ECNL College Impact | The Big Ten Conference
RICHMOND, VA (November 10, 2015) – The Elite Clubs National League College Impact series began last season with a look at how the ECNL has impacted college soccer across the country. In just over 6 years, impact of ECNL alums in the Big 10 is astounding. During the 2015 college season, 223 ECNL alums participated in Big Ten Conference soccer – almost 60% of the total women’s soccer athletes in the conference. Even more impressive, 10 freshmen on the All-Freshman Team are ECNL alums.
Across college soccer, the “ECNL player” has become the epitome of the next generation collegiate soccer player. The ECNL College Impact can be measured by the number of ECNL alumni that have moved on to collegiate soccer, and the increase in this number every year since the league’s inception.
The Big Ten Conference stretches across nearly half the country, from the Midwest all the way to the East Coast. The Big Ten includes the University of Illinois, University of Indiana, University of Iowa, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Nebraska, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Penn State University, Purdue University, Rutgers University and University of Wisconsin. The ECNL College Impact for the Big Ten includes all players active on Big Ten rosters:
- 223 ECNL alumni are currently playing in the Big Ten Conference.
- Big Ten Regular Season Co-Champions: University of Wisconsin and Penn State University have a total of 38 ECNL alumni on their championship rosters.
- Nearly 58% of the players in the Big Ten Conference are ECNL alums.
- 21 players from the Big Ten First Team, Second Team, and All-Freshman Team are ECNL alumni, nearly 70% of the Big Ten Conference honorees.
- The Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, Casey Murphy, and Big Ten Forward of the Year, Simone Kolander, are ECNL alumni. In addition, 10 out of the 16 playerson the Big Ten All-Freshman Team are ECNL alumni.
Congratulations to all of the ECNL alumni recognized by the Big Ten Conference for All Conference First Team, Second Team and All-Freshman Team:
| Name | College | ECNL Member Club |
| Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz | Michigan State | Michigan Hawks |
| Simone Kolander | Minnesota | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Casey Murphy | Rutgers | PDA |
| Brianne Reed | Rutgers | PDA |
| Ani Sarkisian | Michigan | PDA |
| Mallory Weber | Penn State | Michigan Hawks |
| Caitlyn Clem | Wisconsin | Michigan Hawks |
| Emily Ogle | Penn State | Internationals SC |
| Megan Schafer | Penn State | FC Bucks |
| Addie Steiner | Northwestern | Sporting Blue Valley |
| Brianna Stelzer | Wisconsin | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Reilly Martin | Michigan | Eclipse Select SC |
| Lexy Warner | Michigan State | Michigan Hawks |
| April Bockin | Minnesota | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Molly Fiedler | Minnesota | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Marisa Viggiano | Northwestern | Michigan Hawks |
| Sarah Roberts | Ohio State | So Cal Blues |
| Charlotte Williams | Penn State | Penn Fusion |
| Kate Walters | Rutgers | PDA |
| Kayla Sharples | Northwestern | Eclipse Select SC |
| Kenie Wright | Rutgers | PDA |
The ECNL is providing a highway to Big Ten college soccer – and the ECNL College Impact in the Big Ten is growing. Join the ECNL, and start your journey to the Big Ten school of your dreams!
The ECNL is more than four letters – it is the best platform for female soccer players in the United States, and the vision and goal of the best clubs, teams, and players in the country. Become an ECNL athlete and start your path to college soccer now.
To view a full listing of current ECNL alums playing in the Big Ten Conference, click here.
###
About Elite Clubs National League: The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) was founded in 2009 to enhance the developmental experience of female youth soccer players in the United States through: (i) Improving the competitive environment through creation of a true national competitive league; (ii) Improving the process for identifying elite female soccer players for the U.S. Soccer youth national teams through a systematic scouting and identification program based on national competitions; and (iii) improving the daily training environment at top female youth soccer clubs through developing best practices and training and organizational guidelines for its member clubs. The ECNL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer and is sponsored by Nike Soccer.
eliteclubsnationalleague.com | Facebook: /theECNL | Twitter: @theECNL