Three Award Winners Pace Titans' All-WIAC Selections
Defensive Player of the Year Mackenzie Bennett, Newcomer of the Year Molly Jackson and Coaching Staff of the Year honors highlight UW-Oshkosh's selections to the 2021 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Team.
Bennett, a junior defender, and Jackson, a freshman midfielder, along with junior midfielder Maddie Hill, sophomore forward Rylie Kaufmann and senior goalkeeper Erin Toomey were each voted to the 22-member All-WIAC First Team for UW-Oshkosh. The all-conference accolades were the first for all five Titans.
Bennett is UW-Oshkosh's third WIAC Defensive Player of the Year selection, joining previous Titan award winners in Anna Beckerleg from 2013 and Ashley Siewert from 2015. Jackson is the first Titan to be named the conference's Newcomer of the Year.
UW-Oshkosh head coach Erin Coppernoll and her assistant coaches CJ Dwyer and Ashley Tracy were named the WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year after guiding the Titans to a 16-2-1 record and league titles during both the regular season and postseason tournament. UW-Oshkosh's 2-1 victory over UW-La Crosse in the final of the WIAC Tournament secured an automatic berth for the Titans into the 64-team NCAA Division III Championship that commences Friday (Nov. 12). Coppernoll, who registered her 200th career coaching win on Oct. 6 against UW-Stevens Point, owns a 207-169-36 record in 21 seasons as a head collegiate soccer coach. Coppernoll has led UW-Oshkosh to a 17-year record of 183-124-33. It is the first WIAC Coach/Coaching Staff of the Year award for UW-Oshkosh.
Bennett has started all 19 matches for the Titans this fall and been an essential part in UW-Oshkosh shutting out nine opponents and allowing just 69 shots on goal. Bennett has scored six goals in 2021, including match winners during the Titans' last three contests (UW-River Falls on Oct. 30, UW-Eau Claire on Nov. 4, and UW-La Crosse on Nov. 6).
Bennett's 54-match UW-Oshkosh career has featured seven goals, three assists and 17 points. She is the owner of three career match-winning goals, all this season.
Jackson has also started all 19 matches for UW-Oshkosh this season. Jackson has compiled five goals, 4 assists and 14 points while spending much of her playing time in the center portion of the field. Jackson had match-winning goals for the Titans against University of Dubuque (Iowa) on Sept. 15 and UW-Stout on Oct. 9.
A starter in all 19 matches for the Titans this season as well, Hill has counted three goals, three assists and nine points. She recorded UW-Oshkosh's matching-winning score against Marian University on Sept. 4, Bethel University (Minn.) on Sept. 6 and UW-Whitewater on Oct. 20.
Hill has totaled three goals, five assists and 11 points during her 57-match UW-Oshkosh career.
Kaufmann leads the Titans this season in three offensive categories – goals with seven, assists with seven and points with 21. Kaufmann converted all three of her penalty kicks while recorded the match-winning goal in UW-Oshkosh victories over Grinnell College (Iowa) on Sept. 12, UW-Platteville on Oct. 16 and UW-La Crosse on Oct. 23. She has played in all 19 matches for the Titans this fall, including nine as a starter.
Kaufmann's 35-match UW-Oshkosh career includes three goals, three match-winning goals, five assists and 11 points.
Toomey, who leads the WIAC with her seven shutouts and 0.73 goals against average this fall, has allowed just 12 goals during her 16 matches played, all as a starter. She has earned a 14-2 record while saving 51 shots in 1,473 minutes guarding the UW-Oshkosh goal.
Toomey has started 28 of 35 matches for UW-Oshkosh during her career. She has compiled a 22-11 record with 11 shutouts, 41 goals allowed, 127 saves and 1.21 goals against average in 3,039 minutes played.
UW-Oshkosh sophomore Karly Monaco was one of eight players named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
UW-Oshkosh takes a nine-match winning streak into Friday's contest in Chicago, Ill., against Wheaton College (Ill.) in the first round of the Division III Championship. The Titans, who have established a program record with their 16 victories this fall, have posted advantages of 50-13 in goals, 337-172 in shots and 187-69 in shots on goal over their opponents this fall.