GVSU Places Three On Women's Soccer All-America First Team
This release courtesy of the Grand Valley State University sports information department
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SAN ANGELO, Tex. - Grand Valley State placed three student-athletes on the Daktronics, Inc. All-America teams. Seniors Kristina Nasturzio and Katy Tafler, as well as junior Natalja Stanski, all earned first team honors. This marks the third time that Tafler has been a first-team selection, while Nasturzio is a two-time selection and Stanski is a first-time honoree.
Tafler was named a Daktronics First Team All-American for the
third consecutive season following ballots voted on by the members
of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
She earned the award after leading Grand Valley State in points and
goals for the fourth consecutive season, tallying 20 goals, 13
assists and 53 points on the season. In the regular season, she
became the only player in GLIAC history to record at least 40 goals
and 40 assists (114/41), and just the 17th person to do so in
Division II history. She is the GLIAC's all-time leader in goals
(114), assists (41) and points (269). Through Nov. 23 in Division
II, Tafler ranks 14th in points per game (2.3), 16th in assists per
game (.57) and 21st in goals per game (.87). In her career, she is
also GVSU's all-time leader in goals (114), assists (t-41) and
points (269). Those totals rank her third in both goals and points
in Division II history. She is a two-time Daktronics Division II
Player of the Year and the three-time Daktronics Midwest Region
Player of the Year. She has also been recognized for her academics,
as she was recently named a member of the 2008 ESPN the Magazine
All-District IV Academic First Team. Most recently, she earned her
fourth selection to the All-GLIAC first team and her third
consecutive GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year award.
Nasturzio backstopped the Lakers to the Division II single-season
record for shutouts this season (19). She has also recorded 15 solo
shutouts, which ranks her fourth in Division II history. Through
Nov. 23, she ranked second in Division II in goals-against average
(.229) and save percentage (.912). She was a first team All-GLIAC
selection for the third time this season. During the 2008 season,
she posted a consecutive shutout streak of 880:01, the fifth-best
streak in Division II history.
Stanski shifted to defense over the offseason and responded by
anchoring the top-ranked scoring defense in Division II (.217). In
large part because of her defense, GVSU also ranked first in
shutout percentage (.826). The Lakers allowed just five goals all
season, averaging out to .217 goals-against per game. Stanski and
the Lakers have also held opponents to just 57 shots on goal
through 23 matches. In conference play, the Lakers allowed just two
goals throughout the season and never more than one in a match. She
earned All-GLIAC first team plaudits and was named the conference's
Defensive Player of the Year. She was also recently named a member
of the 2008 ESPN the Magazine All-District IV Academic First Team.
Click here for full release and All-America selections
