Spartans Named D3kicks.com All-Region

Courtesy of Aurora University, Sports Information Department

AURORA, Ill. -- The Aurora University Spartan Women's Soccer team finished the 2007 season as Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) regular season and tournament champions, their ninth conference title in the last 13 seasons, with a 19-3-1 overall record and 12-0 in the NAC. AU made a third consecutive trip and fifth in seven years to the NCAA Division III Championships. On the season, the Spartans out-scored their opponents 77 to 15 (23 games). The Spartans set school or tied records for wins (19), consecutive games with a goal scored (22), consecutive wins (19), team shutouts (12) and lowest goals against average (0.65).

With team accolades, come individual awards as well: Senior defender Alex Contreras (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield Central H.S.) and sophomore forward Jesscia Novickas (Highland Park, IL/Highland Park H.S.) were named D3kicks.com All-Central Region after their fantastic seasons in 2007.

Contreras, a Third-Team honoree, paced an impressive Spartan defense that had 12 shutouts, allowed just 15 goals in 23 games, while allowing just two teams to score more than one goal and just one scoring more than two. Offensively, she tallied three goals, five assists and two game winning goals.

Novickas, also a Third-Team selection, was named the NAC Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-Conference after posting 18 goals, six assists and five game-winning goals on the season, including 14 goals, four assists and five game-winning goals. Her 18 goals tied for fourth in the AU women's soccer single season record book.