Barberic and Callaghan Headline Postseason MAC Awards
4/15/2021 2:09:00 PM | Women's Soccer
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's soccer team saw five student-athletes earn All-MAC recognition on Thursday, highlighted by senior forward Marcy Barberic who was named Offensive Player of the Year and junior Hannah Callaghan who earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Joining Barberic and Callaghan on the first team is junior Emily Kelly, while senior Gianna Yurchak and sophomore Leah Wengender earned spots on the All-MAC Second Team.
The Bulls lead the league with three first team All-MAC honorees and are tied with Bowling Green with five total players across both teams. This is the first time the Bulls have received a specialty award since UB swept the major awards in 2014. It is also the first time Buffalo has had multiple players on the first team since 2017 and the five total All-MAC selections are the second most in program history.
"Individual accolades are always a direct result of team performance," said head coach Shawn Burke. "It is a great compliment to these five players and our program to be recognized as the best of the best in our conference."
Barberic is the first Bull to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors since Katie Roberts in 2014. The Grand Island, NY native led the Bulls offense with nine goals and an assist on a team-best 39 shots while starting all eight games for UB this season. She currently leads the nation in shots on goal per game (2.88) while also leading the MAC and ranking fourth in the nation in goals per game (1.2) and shots per game (4.88). She also ranks seventh nationally in points per game (2.38), 19th in total goals (9), 27th in game-winning goals (3) and 40th in total points (19). The senior captain is now ninth in program history in career goals (23) and total points (59).
Callaghan gives the Bulls its first Defensive Player of the Year honor since Jackie Hall won the award in 2014. The Rochester, NY native was a catalyst for a strong UB defense as she helped the Bulls secure four clean sheets on the season while holding opponents to a 0.59 goals-against average. She also contributed on the offensive end, particularly on set pieces, recording three assists while starting all eight games for the Bulls.
"To win both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year speaks volumes of the impact both Marcy and Hannah have had for our team," said Burke. "Their play has garnered respect from all coaches across the conference and both are rewarded for their unbelievable work rates and contributions."
Kelly also earned First Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her UB career. The Wilson, NY native finished the season with a 6-1-1 overall record, four shutouts, 28 saves, a .0.61 goals against average and a .848 save percentage. Kelly currently ranks fourth in program history with 26 career wins, 16 shutouts, and a 1.13 goals against average while ranking just outside the top 10 in saves (203).
Yurchak earned Second Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career. The senior captain is second on the team in points (10), recording three goals and four assists in seven starts this season. For her career, she has recorded 12 goals, 10 assists, 34 points and 81 total shots in 64 games.
After earning a spot on the All-Freshman team a season ago, Wengender earned Second Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career as a sophomore. The Rochester, NY native continued to bring speed and versatility to the Bulls attack, scoring two goals and recording four assists on 15 shots while starting all eight games for UB this season.
2020 MAC Women's Soccer Postseason Awards & All-MAC Teams
2020-21 MAC Coach of the Year: Josh Rife, Ball State
2020-21 MAC Offensive Player of the Year: Marcy Barberic, Buffalo
2020-21 MAC Defensive Player of the Year: Hannah Callaghan, Buffalo
2020-21 MAC Freshman of the Year: Jaelyn Dobrowolski, Central Michigan
All-MAC Women's Soccer First Team
Forward: Marcy Barberic, Buffalo
Forward: Madi Wolfbauer, Bowling Green
Forward: Natalie Belsito, Central Michigan
Forward: Sabrina McNeill, Eastern Michigan
Midfielder: Nicky Potts, Ball State
Midfielder: Nikki Cox, Bowling Green
Midfielder: Amanda Cripps, Eastern Michigan
Midfielder: Bailey Korhorn, Western Michigan
Defender: Lexy Smith, Ball State
Defender: Hannah Callaghan, Buffalo
Defender: Morgan Collica, Ohio
Goalkeeper: Emily Kelly, Buffalo
All-MAC Women's Soccer Second Team
Forward: Tatiana Mason, Ball State
Forward: Gianna Yurchak, Buffalo
Forward: Morgan Otteson, Western Michigan
Midfielder: Leah Wengender, Buffalo
Midfielder: Desiree Grubbs, Miami
Midfielder: Vital Kats, Kent State
Defender: Jasmijn Dijsselhof, Bowling Green
Defender: Audrey Shea, Bowling Green
Defender: Maria Kaschalk, Central Michigan
Defender: Camber Hayes, Miami
Defender: Emily Dahl, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper: Lilli Berg, Bowling Green
MAC All-Freshman Team
Mac Henson, Ball State, Forward
Jaelyn Dobrowolski, Central Michigan, Forward
Lexy Alston, Eastern Michigan, Forward
Haley Anspach, Miami, Forward
Camber Hayes, Miami, Midfielder
Kierah Meier, Northern Illinois, Forward
Isabella Ginocchi, Ohio, Midfielder
Shae Robertson, Ohio, Forward/Midfielder
Carsyn Prigge, Ohio, Midfielder/Defender
Ellie Pool, Toledo, Forward
Jenna Blackburn, Western Michigan, Forward
The Bulls lead the league with three first team All-MAC honorees and are tied with Bowling Green with five total players across both teams. This is the first time the Bulls have received a specialty award since UB swept the major awards in 2014. It is also the first time Buffalo has had multiple players on the first team since 2017 and the five total All-MAC selections are the second most in program history.
