2024 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 third straight year, while defender Samantha Meyer (SR, Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) was named to the 12-player All-MIAC Honorable Mention squad. Midfielder Phoebe Alva Rosa (JR, Jackson, Wyo./Jackson Hole HS) was 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 Meyer and Alva Rosa.

Returning for a graduate campaign in 2024, Ponce was once again one of the best all-around players in the MIAC this season. In her third season as an Auggie after transferring from Division II Fort Lewis (Colo.), Ponce led the Auggies with 12 goals, 27 points and five game-winning goals, to go along with three assists. Her 12 goals tied for the MIAC lead this season, while her 27 points were second-most. Starting all 18 games (1,456 minutes played, 81.4 minutes per-game), she had eight full 90-minute efforts, scoring goals in seven contests. She had two of her three collegiate hat tricks this season, scoring three goals in Augsburg's 6-0 win at Bethany Lutheran on Sept. 10 and in the Auggies' 3-0 win over St. Scholastica on Oct. 26. Playing in 55 games in three seasons as an Auggie (4,457 minutes, 81.0 minutes per-game), Ponce scored 29 goals (sixth-most in Augsburg history) with 24 assists (seventh) for 82 points (sixth) in her Auggie years.

Meyer was one of the backbones of an Augsburg defense that allowed just 16 opponent goals this season, fourth-fewest among MIAC teams this season, with its .889 goals against-average also fourth-best in the conference. Starting 16 of her 18 games played this season (1,358 minutes played, 75.4 minutes per-game), Meyer played nine full-90-minute contests and assisted on the game-winning goal in Augsburg's MIAC playoff-clinching 1-0 win at Macalester on Nov. 2. Playing in 53 games (3,786 minutes, 71.4 minutes per-game) in three seasons as an Auggie, Meyer scored one goal with two assists for four career points.

Alva Rosa earned her MIAC All-Playoff Team honors for her strong efforts in Augsburg 1-0 playoff loss at St. Olaf on Nov. 4. A verstaile player who filled both attacking and defensive duties this season, Alva Rosa started 17 of 18 games (1,275 minutes played, 70.8 minutes per-game), scoring one goal with two assists for four points. She scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute in Augsburg's 1-0 win over Concordia-Moorhead on Oct. 12. In 55 games (3,987 minutes played, 72.5 minutes per-game), Alva Rosa has scored eight goals with 12 assists for 28 career points.

Under second-year head coach Clara Webby, Augsburg finished 8-5-5 overall, 4-2-5 in MIAC play in 2024. Augsburg made its 14th appearance in the MIAC postseason playoffs since 2004, and 10th playoff appearance in the last 12 full seasons.