Dillenburg's fourth nod leads Storm all-conference selections

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Senior midfielder Nicole Dillenburg collected first team all-conference accolades for the fourth time, leading six Simpson representatives on the the 2011 All-Iowa Conference Women's Soccer Team, as announced by the conference office Thursday.

Senior midfielder Katherine Bird and junior defender Kara Lovik earned second team honors while junior defenders Chelsea Winegard and Susan Leslie and junior goalkeeper Megan Petersen were honorable mention nods.

Wartburg's Katy Wendt brought home the leauge's Most Valuable Player award while Loras' Dan Rothert garnered Coach of the Year honors. Click here for the complete 2011 All-Iowa Conference Women's Soccer Team.

Dillenburg became one of only nine four-time, first team all-IIAC picks in confernce history. The Urbandale, Iowa-product and catalyst of the Simpson attack tied for the team lead with eight goals on the year. She finished her career with 34 goals, sixth on Simpson's all-time list. She connected on at least eight goals in each of her four seasons.

Dillenburg's running mate in the middle, Bird picked up her second, second team all-conference award. The Iowa City, Iowa native led the team with 24 points and eight assists. She tied for the team lead with eight goals, netting three game-winners.

Lovik makes her first appearance on an all-conference team. Out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Lovik started all 21 games and anchored a Simpson back line which ranked fourth in conference play with a 1.48 goals against average.

Winegard (Muscatine, Iowa), who also earned honorable mention honors in 2010, started all 21 games for the Storm as a defender. Leslie (Long Grove, Iowa) set up Dillenburg and Bird as a pivotal part of the Simpson attack. Petersen (Indianola, Iowa), a 2009 first team all-conference pick, ranked fifth in the conference with a 1.46 goals against average. She made 83 saves on the year.

The Storm and second-year head coach Ryan Sander went 13-6-2 in 2011, advancing to the Iowa Conference Tournament Semifinals. Simpson went 5-3 in league play, finishing tied for third.