"Individual accolades are always a direct result of team performance," said head coach Shawn Burke. "It is a great compliment to these five players and our program to be recognized as the best of the best in our conference."
Barberic is the first Bull to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors since Katie Roberts in 2014. The Grand Island, NY native led the Bulls offense with nine goals and an assist on a team-best 39 shots while starting all eight games for UB this season. She currently leads the nation in shots on goal per game (2.88) while also leading the MAC and ranking fourth in the nation in goals per game (1.2) and shots per game (4.88). She also ranks seventh nationally in points per game (2.38), 19th in total goals (9), 27th in game-winning goals (3) and 40th in total points (19). The senior captain is now ninth in program history in career goals (23) and total points (59).
Callaghan gives the Bulls its first Defensive Player of the Year honor since Jackie Hall won the award in 2014. The Rochester, NY native was a catalyst for a strong UB defense as she helped the Bulls secure four clean sheets on the season while holding opponents to a 0.59 goals-against average. She also contributed on the offensive end, particularly on set pieces, recording three assists while starting all eight games for the Bulls.
"To win both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year speaks volumes of the impact both Marcy and Hannah have had for our team," said Burke. "Their play has garnered respect from all coaches across the conference and both are rewarded for their unbelievable work rates and contributions."
Kelly also earned First Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her UB career. The Wilson, NY native finished the season with a 6-1-1 overall record, four shutouts, 28 saves, a .0.61 goals against average and a .848 save percentage. Kelly currently ranks fourth in program history with 26 career wins, 16 shutouts, and a 1.13 goals against average while ranking just outside the top 10 in saves (203).
Yurchak earned Second Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career. The senior captain is second on the team in points (10), recording three goals and four assists in seven starts this season. For her career, she has recorded 12 goals, 10 assists, 34 points and 81 total shots in 64 games.
After earning a spot on the All-Freshman team a season ago, Wengender earned Second Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career as a sophomore. The Rochester, NY native continued to bring speed and versatility to the Bulls attack, scoring two goals and recording four assists on 15 shots while starting all eight games for UB this season.
2020 MAC Women's Soccer Postseason Awards & All-MAC Teams
2020-21 MAC Coach of the Year: Josh Rife, Ball State
2020-21 MAC Offensive Player of the Year: Marcy Barberic, Buffalo
2020-21 MAC Defensive Player of the Year: Hannah Callaghan, Buffalo
2020-21 MAC Freshman of the Year: Jaelyn Dobrowolski, Central Michigan
All-MAC Women's Soccer First Team
Forward: Marcy Barberic, Buffalo
Forward: Madi Wolfbauer, Bowling Green
Forward: Natalie Belsito, Central Michigan
Forward: Sabrina McNeill, Eastern Michigan
Midfielder: Nicky Potts, Ball State
Midfielder: Nikki Cox, Bowling Green
Midfielder: Amanda Cripps, Eastern Michigan
Midfielder: Bailey Korhorn, Western Michigan
Defender: Lexy Smith, Ball State
Defender: Hannah Callaghan, Buffalo
Defender: Morgan Collica, Ohio
Goalkeeper: Emily Kelly, Buffalo
All-MAC Women's Soccer Second Team
Forward: Tatiana Mason, Ball State
Forward: Gianna Yurchak, Buffalo
Forward: Morgan Otteson, Western Michigan
Midfielder: Leah Wengender, Buffalo
Midfielder: Desiree Grubbs, Miami
Midfielder: Vital Kats, Kent State
Defender: Jasmijn Dijsselhof, Bowling Green
Defender: Audrey Shea, Bowling Green
Defender: Maria Kaschalk, Central Michigan
Defender: Camber Hayes, Miami
Defender: Emily Dahl, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper: Lilli Berg, Bowling Green
MAC All-Freshman Team
Mac Henson, Ball State, Forward
Jaelyn Dobrowolski, Central Michigan, Forward
Lexy Alston, Eastern Michigan, Forward
Haley Anspach, Miami, Forward
Camber Hayes, Miami, Midfielder
Kierah Meier, Northern Illinois, Forward
Isabella Ginocchi, Ohio, Midfielder
Shae Robertson, Ohio, Forward/Midfielder
Carsyn Prigge, Ohio, Midfielder/Defender
Ellie Pool, Toledo, Forward
Jenna Blackburn, Western Michigan, Forward
Players Mentioned
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