CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Eight members of the Loras College women's soccer program were named to the All-Conference Team as released by the conference office on Thursday afternoon.

Headlining the Loras honorees is senior forward Savannah Johnson who was tabbed as the Most Valuable Offensive Player. The Wauconda, Ill. native led the conference in goals (22) and points (55), while also ranking second in assists (11). She currently sits fifth in Duhawk history for points in a single season, in addition to joining a three-way tie for third in goals. Johnson earned Offensive Player of the Week honors twice throughout the season as well.

Kyndal Kells has also had a historic season with the Purple and Gold. She broke the career shutout record on Oct. 18 against Luther and has added another pair since then to her total to sit at 31 shutouts in her four years with the Duhawks. The Red Oak, Iowa native has totaled 35 saves in 69 shots faced for a save percentage of 0.875, while also only allowing five goals (0.29/game) all season. Kells garnered the Defensive Player of the Week award twice in two weeks during the 2023 season.
 
Reagan Lindsay, Julia Neary, and Bella Talbot were named to the All-Conference squad for the first time in their careers. Lindsay netted three goals and dished out seven assists during the regular season, while also earning one Defensive Player of the Week honor. Neary totaled 21 points, which featured seven goals and seven assists, while Talbot added four goals and seven assists so far this season.

Seniors Libby Perry and Hannah Schmitz both received this distinction for the second year in a row. Perry contributed one goal and two assists, while also providing veteran leadership to the defense who only allowed five goals and limited opponents to just 4.1 shots per game. The Dubuque, Iowa native captured one Defensive Player of the Week award as well. Schmitz ranked third on the team in goals (5) and fifth in assists (5) in regular season play.

Christina Salerno was the final Duhawk to earn recognition from the conference. The Hoffman Estates, Ill. native was named an Honorable Mention selection for her role on the Loras defense. She also secured the first Defensive Player of the Week honor of her career this year.

Head coach Matt Pucci and his assistant coaches, Sam Koenig and Elizabeth Mills, were also named Coaching Staff of the Year after posting a 16-1-1 overall record and an unblemished 8-0 mark in American Rivers play for the third consecutive year. This is Pucci's fifth time receiving the award since the beginning of his head coaching tenure in 2016.

The Duhawks welcome the University of Chicago, North Central College, and Lake Forest College to the Rock Bowl for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division III National Tournament, beginning on Saturday, Nov. 11. Loras takes on the Foresters in the Round of 64 at 1:00 p.m.
 
2023 All-Conference Team
Paige Cahill, Central
Grace Coates, Central
Ella Weber, Coe
Emma Kober, Dubuque
Virginia Speltz, Dubuque
Alyssa Tranchita, Dubuque
Savannah Johnson, Loras
Kyndal Kells, Loras
Reagan Lindsay, Loras
Julia Neary, Loras
Libby Perry, Loras
Hannah Schmitz, Loras
Bella Talbot, Loras
Kaitlyn Bebensee, Luther
Maggie Haller, Luther
Emma Lin, Luther
Hailey Kowzan, Simpson
Lani Mears, Simpson
Cassie Nash, Simpson
Brissa Valadez, Simpson
Julia Wagoner, Simpson
Lauren Kirkle, Wartburg
 
Honorable Mention
Bridget Lynch, Central
Zoey Sizemore, Central
Bailey Brennan, Dubuque
Karissa Cruz, Dubuque
Christina Salerno, Loras
Ken Vavrichek, Luther
Makayla Hadorff, Luther
Averie Hike, Nebraska Wesleyan
Kaeding Rassfeld, Nebraska Wesleyan
Jordyn Foelske, Simpson
Mya Jansen, Wartburg
 
Offensive MVP: Savannah Johnson, Loras
Defensive MVP: Julia Wagoner, Simpson
Coaching Staff of the Year: Loras College (Head Coach: Matt Pucci)