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Five Lady Cougars Earn NAIA Region Soccer Honors
written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Five members of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's soccer team were recently honored when the NAIA Region IX Teams were announced.


Kristen Votapek	Catherine Hess

Cheryl Balogh	Lisa Hinman

Krysti Wilson

Kristen Votapek, Catherine Hess, Cheryl Balogh, Lisa Hinman, and Krysti Wilson were each named to the NAIA Region IX First Team as MVNU landed five players on the 14-player First Team. The Lady Cougars matched Houghton (N.Y.) College, which also had five players on the First Team, while Malone College had three players on the First Team.

Votapek, a sophomore forward from Amelia, Ohio, broke her own school records by scoring 32 goals and recording 73 total points. The former Amelia High School standout also was second on the team with nine assists. Votapek now ranks first in career goals at MVNU with 58, first in career points with 134, and third in career assists with 18.

Hess, a junior forward from Hillsboro, Ohio, combined with Votapek as the top scoring combination in the American Mideast Conference and NAIA Region IX. The former All-Ohioan at Hillsboro High School scored a career-high 19 goals and 54 total points and broke her own school record with 16 assists. Hess has also become the Lady Cougars' career leader in assists with 35, and she ranks second in both career goals (43) and career points (121).

Balogh, a senior defender from Lima, Ohio, was named to the NAIA Region IX First Team for the second straight year. The former All-Ohioan at Elida High School helped anchor the MVNU defense that allowed just 12 goals in 24 matches while posting a school-record 15 shutouts. Balogh also registered one assist to finish her career ranked fifth in school history with 15 assists.

Hinman, a senior midfielder from Syracuse, Ohio, finished the year third on the team with six goals and six assists for 18 total points. The former Faith Heritage High School star wrapped up her career ranked second in MVNU history in assists with 27 and third in both goals (42) and points (111).

Wilson, a freshman goalkeeper from Sunbury, Ohio, rounded out the Lady Cougars on the NAIA Region IX First Team. The former Big Walnut High School standout started all 24 matches in goal for MVNU and allowed just nine goals for a program-best 0.39 goals against average. Wilson also set new school records with 14 shutouts and 117 saves.

The Lady Cougars finished the season with a 20-3-1 overall record. MVNU also won the AMC South Division crown and the National Christian College Athletic Association national title in only the program's fourth year as a varsity sport.