Three Titans Selected To All-Region Soccer Team
UW-Oshkosh junior defender Mackenzie Bennett, freshman midfielder Molly Jackson and senior forward Mallory Knight were named to the 2021 United Soccer Coaches National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III All-Region IX Women's Soccer Team.
Bennett was voted by region coaches to the first team, Jackson to the second and Knight to the third. It was the first all-region award for all three UW-Oshkosh players.
A total of 12 players were chosen to both the first and second all-region squads and 14 to the third. Players from schools affiliated with the American Rivers Conference, Midwest Conference, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Upper Midwest Athletic Conference or Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference were eligible to receive All-Region IX mention.
Bennett, the 2021 WIAC Defensive Player of the Year, started all 20 matches for the Titans this season and was an essential part in UW-Oshkosh totaling nine shutouts and allowing just 78 shots on goal. Bennett scored six goals in 2021, including match winners against UW-River Falls on Oct. 30, UW-Eau Claire on Nov. 4 and UW-La Crosse on Nov. 6.
Bennett's 55-match UW-Oshkosh career features seven goals, three assists and 17 points. She is the owner of three career match-winning goals, all this season.
Jackson, the 2021 WIAC Newcomer of the Year, also started all 20 matches for UW-Oshkosh this season. Jackson compiled five goals, 4 assists and 14 points while spending much of her playing time in the center portion of the field. She had match-winning goals against University of Dubuque (Iowa) on Sept. 15 and UW-Stout on Oct. 9.
Knight started 19 of UW-Oshkosh's 20 contests this fall and counted seven goals, two assists and 16 points. She ranked third in the WIAC with her 35 shots on goals and ninth in goals scored (7). Knight tallied two goals against Bethel University (Minn.) on Sept. 6 while recording the match-winning score against Lakeland University on Sept. 8 and UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 2.
Knight played in 76 career games, including 63 as a starter, and totaled 24 goals, seven assists, 55 points and 10 match-winning scores. She ranks fourth in UW-Oshkosh history for career goals and seventh for career points.
Bennett and Jackson were members of the 2021 All-WIAC First Team while Knight was voted to the All-WIAC First Team in 2018 and 2019.
Picked to finish fifth in the 2021 WIAC standings, UW-Oshkosh compiled a 16-2-2 record this fall and captured league championships for both the regular season and postseason tournament. The Titans competed in their fifth Division III postseason tournament in 2021 and lost a 2-1 penalty kick shootout to Wheaton College (Ill.) in the first round of the 64-team event. UW-Oshkosh concluded its 28th season of competition with advantages of 52-15 in goals, 360-185 in shots and 203-78 in shots on goal over its 20 opponents.
2021 United Soccer Coaches All-Region IX Women's Soccer Team