Lady Jacket Soccer Hands Out Season Awards (12/6/05)

BILLINGS, MT – With the fall semester winding down, Montana State-Billings women’s soccer coach Don Trentham announced his season award winners this week.  The Lady Yellowjackets were 11-5-2 overall this season, posting a winning record for the second year in a row.  It’s the first time in the program’s history that the Jackets have had back-to-back winning campaigns.

Lacey Albrent, a senior defender from Ojai, Calif., received the Quest for Excellence award.  This annual award is presented to the player who demonstrates teamwork, hard work, dedication, discipline and passion to the MSU Billings women’s soccer team.  The Quest for Excellence award is voted on by the student-athletes and is considered the highest award in the program.

Mandy Ploskonka, a freshman midfielder from Federal Way, Wash., was selected as the Newcomer of the Year.  Ploskonka played in all 18 games as a true freshman, scoring four goals with three assists for 11 points.  She was also named the Heartland Conference freshman of the year.

Megan Plank, a junior goalkeeper from Phoenix, Ariz., was chosen as the Most Valuable Player by her teammates for the third consecutive year.  She was a Heartland Conference first team selection this season.  In three seasons as the starting goalkeeper, Plank has set five school career records.  She has posted 28 victories, 255 saves, 13 shutouts, and a 1.02 goals against average in 4,508 minutes.

Ally Stroup, a junior midfielder from Ojai, Calif., was named the team’s Scholar Athlete.  The award is presented to the junior or senior with the highest cumulative grade point average.  Stroup has a 3.61 GPA in Psychology.  She was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic District VII second team as well as the All-Heartland Conference first team this year.  Already the school record holder for career assists, Stroup will likely break the school records for goals and points next season.