Heelan's Niles headlines All-MRAC girls soccer team
By Jerry GieseJournal sports writer | Posted: Friday, June 20, 2008
Bridgette Niles was a highly decorated player in four seasons of soccer at Bishop Heelan.
She was an honorable mention Missouri River Activities Conference selection as a freshman. She has won first-team honors ever since, combining for 37 goals in the last three seasons.
Niles, a senior midfielder, headlines the MRAC squad selected by the league's head coaches. She was one of four repeat first-teamers, joining North's Sierra Hsieh and Chelsie Stokes along with East's Jaclyn Clark.
North, the MRAC champion, was also represented on the first team by Brittney Schindler, Ashlie Stokes and Kelsey Reitmeier. Heelan's Carli Tritz and Tiffany Hicklin plus West's Brittney Mathison were also among the first-teamers.
Niles scored 10 goals and dished 11 assists for Coach Shawn Mansfield's Crusaders, who capped a 13-4 season by falling 3-2 on penalty kicks to Pella in the first round of the Class 1A state tournament. Niles had two assists in the state tournament loss.
Tritz led the Crusaders with 15 goals and added three assists. The sophomore forward scored her eighth post-season goal in the loss to Pella and has tallied 21 goals and seven assists in the last two seasons.
Hicklin, a sophomore sweeper, was unable to play in the state tournament after tearing her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in a 6-1 win over Denison-Schleswig during the regional final. Hicklin spearheaded a defense that had allowed just six goals heading into the state tournament.
North's defense was even stingier. The MRAC champions gave up just two goals going into the 2A state tournament.
Chelsie Stokes, a junior fullback, won Elite Team All-State honors last year and is a threat for a similar honor this season. She also recorded two goals and one assist for a 12-1 team that fell 3-1 in the first round of the state meet to Johnston.
Schindler, a senior fullback, was unable to participate in post-season play because of an ACL injury that occurred late in the regular season.
Ashlie Stokes, a freshman forward, led Coach Aaron Kolbo's Stars with 13 goals and added one assist. She scored one goal in each of the team's post-season games.
Reitmeier, a senior forward, collected six goals and three assists.
Hsieh, a starting midfielder for last year's state tournament squad, supplied five goals and one assist.
Clark, a junior fullback, topped an East defense that allowed 14 goals and posted six shutouts.
Mathison, a senior goalkeeper who will play next year at Iowa Central Community College, recorded 267 saves for the Wolverines.
Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson was represented on the first team by senior forward Jamie Swotek and sophomore midfielder Courtney Ruff. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln senior midfielder Alex Bennett rounded off the first team.
Senior midfielders Sally Williams represented North on the second team along with sophomore forward Taylor Hatting and sophomore defender Rhiannon Hainds.
Kirsten Gobell, a freshman forward who scored her 14th goal of the season in the loss to Pella, is one of Heelan's second-teamers along with senior midfielder Hannah Maly.
Freshman forward Payton Pry and freshman defender Corrine Villim from East made the second team along with West senior midfielder Alex Lohry.
The second team also included three from Thomas Jefferson -- junior midfielder Charity Oswald, senior defender Bre Ann Singleton and freshman defender Amanda Cofelt.
Senior goalie Ali Ahshier of Abraham Lincoln and teammate Jessica Jerkovich, a sophomore forward, rounded off the second team.
She was an honorable mention Missouri River Activities Conference selection as a freshman. She has won first-team honors ever since, combining for 37 goals in the last three seasons.
Niles, a senior midfielder, headlines the MRAC squad selected by the league's head coaches. She was one of four repeat first-teamers, joining North's Sierra Hsieh and Chelsie Stokes along with East's Jaclyn Clark.
North, the MRAC champion, was also represented on the first team by Brittney Schindler, Ashlie Stokes and Kelsey Reitmeier. Heelan's Carli Tritz and Tiffany Hicklin plus West's Brittney Mathison were also among the first-teamers.
Niles scored 10 goals and dished 11 assists for Coach Shawn Mansfield's Crusaders, who capped a 13-4 season by falling 3-2 on penalty kicks to Pella in the first round of the Class 1A state tournament. Niles had two assists in the state tournament loss.
Tritz led the Crusaders with 15 goals and added three assists. The sophomore forward scored her eighth post-season goal in the loss to Pella and has tallied 21 goals and seven assists in the last two seasons.
Hicklin, a sophomore sweeper, was unable to play in the state tournament after tearing her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in a 6-1 win over Denison-Schleswig during the regional final. Hicklin spearheaded a defense that had allowed just six goals heading into the state tournament.
North's defense was even stingier. The MRAC champions gave up just two goals going into the 2A state tournament.
Chelsie Stokes, a junior fullback, won Elite Team All-State honors last year and is a threat for a similar honor this season. She also recorded two goals and one assist for a 12-1 team that fell 3-1 in the first round of the state meet to Johnston.
Schindler, a senior fullback, was unable to participate in post-season play because of an ACL injury that occurred late in the regular season.
Ashlie Stokes, a freshman forward, led Coach Aaron Kolbo's Stars with 13 goals and added one assist. She scored one goal in each of the team's post-season games.
Reitmeier, a senior forward, collected six goals and three assists.
Hsieh, a starting midfielder for last year's state tournament squad, supplied five goals and one assist.
Clark, a junior fullback, topped an East defense that allowed 14 goals and posted six shutouts.
Mathison, a senior goalkeeper who will play next year at Iowa Central Community College, recorded 267 saves for the Wolverines.
Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson was represented on the first team by senior forward Jamie Swotek and sophomore midfielder Courtney Ruff. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln senior midfielder Alex Bennett rounded off the first team.
Senior midfielders Sally Williams represented North on the second team along with sophomore forward Taylor Hatting and sophomore defender Rhiannon Hainds.
Kirsten Gobell, a freshman forward who scored her 14th goal of the season in the loss to Pella, is one of Heelan's second-teamers along with senior midfielder Hannah Maly.
Freshman forward Payton Pry and freshman defender Corrine Villim from East made the second team along with West senior midfielder Alex Lohry.
The second team also included three from Thomas Jefferson -- junior midfielder Charity Oswald, senior defender Bre Ann Singleton and freshman defender Amanda Cofelt.
Senior goalie Ali Ahshier of Abraham Lincoln and teammate Jessica Jerkovich, a sophomore forward, rounded off the second team.
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