Kelly, Simmons Headline Postseason MAC Awards
11/1/2022 2:35:00 PM | Women's Soccer
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's soccer team saw five student-athletes earn All-MAC recognition on Tuesday, highlighted by fifth year Emily Kelly who was named Goalkeeper of the Year and freshman Ellie Simmons who earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Kelly and Simmons also earned spots on the All-MAC First Team. Fifth year Hannah Callaghan and seniors Payton Robertson and Leah Wengender earned spots on the All-MAC Second Team. Additionally, Shawn Burke was named Coach of the Year, the second time he has earned that honor in his time at UB. Simmons and Katie Krohn also earned spots on the All-Freshman Team.
The Bulls are tied with Ball State for the most All-MAC honorees with five total players across both teams. This is the second time in the last three seasons that the Bulls have received a specialty award and had multiple players on the first team and the five total All-MAC selections are the second most in program history.
"We are incredibly proud of these five amazing student-athletes who are very deserving of this recognition," said Burke. "Anytime you have this many players recognized means your team is performing at a high level. This is the deepest team we've had here at UB, and I know our five athletes share this with their teammates."
Kelly is the first Bull to earn Goalkeeper of the Year honors and receives All-MAC First Team recognition for the second time in her UB career. The Wilson, NY native is Buffalo's all-time winningest goalkeeper with 52 wins and with her 11 shutouts this season, she is currently tied for the school record for career shutouts with her 33 clean sheets. She leads the nation and the MAC in shutouts (11) while also leading the league and ranking in the top 10 nationally in goals against average (0.448) and save percentage (0.869).
Simmons gives the Bulls their second Defensive Player of the Year honor in the last three seasons, following current teammate Hannah Callaghan who received the recognition in the spring of 2021. She was also named first team All-MAC and to the All-Freshman Team. The Arlington, VA native is second on the team and ranks sixth in the MAC with six total assists and 0.33 assists per game. She has been a consistent presence on the field for UB, as she has started 17 of 18 games this season, including all games in league play, while also making a major impact on set pieces, taking the majority of free and corner kicks for the Bulls.
"We are so happy for Emily and Ellie," said Burke. "They have been the catalyst for our stout defense all year and are absolutely deserving of such high praise."
Robertson was named to the All-MAC second team for the first time in her Buffalo career. The Toronto, Ontario native rarely came off the field for the Bulls this season, making her impact known on both ends of the field. Starting in all 18 games for the Bulls, Robertson scored one goal and leads the team and ranks second in the MAC in total assists (8) while helping lead the UB defense to 12 clean sheets on the season, good for second best in program history.
Callaghan also earns second team honors for the first time in her decorated UB career, after previously being named Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-MAC first team as a junior. The Rochester, NY native was a catalyst for a strong UB midfield and backline as she has helped the Bulls secure 12 clean sheets on the season and a 0.44 goals against average while adding two assists on the season.
Wengender was named to the All-MAC second team for the second time in her career. The Rochester, NY native continues to bring speed and versatility to the Bulls attack, scoring a career-high four goals and recording three assists on 39 shots while starting all 18 games for UB this season.
Krohn has had a strong season for the Bulls, and she was rewarded with a spot on the All-Freshman team. The Schoharie, NY native has made an immediate impact in her first season in the blue and white as she appeared in all 18 games while earning 12 starts for Buffalo this season, recording five goals, good for third-best on the team, and two assists on the year. This marks the eighth time in the last nine seasons that the Bulls have placed a rookie on the All-Freshman team.
The top-seeded Bulls take on the No. 5 seed Miami (OH) RedHawks on Thursday at 5pm in the first of two MAC semifinal matches at UB Stadium.
2022 MAC Women's Soccer Postseason Awards & All-MAC Teams
Coach of the Year: Shawn Burke, Buffalo
Offensive Player of the Year: Kennedy White, Bowling Green
Defensive Player of the Year: Ellie Simmons, Buffalo
Goalkeeper of the Year: Emily Kelly, Buffalo
Freshman of the Year: Delaney Caldwell, Ball State
All-MAC First Team
Forward: Avery Fenchel, Ball State
Forward: Kennedy White, Bowling Green
Forward: Abby Townsend, Ohio
Forward: Regan Berg, Ohio
Forward: Jenna Blackburn, Western Michigan
Midfielder: Lexi Fraley, Ball State
Midfielder: Maya Dean, Bowling Green
Midfielder: Camber Hayes, Miami
Defender: Mackenzie Reuber, Bowling Green
Defender: Ellie Simmons, Buffalo
Defender: Tianna Harris, Kent State
Goalkeeper: Emily Kelly, Buffalo
All-MAC Second Team
Forward, Ella Hadley, Akron
Forward: Delaney Caldwell, Ball State
Forward: Abby Elgert, Ball State
Forward: Morgan Otteson, Toledo
Midfielder: Payton Robertson, Buffalo
Midfielder: Leah Wengender, Buffalo
Midfielder: Maddie O'Farrell, Eastern Michigan
Defender: Lexy Smith, Ball State
Defender: Hannah Callaghan, Buffalo
Defender: Norah Roush, Miami
Defender: Mira Pierre-Webster, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper: Izzie Vaccari, Miami
All-Freshman Team
Emma King, Akron
Delaney Caldwell, Ball State
Brynn Gardner, Bowling Green
Ellie Simmons, Buffalo
Katie Krohn, Buffalo
Hannah Thompson, Eastern Michigan
Kelsey Salopek, Kent State
Norah Roush, Miami
Eve Berish, Ohio
Amber Best, Northern Illinois
Madi Canada, Western Michigan
The Bulls are tied with Ball State for the most All-MAC honorees with five total players across both teams. This is the second time in the last three seasons that the Bulls have received a specialty award and had multiple players on the first team and the five total All-MAC selections are the second most in program history.
