Three Bearcats Receive Honorable Mention All-NWC in Women's Soccer

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Three Willamette University women's soccer players -- Erin Denney (Fy., M, San Diego, CA/Point Loma HS), Nina Krassner-Cybulski (So., F, Porter Ranch, CA/Agoura HS), and Morgan Richards (Sr., D, Roseburg, OR/Roseburg HS/Univ. of Oregon) -- have been named Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference for the 2022 season as voted by the NWC head coaches. All three of Willamette's selections were chosen All-NWC for the first time.

A total of 42 players were named to the 2022 All-NWC Women's Soccer Team. The First Team included 12 athletes, another 12 players were on the Second Team, and 18 athletes were chosen for Honorable Mention.

Ava Cholakian, a senior forward for the University of Puget Sound, was chosen NWC Offensive Player of the Year. Pacific Lutheran University junior Ella Merte was named NWC Defensive Player of the Year honor. Megan Yanagi, a midfielder from Lewis & Clark College, was selected NWC Rookie of the Year. Puget Sound Head Coach Stephanie Cox was voted NWC Coach of the Year.

Willamette finished the 2022 season with a 6-11-2 overall record and a 4-10-2 mark in the NWC. The Bearcats recorded seven shutouts on defense and earned a 5-0-2 record in those games. On offense, the Bearcats scored 26 goals, including four goals versus Warner Pacific University on Sept. 1 and four goals at Pacific University on Oct. 29.

Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference

Erin Denney (Fy., M) was a consistently strong midfielder for the Bearcats this season while competing in all 19 games with 18 starts. Even as a first-year college player, she quickly impacted Willamette's games with solid efforts on defense and creativity with the ball on offense. She also was good at pressuring opponents into turnovers. Denney ranked second on the team with four goals and two assists for 10 total points. She took 28 shots and placed 20 shots on goal for 71.4% accuracy.

Nina Krassner-Cybulski (So., F) played in 18 of 19 games with 12 starts. Whether she started a game or entered the field from the bench, she was a key player for the Bearcats. She led WU with eight goals on the season to go along with one assist for 17 points. She took 22 shots and put 14 shots on target. She scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory at the University of La Verne (Calif.) on Sept. 9. In two seasons at Willamette, Krassner-Cybulski has played in 38 games with 22 starts. She has scored nine goals and two assists during her career.

Morgan Richards (Sr., D) started all 19 games this season as a defender for the Bearcats. She contributed significantly to Willamette's seven shutouts -- five wins and a pair of 0-0 ties. She was a starter in 19 of 20 games during the fall 2021 season, and started all eight games during Willamette's COVID-shortened schedule in the spring of 2021. Her career effort cover 46 started in 46 games played, as she has seen action in all but one game during her three seasons with the Bearcats. She previously played soccer at Lane Community College.