DENVER--The 2009 women’s soccer All-WAC teams were announced Wednesday night, as selected by the conferences nine head coaches. WAC regular season champion, San Jose State, led all teams with four players on the conference first team, as well as one on the second team.
 
Utah State sophomore forward Shantel Flanary was named the WAC’s Offensive Player of the Year, while San Jose State sophomore defender Jessica Ingram received Defensive Player of the Year honors. Idaho’s Chelsea Small was named the league’s Freshman of the Year. San Jose State’s Jeff Leightman was named Coach of the Year honors.

Flanary, a sophomore from Highland, Utah (Lone Peak HS), earned her first Player of the Year honor after she scored five goals and added one assist during conference play. Flanary was named last season’s Freshman of the Year.

Ingram, a sophomore from San Jose, Calif. (Santa Teresa HS), was voted Defensive Player of the Year for the first time in her career as she anchored the defense for the Spartans. This also marks the first time she has earned an all-WAC honors.

Small, a freshman from Solana Beach, Calif. (Torrey Pines HS), helped lead Idaho to best season since 2001 and the best single-season turnaround in team history with eight wins. The forward led the WAC with 43 shots during league play.

Leightman, who is in his second season, led the Spartans to a school-record unbeaten streak of 14 matches this year. He led his team to its first-ever WAC regular season championship.


First Team all-WAC
Emmy Belding, F, Sr., San Jose State
Shantel Flanary, F, So., Utah State
Roxy Kamal, F, Sr., San Jose State
Chelsea Small, F, Fr., Idaho
Hallsie Pacheco, MF, Sr., San Jose State
Mari Punzal, MF, Jr., Hawai‘i
Chandra Salmon, MF, So., Utah State
Jessica Ingram, D, So., San Jose State
Lindsay Roberts, D, So., Boise State
Lindsey Smart, D, Sr., Utah State
Katie Graul, GK, Sr., New Mexico State

Second Team all-WAC
Natalie Ratnavira, F, So., Nevada
Shannon Saxton, F, Jr., Boise State
Ambree Ako, F, Sr., Hawai‘i
Britta Bourne, F, Sr., Hawai‘i
Brandy Hickcox, MF, So., Boise State
Molly Nizzoli, MF, So., Fresno State
Jazmin Cardoso, MF, Fr., New Mexico State
Kendall VanDine, D, So., Fresno State
Vanessa Gonzales, D, Fr., Fresno State
Annabelle Allen, D, So., Nevada
Nina Butera, GK, Jr., San Jose State

Offensive Player of the Year: Shantel Flanary, So., F, Utah State
Defensive Player of the Year: Jessica Ingram, So., D, San Jose State
Freshman of the Year: Chelsea Small, Fr., F, Idaho
Coach of the Year: Jeff Leightman, San Jose State