The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Women’s Soccer Coaches recently announced the 2008 All-Conference Team and Gustavus junior forward Chelsea Craven was named to the First Team. Craven, a native of St. Cloud, Minn., led the Gusties in scoring with eight goals and three assists for 19 points. Gustavus finished the season with a mark of 7-8-2 overall and 4-5-2 in the MIAC.
Craven, who finished fifth in the MIAC in scoring with four goals and two assists for 10 points, scored a rare hat trick for the Gusties when she tallied three goals in a 3-1 win over Bethel on October 11. Craven was named the MIAC Player of the Week on Oct. 14 for her scoring outburst against the Royals. A three-year regular, Craven has scored 12 goals with three assists for 27 points in her career.
Three players received honorable mention on the all-conference team by the league coaches. That trio included senior midfielder Callie Christensen, junior central defender Rachel Iblings, and junior outside defender Alison Dittmer.
Christensen, a four-year starting midfielder, started and played in 17 games this season. She was the team’s fifth leading scorer with three goals and one assist for seven points. She completed her career with six goals and four assists for 16 points.
Iblings, a three-year starting central defender, started and played in 18 games this season. Iblings anchored a Gustavus defensive unit that allowed 11 goals in 11 games and ranked sixth in the MIAC in team goals against average at 0.96. This is the third consecutive season that Iblings has received honorable mention by the league coaches.
Dittmer, a three-year starting outside defender started and played in 17 games this season. A key contributor on a Gustavus defensive unit that allowed 11 goals in 11 games and ranked sixth in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in goals against average at 0.96 goals per game, Dittmer has started 53 of 54 games for the Gusties in her three-year career.
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the third annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for women’s soccer. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition. Senior midfielder Ashley Voigtlander (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) was the Gustavus representative on the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team.