TicketsCINCINNATI - The Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association (OCSA) announced its annual Women's Division I All-Ohio honorees with three members of the University of Cincinnati program receiving recognition for their play during the 2017 season. Both Vanessa Gilles and Sophie Gorman were selected All-Ohio First Team while Kiki Lowell was named to All-Ohio Second Team. Historically (dating back to 1999), the Bearcats have tallied 44 honors from the OCSA including their 18th and 19th first-team selections and 14th second-team accolade this year.
This marks the fifth year in a row that at least one Bearcats player has received a first team accolade from the OCSA. With their first-team selections, Gilles and Gorman mark the third year in a row that two Bearcats have been placed on the top team with Gilles joining Julie Gavorski in 2016 and Danielle Rotheram in 2015. Also, Gorman was one of two freshman placed on the first team while Gorman and Lowell were two of the only three freshmen selected this year.
// MAKING HISTORY
With her selection to the first team, Gilles continues to add to her historical happenings with the program as she is the only member of the program to earn three selections to the first team. She already was just the third Bearcats player to earn multiple first-team honors in a career, joining Natalie Smith (2016, 2013) and Heather Herweh (2002, 2001) on the list last year and now becomes the third UC player to earn three or more honors in a career. That list includes Kristina Wagner, who earned two second-team and two third-team honors (2000-03), and Tasha Wagner, who twice earned second team (2001, 2003) and one first-team honor (2002).
// MORE ON GILLES
The All-Ohio selection adds to the collection of honors Gilles hauled in during her senior campaign, one that saw her be named the 2017 American Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the All-AAC First Team. A four-time conference honoree for the Bearcats, Gilles scored three goals and anchored a stingy defense that posted 11 clean sheets on the season that helped the team to its best start in program history (6-0-1). Gilles also was honored for her academic prowess as she became the first player in program history to earn both national academic honors, being named a CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team and United Soccer Coaches All-Academic Second Team honoree.
// MORE ON GORMAN
The rookie led the team in scoring in her debut season as she tallied six goals and added four assists for 16 points. A member of the All-AAC Second Team and AAC All-Rookie Team, Gorman also was tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals during the season. She opened her scoring account in the first match of the year with the winner against Buffalo and added another winner in the final regular season match against ECU, both of which were 1-0 score lines. Gorman appeared in all 19 matches and earned a spot in the Starting XI in eight.
// MORE ON LOWELL
Lowell proved to be one of the top defenders in the league and earned a spot on the AAC All-Rookie squad as well. She appeared in 18 matches and earned a starting spot in 16 of those matches, playing the third-most minutes of anyone on the team (1,397) with only Gilles (1,531) and Katy Couperus (1,408) seeing more minutes on the year. Lowell tallied one goal, which was the winning strike in a road victory over Temple.
2017 Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association All-Ohio Honors
Vanessa Gilles • First Team
Sophie Gorman • First Team
Kiki Lowell • Second Team
This marks the fifth year in a row that at least one Bearcats player has received a first team accolade from the OCSA. With their first-team selections, Gilles and Gorman mark the third year in a row that two Bearcats have been placed on the top team with Gilles joining Julie Gavorski in 2016 and Danielle Rotheram in 2015. Also, Gorman was one of two freshman placed on the first team while Gorman and Lowell were two of the only three freshmen selected this year.
// MAKING HISTORY
With her selection to the first team, Gilles continues to add to her historical happenings with the program as she is the only member of the program to earn three selections to the first team. She already was just the third Bearcats player to earn multiple first-team honors in a career, joining Natalie Smith (2016, 2013) and Heather Herweh (2002, 2001) on the list last year and now becomes the third UC player to earn three or more honors in a career. That list includes Kristina Wagner, who earned two second-team and two third-team honors (2000-03), and Tasha Wagner, who twice earned second team (2001, 2003) and one first-team honor (2002).
// MORE ON GILLES
The All-Ohio selection adds to the collection of honors Gilles hauled in during her senior campaign, one that saw her be named the 2017 American Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the All-AAC First Team. A four-time conference honoree for the Bearcats, Gilles scored three goals and anchored a stingy defense that posted 11 clean sheets on the season that helped the team to its best start in program history (6-0-1). Gilles also was honored for her academic prowess as she became the first player in program history to earn both national academic honors, being named a CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team and United Soccer Coaches All-Academic Second Team honoree.
// MORE ON GORMAN
The rookie led the team in scoring in her debut season as she tallied six goals and added four assists for 16 points. A member of the All-AAC Second Team and AAC All-Rookie Team, Gorman also was tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals during the season. She opened her scoring account in the first match of the year with the winner against Buffalo and added another winner in the final regular season match against ECU, both of which were 1-0 score lines. Gorman appeared in all 19 matches and earned a spot in the Starting XI in eight.
// MORE ON LOWELL
Lowell proved to be one of the top defenders in the league and earned a spot on the AAC All-Rookie squad as well. She appeared in 18 matches and earned a starting spot in 16 of those matches, playing the third-most minutes of anyone on the team (1,397) with only Gilles (1,531) and Katy Couperus (1,408) seeing more minutes on the year. Lowell tallied one goal, which was the winning strike in a road victory over Temple.
2017 Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association All-Ohio Honors
Vanessa Gilles • First Team
Sophie Gorman • First Team
Kiki Lowell • Second Team