Five Grizzlies garner post season awards
Five Butler soccer players were recognized on a conference level late last week for their efforts this season being named to the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference All-Conference teams.
Ellie MacDonald and Maggie Koster were voted on as first team members while Natalie Amaya, Iyanla Bailey Williams and Maizi Gardwood picked up second team honors.
The Grizzlies came alive late in the season making a post season run winning three straight Region VI games over Cowley, Hutchinson and Barton to win their 10th Region VI crown along with punching their ticket to the teams eighth NJCAA Division I National Tournament.
FIRST TEAM:
Ellie MacDonald, freshman defender from Scotland, was instrumental through the season but played a major part in the Grizzlies post season run assisting, scoring or both during the Region VI tournament. MacDonald finished the season with four goals, three assists and 11 total points. Although MacDonald was tied for second on the team in goals scored at four, she was a big part of the Butler defense that held posted five shutouts on the season and just a 1.45 goal against average this season.
Maggie Koster, freshman goalkeeper from Wichita, KS, was a rock in goal for the Grizzlies this season starting 15 games recording three shutouts. Koster played a total of 1278:20 minutes this season allowing just 25 goals against her. She finished the season with 70 saves with a .737 save percentage. Koster had a game high nine saves in two contests this season, one against Barton and the other in the National Tournament against Salt Lake.
SECOND TEAM:
Natalie Amaya, freshman forward from Wichita, KS, led the Grizzlies in assists this season with five and was second in scoring with four goals. Amaya started 17 games this year as a freshman totaling 20 shots. Amaya was one of the Grizzlies biggest threats this season on the offensive side of the ball with her breakaway speed that could slip behind the defenders in a hurry. Amaya set up the go-ahead goal in the Region VI Championship with her assist to Wolecki that gave Butler the 2-1 advantage late in the second half.
Iyanla Bailey Williams, freshman forward from Puerto Rico, was one of the Grizzlies most consistent players on the field much of the season. Williams, while scoring just one goal on the season, was able to set up several opportunities offensively for the Grizzlies with her tenacious knack for finding the ball. Williams was relentless at mid-field winning a number of 50/50 balls keeping the ball on the Grizzlies half and stopping momentum of the opposing teams.
Maizi Garwood, sophomore middle from England, while just playing in 10 games this season due to an injury, made her presence known on the field. Garwood played her midfield position relentlessly winning the ball more often than not to keep it with her offense. Garwood did chalk up an assist this season but was unable to score in her six attempts.
This marks the 10th season in a row where the Grizzlies have had five or more players make the All-KJCCC list.