |
For more information on HCAC Women's Soccer, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.