Nov. 5, 2008
IOWA CITY – Four members of the University of Iowa soccer team have earned all-Big Ten honors, the announcement coming from the conference office Wednesday. Sophomore defender Jenna Aleo was named second team all-Big Ten as a defender, freshmen Morgan Showalter and Emily Moran were named to the all-Freshman team as a midfielder and goalkeeper, respectively. Senior midfielder Kelsey Shaw was Iowa’s women’s soccer Sportsmanship Award honoree.
“Individual honors are reflective of how well the team performed this year,” said Head Coach Ron Rainey. “Obviously, we are excited for all four individuals.”
This is the first career honor for Aleo. The Tinley Park, IL, native has started all 20 matches for the Hawkeyes this season. She has one assist on the season (Sept. 12 at Northern Iowa) and two for her career. Aleo is the first Iowa player since Katelyn Quinn in 2003 to be named to the all-Big Ten second team.
Showalter makes the all-Big Ten Freshman team as a midfielder after finishing tied for second in the Big Ten in assists (nine). The Cedar Rapids, IA, native has started every match this season for the Hawkeyes. Showalter had three assists against Drake in the season opener (Aug. 23), breaking the Iowa record for most assists in a match. She collected her first collegiate goal at Ohio State (Oct. 17).
Moran is the lone goalkeeper on the all-Freshman team. She has played in all 20 matches this season and split time with sophomore goalkeeper Kali Feiereisel, but Moran has started the last eight matches after Feiereisel went down due to injury. On the season, Moran has corralled 71 saves (fifth-best in the Big Ten) and has a goals-against-average of 1.06. She also has two shutouts on the campaign.
Showalter and Moran are Iowa’s first representatives to the Big Ten all-Freshman team since Quinn and Kristin Zoelle were recognized in 2002.
Shaw was named as Iowa’s women’s soccer honoree for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Each institution nominates one player to be named to the team. Shaw has started every match this season and has recorded two assists. The senior from Chino Hills, CA, has eight career goals with the Hawkeyes.