Posted: Nov 13, 2024

Nine players earn all-conference honors, Schneider named Rookie of the Year

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Simpson College women's soccer team had nine players recognized on the 2024 All-American Rivers Conference Team, including inaugural Rookie of the Year winner Savannah Schneider.

Simpson's record number of all-conference honorees includes five first team performers in Meredith Downs, Maddie Hays, Hailey Kowzan, Cassie Nash and Julia Wagoner. Honorable mention accolades went to Jordyn Foelske, Ally Hoffa, Savannah Schneider and Elle Street.

Schneider's Rookie of the Year award extends Simpson's streak to three years of players receiving major conference honors. Julia Wagoner was Defensive MVP in 2023, while Cassie Nash earned Offensive MVP in 2022.

The Storm continued their dominance in conference play this season, going 7-1 against A-R-C opponents for the second straight year. Simpson ranked second across several key categories: goals (29), assists (20), corner kicks (75), goals against average (0.38), and goals allowed (3).

With an overall record of 14-2-3, the Storm now head to St. Louis for the NCAA playoffs, where they will face Wis.-La Crosse (16-3-2) in the first round at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Meredith Downs, First Team

Sophomore goalkeeper from Johnston, Iowa
Earns her first all-conference recognition
Ranks second in the league with a .854 overall goals against average
Allowed just three goals in conference play for a .601 goals against average
Made 13 saves in those games and 58 throughout the season thus far
Heads into the NCAA postseason with a 12-2-3 record

Maddie Hays, First Team

Senior defender from Erie, Colo.
Earns her first all-conference award
Played over 1600 minutes on defense, helping Simpson to a 0.75 goals against average
Went a perfect 5-for-5 in penalty kicks, converting two in conference play
Scored the game-winning goal at Wartburg
Assisted the gamewinner against Dubuque
Named A-R-C Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 14

Hailey Kowzan, First Team

Fifth-year midfielder from Pella, Iowa
Earns her third straight all-conference award
Registered career-high assists (11) and points (23)
Scored six goals, including four across four straight games
Ranked second in the conference in total assists and third with six assists in league play
Had the fourth-most points in A-R-C action (14)

Cassie Nash, First Team

Senior forward from Lincoln, Neb.
Earns her fifth career all-conference honor
Leads the A-R-C with 19 goals and 46 points thus far
Tied for the conference lead with eight goals against A-R-C opponents
Had the most game-winning goals (3) and second-most points (18) in league play
Recorded a hat trick at Central, contributing to a six-game scoring streak
Registered at least one point in all but four games this season
Named A-R-C Athlete of the Week and Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 30

Julia Wagoner, First Team

Fifth-year midfielder from Council Bluffs, Iowa
Earns her second straight all-conference recognition
Played over 1500 minutes on defense, helping Simpson to a 0.75 goals against average
Contributed a goal in Simpson's 3-1 win over Dubuque
Recorded two assists, including one in the A-R-C Semifinals against Wartburg
Anchored the Storm defense to shutouts over Luther, Buena Vista, Neb. Wesleyan, Wartburg and Coe during conference season

Jordyn Foelske, Honorable Mention

Junior forward from Denver, Iowa
Named honorable mention for the second year in a row
Registered career-high assists (6) and points (16)
Had back-to-back games with three points against Buena Vista and Neb. Wesleyan
Scored the game-winning goal against the Prairie Wolves
Named A-R-C Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 16

Ally Hoffa, Honorable Mention

Sophomore midfielder from Des Moines, Iowa
Registered 11 points in over 1,000 minutes
Scored the game-winning goal against Buena Vista along with three other goals in nonconference play
Provided assists in wins over Dubuque and Central

Savannah Schneider, Honorable Mention & Rookie of the Year

Freshman forward from Hudson, Iowa
Earns the conference's inaugural Rookie of the Year award
Found the back of the net four times in her debut season
Scored in three consecutive games, recording braces against Luther and Buena Vista
Came off the bench and played over 600 minutes
Named A-R-C Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 14

Elle Street, Honorable Mention

Junior defender from Ankeny, Iowa
Leads the team with 1638 minutes played thus far
Has helped Simpson to a 0.75 goals against average overall
Scored a go-ahead goal against Loras in the A-R-C Championship
Anchored the Storm defense to shutouts over Luther, Buena Vista, Neb. Wesleyan, Wartburg and Coe during conference season