"We are incredibly proud of these five amazing student-athletes who are very deserving of this recognition," said Burke. "Anytime you have this many players recognized means your team is performing at a high level. This is the deepest team we've had here at UB, and I know our five athletes share this with their teammates."
Kelly is the first Bull to earn Goalkeeper of the Year honors and receives All-MAC First Team recognition for the second time in her UB career. The Wilson, NY native is Buffalo's all-time winningest goalkeeper with 52 wins and with her 11 shutouts this season, she is currently tied for the school record for career shutouts with her 33 clean sheets. She leads the nation and the MAC in shutouts (11) while also leading the league and ranking in the top 10 nationally in goals against average (0.448) and save percentage (0.869).
Simmons gives the Bulls their second Defensive Player of the Year honor in the last three seasons, following current teammate Hannah Callaghan who received the recognition in the spring of 2021. She was also named first team All-MAC and to the All-Freshman Team. The Arlington, VA native is second on the team and ranks sixth in the MAC with six total assists and 0.33 assists per game. She has been a consistent presence on the field for UB, as she has started 17 of 18 games this season, including all games in league play, while also making a major impact on set pieces, taking the majority of free and corner kicks for the Bulls.
"We are so happy for Emily and Ellie," said Burke. "They have been the catalyst for our stout defense all year and are absolutely deserving of such high praise."
Robertson was named to the All-MAC second team for the first time in her Buffalo career. The Toronto, Ontario native rarely came off the field for the Bulls this season, making her impact known on both ends of the field. Starting in all 18 games for the Bulls, Robertson scored one goal and leads the team and ranks second in the MAC in total assists (8) while helping lead the UB defense to 12 clean sheets on the season, good for second best in program history.
Callaghan also earns second team honors for the first time in her decorated UB career, after previously being named Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-MAC first team as a junior. The Rochester, NY native was a catalyst for a strong UB midfield and backline as she has helped the Bulls secure 12 clean sheets on the season and a 0.44 goals against average while adding two assists on the season.
Wengender was named to the All-MAC second team for the second time in her career. The Rochester, NY native continues to bring speed and versatility to the Bulls attack, scoring a career-high four goals and recording three assists on 39 shots while starting all 18 games for UB this season.
Krohn has had a strong season for the Bulls, and she was rewarded with a spot on the All-Freshman team. The Schoharie, NY native has made an immediate impact in her first season in the blue and white as she appeared in all 18 games while earning 12 starts for Buffalo this season, recording five goals, good for third-best on the team, and two assists on the year. This marks the eighth time in the last nine seasons that the Bulls have placed a rookie on the All-Freshman team.
The top-seeded Bulls take on the No. 5 seed Miami (OH) RedHawks on Thursday at 5pm in the first of two MAC semifinal matches at UB Stadium.
2022 MAC Women's Soccer Postseason Awards & All-MAC Teams
Coach of the Year: Shawn Burke, Buffalo
Offensive Player of the Year: Kennedy White, Bowling Green
Defensive Player of the Year: Ellie Simmons, Buffalo
Goalkeeper of the Year: Emily Kelly, Buffalo
Freshman of the Year: Delaney Caldwell, Ball State
All-MAC First Team
Forward: Avery Fenchel, Ball State
Forward: Kennedy White, Bowling Green
Forward: Abby Townsend, Ohio
Forward: Regan Berg, Ohio
Forward: Jenna Blackburn, Western Michigan
Midfielder: Lexi Fraley, Ball State
Midfielder: Maya Dean, Bowling Green
Midfielder: Camber Hayes, Miami
Defender: Mackenzie Reuber, Bowling Green
Defender: Ellie Simmons, Buffalo
Defender: Tianna Harris, Kent State
Goalkeeper: Emily Kelly, Buffalo
All-MAC Second Team
Forward, Ella Hadley, Akron
Forward: Delaney Caldwell, Ball State
Forward: Abby Elgert, Ball State
Forward: Morgan Otteson, Toledo
Midfielder: Payton Robertson, Buffalo
Midfielder: Leah Wengender, Buffalo
Midfielder: Maddie O'Farrell, Eastern Michigan
Defender: Lexy Smith, Ball State
Defender: Hannah Callaghan, Buffalo
Defender: Norah Roush, Miami
Defender: Mira Pierre-Webster, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper: Izzie Vaccari, Miami
All-Freshman Team
Emma King, Akron
Delaney Caldwell, Ball State
Brynn Gardner, Bowling Green
Ellie Simmons, Buffalo
Katie Krohn, Buffalo
Hannah Thompson, Eastern Michigan
Kelsey Salopek, Kent State
Norah Roush, Miami
Eve Berish, Ohio
Amber Best, Northern Illinois
Madi Canada, Western Michigan
UB Women's Soccer vs. Ball State
Monday, September 22
UB Women's Soccer vs. Mercyhurst
Monday, August 11
UB Women's Soccer vs. Colorado College
Monday, August 11
New Videoboard Loading!!
Wednesday, July 30
