2023 MIAC WOMEN'S SOCCER AWARDS

MINNEAPOLIS -- Three Augsburg University women's soccer players earned postseason honors from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, it was announced on Tuesday. Forward Jayla Ponce (SR, Kuna, Idaho/Kuna HS) was named to the 22-member All-MIAC team for the second straight year, joining forward Megan Hensel (SR, Woodbury, Minn./Woobury HS). Ponce and midfielder Malia Neumann (JR, Mankato, Minn./Mankato West HS) were named to the 11-member MIAC All-Playoff Team, honoring outstanding performances during the six-team MIAC postseason playoffs. It's the first conference postseason honors for Hensel and Neumann.

Ponce was one of the best all-around players in the MIAC this season, both as a dynamic scorer and playmaker. She finished her second season as an Auggie, after transferring from Division II Fort Lewis (Colo.), with team highs of 11 goals, 14 assists and 36 points, leading the MIAC in assists while standing second in goals and points. Her 14 assists, the second-most in a single season in Augsburg history, are currently third-most among all NCAA Division III players nationally, with her 0.74 assists per-game average fifth-best. Her 36 points are 39th among NCAA Division III players nationally. Playing in all 19 games, she played 1,533 minutes (80.7 minutes per-game), the third-most minutes of any Auggie. She had a goal or assist in 14 games, with three multi-goal games, including a three-goal, one-assist effort in Augsburg's 5-0 win over Wisconsin-River Falls on Oct. 18. Playing in 37 games in two seasons as an Auggie (2,995 minutes, 80.9 minutes per-game), Ponce scored 17 goals (tied for 12th in Augsburg history) with 22 assists (ninth) for 56 points (11th) in her Auggie years.

A four-year veteran of the Augsburg program, Hensel had a career year in 2023, finishing with six goals and four assists for 17 points. An aggressive and quick playmaker, Hensel scored a goal or had an assist in eight of her 19 games (1,347 minutes, 70.9 minutes per-game) this season, including a two-goal effort in Augsburg's 4-0 win over three-time Upper Midwest Athletic Conference titlist and NCAA Division III national tournament participant Wisconsin-Superior on Sept. 6. She scored a penalty kick goal and had two game-winning goals this season. Playing in 56 games (3,951 minutes, 70.6 minutes per-game) in her Augsburg career, Hensel scored seven goals with eight assists for 22 career points.

Neumann earned her MIAC All-Playoff Team honors for her strong efforts in Augsburg's two conference playoff games -- a 3-1 win at Macalester on Oct. 30 and a 3-0 loss at Carleton on Nov. 2. On the year, she played in all 19 games, compiling 1,548 minutes (81.5 minutes per-game) as a defensive midfielder, the most minutes of any Auggie this season. She scored one goal on the year, a goal in Augsburg's 3-3 tie against St. Olaf on Oct. 14. Neumann has played in 54 games (4,222 minutes, 78.2 minutes per-game) in her three seasons as an Auggie, with one goal.

Under first-year head coach Clara Webby, Augsburg finished 11-4-4 overall, 4-3-3 in MIAC play in 2023, its 17th double-digit win season and program history, and ninth since the 2012 campaign. Augsburg made its 13th appearance in the MIAC postseason playoffs since 2004, and ninth playoff appearance in the last 11 full seasons.