For Immediate Release
Thursday, November 3, 2016
NSIC Media Relations
PDF Release

Offensive Player of the Year
#16 Ninfa Ramirez (F, 5-4, Sr., Perris, Calif. / Murrieta Valley HS)
Minot State University
- Led NSIC conference play in shots (104), points (37), goals (15) and game-winning goals (6)
- Tied for fourth most assists in NSIC play with seven
- Recorded a league high 18 goals as the only player to average more than one goal per game (1.06)
- Matched the single-season NSIC record for most points in conference play (37) while ranking second in most goals scored (15)
- Named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week four times
- Ranks sixth in NCAA Div. II in goals per game (1.06) and points per game (2.59) while ranking seventh in total goals (18) and total points (44)
- Moved up to tie for third most career goals in NSIC play (30) and 12th most points (64) in just two seasons
- Broke the single-season Minot State record for points (44) and goals (18)
- Ranks first in MSU history in career points (80) and goals (34)

Defensive Player of the Year
#4 Christine Szurek (D, 5-5, Sr., Andover, Minn. / Andover HS)
Bemidji State University
- Transitioned to defense from midfield and contributed to seven shutouts
- Part of a shutout streak of 252 minutes, during which BSU didn’t allow a single shot on goal
- A leader on the back line that has allowed 15 goals in NSIC play to ranks third
- BSU is third in the NSIC in opponent scoring average (.78), allowing just 10 goals in 15 NSIC  matches
- As a former midfielder, has the ability to move up into the midfield to control play when needed
- In 67 appearances as a Beaver, Szurek has logged 11 goals and seven assists for 29 points

Goalkeeper & Freshman of the Year
#1 Erin Rafferty (GK, 6-0, R-Fr., Littleton, Colo. / Chatfield Senior HS)
Minot State University
- Led NSIC in goals against average (0.22) and save percentage (.947) during conference play
- Allowed just two goals while recording a 11-0-1 (.958 winning percentage) NSIC record
- Ranks fourth in the NSIC in single season goals allowed average with 0.22
- Named NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week once this season
- Has the third best save percentage (.915) and 11th best goals against average (.389) in NCAA Div. II
- Played in nine of the 11 Minot State shutouts this season, playing in all 90 minutes of two of those games
- Made debuts in the MISU single season record book with a .915 save percentage (1st), .389 goal allowed average (2nd), 43 saves (6th) and 11 wins (3rd)

NSIC Coach of the Year
Jim Stone (15th Season)
Bemidji State University
- Led BSU to match a program record for wins in a season with 14
- Coached a BSU-record seven All-NSIC players, including the Defensive Player of the Year, in 2016
- BSU’s 11-3-1 mark in league play allowed the Beavers to finish third in the final NSIC standings, its best finish since it finished third in 2010
- BSU is second in the NSIC in scoring with 43 goals and 2.26 goals per match
- BSU leads the NSIC in assists per match 2.21
- The Beavers are third in overall goals allowed (15) and opponent scoring average (0.78)
 

#	First Team	Pos.	Yr.	School	Hometown
15	Ellie Knowles	M	Jr.	Augie	Chaska, Minn.
10	Sarah Stram	F	Sr.	BSU	Elk Grove Village, Ill.
4	Christine Szurek	D	Sr.	BSU	Andover, Minn.
28	Raquel Thelen	M	Jr.	BSU	Andover, Minn.
26	Michelle McGeary	M	Sr.	UMary	Gillette, Wyo.
9	Morgan Cottew	F	So.	MSU	Minneapolis, Minn.
21	Kiana Nickel	F	Sr.	MSU	Wayzata, Minn.
3	Kelli Creese	D	Jr.	MISU	La Verne, Calif.
21	Yesenia Piceno	D	Jr.	MISU	Stockton, Calif.
1	Erin Rafferty	GK	Fr.	MISU	Littleton, Colo.
16	Ninfa Ramirez	F	Sr.	MISU	Perris, Calif.
9	Anna Bondy	F	Sr.	NSU	Pierre, S.D.
18	Darian Leschewski	M	So.	NSU	Cape Coral, Fla.
3	Mackenzie Taldone	D	Sr.	UIU	Crystal Lake, Ill.
#	Second Team	Pos.	Yr.	School	Hometown
20	Brooke Bleeker	D	Jr.	Augie	Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
5	Samantha Tymkowicz	F	Jr.	Augie	Sioux City, Iowa
0	Catherine Arneson	GK	Jr.	BSU	Fort Collins, Colo.
9	Bayley Ertl	F	Sr.	BSU	North Branch, Minn.
11	Miranda Famestad	D	Jr.	BSU	Sioux Falls, S.D.
12	Maddy Burandt	M	So.	MSU	Mankato, Minn.
5	Alesha Duccini	M	Fr.	MSU	Dubuque, Iowa
17	Abby Hausken	D	So.	MSU	Oakdale, Minn.
14	Dana Savino	M	Sr.	MSU	Vadnais Heights, Minn.
15	Chloe Melton	F	Sr.	MISU	Fleet, England
19	Dalia Tapia	M	Sr.	MISU	Perris, Calif.
14	Maria Kass	F	So.	SCSU	Pewaukee, Wis.
10	Kelsey Engstrom	D	Sr.	WSC	Lincoln, Neb.
21	Meg Riebau	M	Sr.	WSU	Appleton, Wis.
#	Third Team	Pos.	Yr.	School	Hometown
6	Emily Jacobson	F	Sr.	Augie	Golden Valley, Minn.
1	Taylor Machacek	GK	Jr.	Augie	Sioux Falls, S.D.
19	Rebekah Thoresen	D	So.	Augie	Minnetonka, Minn.
7	Rachael Norton	F	So.	BSU	Mounds View, Minn.
7	Erica Landry	M	Sr.	CSP	Mukwonago, Wis.
23	Jade Weller	D	So.	CSP	Prior Lake, Minn.
22	Samantha Deutsch	D	Sr.	UMC	Lakeville, Minn.
6	Skye Finley	F	Jr.	UMD	Forest Lake, Minn.
7	Ashley Franco	M	So.	MISU	Long Beach, Calif.
22	Sydney Shintaffer	D	Jr.	NSU	West Richland, Wash.
9	Emily Huddleston	M	Jr.	SMSU	Trenton, Mich.
10	Mackenzie Winters	D	Jr.	SCSU	Andover, Minn.
7	Brianne  Fenton	M	Sr.	UIU	Crystal Lake, Ill.
18	Abby Bohanski	F	So.	WSU	Plover, Wis.
#	Honorable Mention	Pos.	Yr.	School	Hometown
29	Hannah Keirstead	D	Jr.	Augie	Savage, Minn.
10	Kailey Beatt	M	Sr.	UMD	Maple Grove, Minn.
4	Laura Edgren	M	So.	UMD	Apple Valley, Minn.
20	Lizzy Fontes	D	So.	UMD	Apple Valley, Minn.
4	Jessica Johnson	M	Sr.	MSUM	St. Michael, Minn.
3	Alison Byrd	D	Jr.	NSU	Aberdeen, S.D.
21	Lily McKown	D	Fr.	USF	Independence, Minn.
21	Sarah Keppler	D	Sr.	SMSU	Cedar Rapids, Iowa
4	Kelli Santo Paulo	M	So.	SCSU	St. Charles, Ill.
25	Carys Hund	F	So.	WSC	Chicago, Ill.
21	Natalie Rech	M	So.	WSC	Blair, Neb.