Three players on the Nebraska Wesleyan University women’s soccer team were named to the 2008 Great Plains Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer All-Conference team that was announced Thursday (Nov. 6). Senior Wendy Soenksen was the top honoree for NWU as she earned All-GPAC Second Team honors. Monica Hilger and Jamie Essink were honorable mention All-GPAC selections.

Soenksen (Lincoln, Neb.) started 17 games for the Prairie Wolves during her senior season despite battling injuries. She scored one goal and had an assist to finish her career with 16 points. Soenksen is a three-time All-GPAC selection as she was a First-Team All-GPAC pick as a junior in 2007 and earned honorable mention All-GPAC as a sophomore in 2006.

Hilger (Lincoln, Neb.) started all 18 games for NWU and was the top defender for the Prairie Wolves. She scored a goal in the final game of the season. Hilger was a Second-Team All-GPAC selection in 2006. She also excels in the classroom where she is a two-time Academic All-District pick.

Essink (Lincoln, Neb.) tied for the team lead with four goals during her sophomore season. She had one game-winning goal on the year. She has scored six goals during her career.

Kate DuMez from Dordt College was the GPAC Player-of-the-Year and Kelsie DeNooy from Dordt is the Defensive Player-of-the-Year. Dave Schenk from Dordt is the Coach-of-the-Year.

NWU finished the 2008 season with a 5-10-3 record and a 4-5-3 record in the GPAC

NWU All-GPAC Performers

Second Team

Wendy Soenksen, D, Sr., Lincoln, Neb.

Honorable Mention

Jamie Essink, MF/D, So., Lincoln, Neb.

Monica Hilger, D, Sr., Lincoln, Neb.