FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, November 3, 2015 Lokay first-team, 4 more ‘Jackets honorable mention all-GNAC
Senior captain Katlyn Lokay earns first-team all-GNAC honors and four Yellowjackets are named to the honorable mention squad as the all-conference teams are announced Tuesday. PORTLAND, Ore. – Leading the Montana State University Billings women’s soccer team throughout a four-year career as a starter, senior captain Katlyn Lokay has been unanimously named a first-team all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selection and is one of five Yellowjackets to earn all-conference honors announced Tuesday. In addition to Lokay on the first team, juniors Kari Kastelic and Dana Lubieniecki, sophomore Jessica Spang, and freshman Chloe Hopps earned honorable mention all-conference honors. “All of these individual awards are great accomplishments, but I would like to give a ton of credit to the team for its support as well,” said MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. “Without their teammates’ hard work, dedication, and sacrifices, these awards would not have been achievable. Once again, this goes out to the whole team.” A three-year captain, Lokay has started 69 matches and logged 6,332 minutes in her career, the fourth-most in MSUB history. She has scored seven goals and provided three assists, accumulating 17 points over her first three seasons as an attacking player.
In 2015, she has played every minute of the season as a center back, helping the ‘Jackets to a team goals-against average of 0.88. Lokay earned second-team allGNAC honors as a junior in 2014, and is a two-time academic all-conference selection as well. “This is an absolutely well-deserved honor for Katlyn,” Krakowiak said. “She has been amazing this year for us playing every minute and leading us to some sweet victories and the GNAC tournament. She is a quiet leader, but she holds such a strong presence on our team and is very respected by her teammates. She is definitely one of the best players in MSUB history and I am very happy and proud of Katlyn for her dedication to this team.” Alongside Lokay for every minute of the season at center back, Kastelic has been a staple along the Yellowjackets’ back line over the past two seasons. Since transferring from New Mexico Highlands University prior to last season, the junior captain has never been subbed out of a game, playing all 3,021 minutes in her two seasons at MSUB. Kastelic was a second-team all-GNAC pick in 2014, and received academic allconference honors for the first time this season. “Kari has been awesome in the back for us this year,” said Krakowiak. “She does a lot of little things right and because of her presence on the field she is able to win or intercept a lot of balls. I am very happy for and proud of Kari.” Senior captain Katlyn Lokay.
Lubieniecki, another junior captain, has also started all 16 matches as a midfielder for the ‘Jackets and has played 1,345 minutes this season. She has scored two goals and added an assist, and was an academic all-conference selection for the second year in-a-row. “Dana has definitely earned this honor, as she is an extremely fit player who can put in 90 minutes on Thursday and Saturday,” Krakowiak said. “Her work ethic is absolutely excellent, and she is a very intelligent player with some amazing skills. As one of our three captains, she has been a great leader and played a huge part of getting into the conference tournament.” Junior Kari Kastelic.
Ranking second on the team in goals scored, Spang topped the team in total points with 15 as she had five scores and five assists. The Skyview High School graduate has started all 16 games and totaled 1,426 minutes as a striker for the ‘Jackets, leading the team in shots with 33 and placing 15 of them on target. Spang scored two goals and had three assists a season ago as a freshman, as she has compiled seven goals and eight assists so far in her career. “Jessica has been very strong for us up front,” Krakowiak commented. “She plays with a lot of passion and determination, and her work ethic and willingness to execute the little things is tireless.”
Turning in a stellar campaign in her collegiate debut was Hopps in goal, who started 14 matches and recorded a goals-against average of 0.82. The true freshman made 48 saves and recorded five shutouts, while playing 1,320 minutes in the net for MSUB. “Chloe has been absolutely excellent this year,” Krakowiak said. “She has made some crucial saves and kept the team in some close games. Chloe has been playing with a lot of confidence, and is a fearless, intelligent goalkeeper who reads the game very well. She is also a great shot stopper and her athletic abilities allow her to make some remarkable saves.”
Freshman Chloe Hopps.
Hannah Huesers of Seattle Pacific was named the GNAC Player of the Year, Delanee Nilles of Western Washington was picked as the Defensive Player of the Year, and WWU head coach Travis Connell was named the GNAC Coach of the Year. The conference’s Freshman of the Year award went to Christina Dickson of Simon Fraser, and the Newcomer of the Year honor went to Hannah Holm of Northwest Nazarene.
Lokay was one of seven players unanimously selected first-team allconference. The Yellowjackets will be in action this week, taking on Western Washington in the first round of the GNAC Championships on Thursday in Burnaby, British Columbia. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--