GRINNELL’S SIPFLE IS ALL-MWC FIRST-TEAM SOCCER SELECTION; 3 OTHER PIONEERS ALSO NAMED TO ALL-LEAGUE SQUAD

Grinnell College Athletics

GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College defender Nicole Sipfle ’13 has been named to the 2011 All-Midwest Conference Women’s Soccer first team after being an honorable mention selection a year ago.

Three other Pioneers were also named All-Conference after guiding Grinnell to a share of the league title, its first crown since 2006, and qualifying for the MWC postseason tournament for the first time since 2008. Those players are second-teamers Rachel Weinstein ’13, a forward, and Eden Marek ’15, a defender, as well as honorable mention selection Kathryn Vincent ’13, a forward.

Sipfle, from West Des Moines, Iowa (Valley) helped anchor a Pioneer defense that ranked among the league leaders in goals against average at 1.19. Sipfle scored one goal this season and is also an Academic All-Conference performer.

Weinstein, from Northbrook, Ill. (Glenbrook North), was a key performer for a squad that was third in the league in goals per contest. Also an Academic All-Conference selection, Weinstein had two goals for Grinnell.

Marek, from Ames, Iowa (Ames), was part of a strong first-year class at Grinnell that saw the Pioneers go 7-1-1 in league play and 10-6-2 overall. She ranked among the Pioneer leaders in assists with three.

Vincent, from Plymouth, Minn. (Blake School), had a big season for Grinnell, tying for the team lead in assists with four while also scoring two goals for a total of eight points. She is also an Academic All-Conference performer.

The MWC Co-Offensive Players of the Year are Katie Vanden Avond of St. Norbert College and Mallory Koula of Lawrence University, while Zoe Kurth of St. Norbert was named Defensive Player of the Year. St. Norbert’s Dennis Detrie was tabbed Coach of the Year.