Three Women's Soccer Players Earn All-America from NSCAA

Courtesy NSCAA

HADLEY, Mass. – Three women's soccer players representing two NESCAC squads have been selected as All-America by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), it was announced on Friday.

Representing conference champion Amherst were junior midfielder Kathryn Nathan (Pembroke, Mass.), who earned a spot on the First Team, and senior teammate Allie Horwitz (Woodbridge, Conn.), a Second Team honoree at goalkeeper. From Williams College was senior defender Sachi Siegelman (Piedmont, Calif.), who received Second Team All-America recognition.

The NESCAC Co-Player of the Year, Nathan had a career year in 2011 in helping the Lord Jeffs go unbeaten in the regular season and win the conference crown for the first time since 2003. The engine that drove the conference's most productive offensive unit, Nathan finished second among her teammates with an even nine goals and nine assists for 27 points, all personal-bests. The junior midfielder accounted for six game-winners this past season, four coming against conference foes.

During the title match of the 2011 NESCAC Women's Soccer Championship on Nov. 6, Amherst was in danger of letting its unbeaten season, along with the NESCAC title, slip away as the Jeffs trailed defending champ Williams 1-0 with only moments remaining. Nathan changed the course of the game in the 83rd minute when she tied the contest, then minutes later set up the game-winner as the Jeffs posted a 2-1 victory. A First Team All-NESCAC selection this fall, Nathan helped Amherst to a 19-1-0 record, losing to eventual national champion Messiah in the national quarterfinals on Nov. 20.

The Jeffs' number-one option in net over the past four years, Horwitz (19-1-0) had a stellar season of her own with a 0.62 goals against average, an .849 save percentage, and eight shutouts, figures that all rank among the league leaders. Horwitz garnerd First Team All-NESCAC for the first time in her career this season, as she was recognized on the All-Conference Second Team as a first year player in 2008.

Siegelman earned a promotion to the 2011 All-NESCAC First Team following a 2010 campaign in which she earned Second Team honors. Siegelman served on one of the conference's top defensive units this past year, as the Ephs (13-5-3) posted a 0.69 goals against average, allowing only 15 goals over 21 outings. She also chipped in two goals on the offensive end and helped Williams reach the quarterfinals of this year's NCAA Tournament.

Earlier, Amherst head coach Jen Hughes was named the NSCAA New England Regional Coach of the Year. Hughes, the 2011 NESCAC Coach of the Year, guided the Lord Jeffs to a program-record 19 wins and 19-match unbeaten streak this fall.

The 40 NSCAA All-Americans will be recognized at the annual All-America Luncheon, to be held in the Kansas City Convention Center's Grand Ballroom on Saturday, Jan. 14, in conjunction with the 2012 NSCAA Convention in Kansas City, Mo.