(Posted November 10, 2003)

Huntingdon, Pa. ? Five players from the Juniata College women?s soccer team have been chosen as All-Conference performers, as voted by the league?s eight head coaches. In the previous nine seasons of Juniata soccer, the Eagles have placed just two players on the All-Conference teams, with one player having earned a spot each of the past two seasons.

Junior defender Emily Endres (Warren/Warren) is joined on the All-Conference second team by a trio of sophomores, Nikki McLellan (Parkland/Hanover), Amy Tyler (Altoona/Altoona), Desiree Wagner (Harbor Creek/Erie) along with freshman Kelly Howard (Johnstown/Johnstown). McLellan, who earned second-team All-Conference recognition last season, is the only player in Juniata women?s soccer history to be named an All-Conference performer twice.

McLellan led the Eagles in both points and assists with 25 and 11 respectively, both of which established new Juniata records. The sophomore striker also set a new Juniata record for points in a game when she scored three goals and added four assists in a win over Mount Aloysius. She registered at least one point in eight of Juniata?s 19 games. She had seven goals to go along with her 11 assists.

Tyler led the Juniata team with eight goals, was second in points with 19 and was tied for second in assists with three. Tyler scored goals in bunches in 2003 as she had three games in which she scored two goals. Two of those games came in a three-game stretch where she scored five goals and passed out two assists, good for twelve points in three games. She has now scored 11 goals in just two seasons of collegiate soccer.

Wagner was a key part of the Juniata offense and defense from her midfield position. She scored possibly the biggest goal of the season for Juniata when she netted the game-winning goal in an overtime victory over conference opponent Susquehanna. It marked the first time in the program?s history that the Eagles had topped the Crusaders. She also assisted on Juniata?s lone goal in a 1-1 draw against Albright in a conference match. Wagner finished the season with three goals and one assist.

Endres and Howard helped anchor a Juniata defense that held opponents to less than a two goals per game during the season. The Eagle defense was particularly strong over the final month of the season as Juniata made a late push for a conference postseason spot. The Eagles held opponents to a goal or less in eight of their final 11 games, including six shutouts. For the season, the Blue and Gold recorded seven shutouts and held opponents to a goal or less in eleven contests. Endres also added two assists on the year. Howard becomes the third freshman in three seasons to earn All-Conference honors for Juniata.

The Eagles finished the 2003 season with a record of 7-10-2 and a 1-4-2 mark in conference play. It marked the second time in two seasons that Juniata has recorded seven wins, which broke the previous record for wins in a season by an Eagle soccer team. The past three seasons have been successful seasons in Juniata women?s soccer history and have all come under the direction of fourth-year head coach Scott McKenzie.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.