Kneisel Named WSC Player of the Year as 12 Cougars Earn All-Conference Awards

After a record-setting regular season and trip to the playoffs, the College of the Canyons women's soccer team has been rewarded, with 12 Cougars having earned All-Conference honors including sophomore forward Marissa Kneisel who has been named the Western State Conference (WSC) Player of the Year for the second time in as many seasons. 

Kneisel finished the 2015 season with 31 goals, 12 assists and 74 points to lead COC in all categories, while starting all 21 games for the Cougars. Included in those totals were 11 game-winning scores

She also led the conference in goals, points, total shots (111) and shots on goal (67).

In 2015, Kneisel essentially rewrote the women's soccer program's record book, by establishing a new single season mark for goals scored and becoming the college's all-time career leader with 51 career goals and 129 points in her two years as a Cougar.

Those numbers helped Canyons (14-2-5, 11-0-3) clinch its fifth straight WSC, South Championship, all coming under head coach Justin Lundin.

Joining Kneisel as postseason honorees were sophomore midfielders Taylor Sclimenti and Astrid Perez, freshman defenders Isabella Hochner and Kailey Marquez, and freshman forward Amanda Balzer who were each named First-Team All-WSC.

Sophomore defenders Kristen Fowble and Lucy Maino, freshman defender Hanna Halstead and freshman goalkeeper Kianna Hemphill were all named Second-Team All-WSC.

Freshman midfielder Kristin Barbour and freshman defender Courtney Ravenell both earned All-WSC Honorable Mention awards.