Miller Selected First Team All-Northwest Conference

SALEM, ORE. -- Junior forward Lauren Miller (Portland, OR/Grant HS / Northwestern State, La.) of Willamette University has been named First Team All-Northwest Conference for the 2007 season, as chosen by the NWC head coaches. Miller led the Bearcats in scoring with 11 goals and two assists for 24 total points during the season.

Kelsey Rogel (Jr., D/F, Tacoma, WA/Bellarmine Prep) was named Second Team All-NWC, while Kelli Gano (Fr., GK, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) and Kelsey Priest (Jr., D/MF, Portland, OR/Beaverton HS) were chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC. Overall, a total of 45 athletes received All-NWC honors, with 12 players named to the First Team, 12 players selected for the Second Team and 21 players earning Honorable Mention status.

Miller, who transferred to Willamette from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., provided nearly half of the Bearcats' offense this season, as she scored 11 of the team's 24 goals. She finished the year strong, hitting the nets five times in Willamette's last five games, including a three-goal hat trick against Lewis & Clark College in a 3-0 win on Oct. 23. It was WU's first hat trick since Oct. 23, 2004, when Brenna Hindman tallied three goals against Whitworth University.

During her two seasons at Northwestern State, Miller scored a total of 13 goals and three assists, including eight goals and two assists in 2005. Her career totals at Willamette and NSU are 24 goals and five assists for 53 total points.

Rogel was named to the All-Northwest Conference Team as a defender for the third year in a row. She was named Second Team All-NWC as a freshman and was First Team All-NWC as a sophomore.

This year, Rogel earned Second Team All-NWC honors despite moving to forward midway through the season. She concluded the year with three goals and five assists for 11 total points, as she trailed only Miller on WU's scoring chart. Rogel scored two game-winning goals, while taking 36 shots and placing 17 shots on goal. She has played in 57 games in three seasons with the Bearcats.

Gano provided the 'Cats with outstanding efforts in goal. She ended the year with a 0.89 goals against average and a .870 save percentage, as she gave up just 14 goals 1,416 minutes played. She registered a total of 94 saves and achieved six shutouts. Willamette was 4-0-2 in her shutout performances.

Gano earned an overall record of 6-7-2 and was 6-4-1 in her last 11 decisions. She accumulated a season-high 11 saves twice during the season, in a 0-0 tie with George Fox University on Oct. 11 and a 3-1 win at Pacific University on Nov. 2. She played in all 19 games, including 13 starts.

Priest changed positions partway through the season, as she moved from midfielder to forward. For the season, she played in 15 games and helped the Bearcats achieve a 1.18 team goals against average. She also provided one assist. She now has three goals and five assists during her career. She has played in 56 games as a Bearcat. Priest was chosen Second Team All-NWC in 2005.

The Bearcats completed the 2007 season with an overall record of 8-9-2, including 7-7-2 in the NWC (5th place). Willamette started the season 1-4-1, but attained a 7-5-1 record the rest of the way.