FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, November 1, 2016 Kastelic, Lubieniecki, Hemmen earn all-GNAC honors for MSUB women
Seniors Kari Kastelic and Dana Lubieniecki are second-team all-GNAC selections, and freshman Amanda Hemmen is an honorable mention all-league pick announced by the conference office Tuesday. PORTLAND, Ore. – Three players from the Montana State University Billings women’s soccer team earned all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honors, as seniors Kari Kastelic and Dana Lubieniecki, and freshman Amanda Hemmen each received awards announced on Tuesday. Kastelic and Lubieniecki were each named to the second-team all-conference, while Hemmen claimed honorable mention all-league honors. “I am very happy for Dana, Kari, and Amanda, and I am really proud of them,” said MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “Kari and Dana did a great job as senior captains helping us through this season, and they definitely deserve these awards. I am excited about Amanda getting honorable mention as a freshman, as she started and played every minute this year. She definitely has a bright future with us.”
Playing not only every minute of the season but every minute of her career at center back, Kastelic started all 17 matches and totaled 1,605 minutes on the defensive unit this year. Kastelic also led the Yellowjackets with three assists this season, and finished her three-year career on Saturday having never been subbed out of a game. After her first season with MSUB in 2014, Kastelic earned second-team all-GNAC honors. She was also an honorable mention all-league pick last year, and is a two-time academic all-GNAC and all-district student as well. Lubieniecki led the ‘Jackets with five goals and 12 points this season, starting all 17 games and playing 1,589 minutes in her final college season. A four-year starter at MSUB, Lubieniecki finished her career tied for 20th in MSUB history with 20 career points (8 goals, 6 assists). Earning honorable mention all-conference as a junior last year, Lubieniecki is also a three-time academic all-conference selection and an academic all-district pick. Mirroring Kastelic’s effort minute-for-minute this year, Hemmen started all 17 games and was never subbed out as she also played all 1,605 minutes this season at center back. One of the team’s most effective players overall, Hemmen consistently commanded the defensive unit and had a stellar campaign in her first season at MSUB. Western Washington University took home four of the five major awards, including GNAC Player of the Year Sierra Shugarts, Defensive Player of the Year Emily Webster, Newcomer of the Year Ashley Homer, and Coach of the Year Travis Connell. Emma Pringle of Simon Fraser University was named the conference’s Freshman of the Year. MSUB finished the 2016 season with an overall record of 4-10-3, and took sixth place in the GNAC with a league mark of 4-6-2.