Additionally, sophomore
Sam Balek was named Second Team All-OVC for the second year in a row and freshman
Kristin Germann represented the Panthers on the All-Newcomer Team.
Eastern has had at least one player named First Team All-OVC every season the league has handed out postseason awards (1998-present). However, it's the first time since 2006 that multiple Panthers have been selected to the First Team.
Balek is the fifth EIU player to be an All-OVC selection in each of her underclassman seasons. The first four Panthers to accomplish the feat all went on to become four-time honorees.
Eastern had one player honored at every position this year. Ridolfi was one of three forwards named to the First Team. Williams was the First Team selection at goalkeeper. Balek was again recognized as one of the premier center back defenders in the league. Germann started all 19 games as a central midfielder in her first collegiate season.
Ridolfi started each of the final eight games of the regular season, moving into the lineup after scoring the equalizer in the conference-opening draw at Southeast Missouri. It was the first of her three goals in OVC play this season. She also scored at Murray State and in the Senior Day win versus Jacksonville State and assisted on
Sarah Rusk's equalizer in the draw with Tennessee Tech.
Williams also stepped up big in the draw at rival SEMO, making a career-high 13 saves. She eventually won OVC Goalkeeper of the Week honors for excellence protecting the net the final weekend of September. After trailing for 45 minutes, EIU earned a key standings point on the road with a draw that day. The Panthers also denied SEMO two additional standings points. Though it was the first of nine conference games for both teams, it proved to be an important result in deciding the final two OVC Tournament berths.
Ridolfi and Williams represent two members of a six-player senior class that has helped EIU extend its conference-record streak of consecutive OVC Tournament appearances to 11.
Beginning with the Sept. 24 overtime win against Western Illinois, Williams started each of the final 10 games of the season. She recorded four shutouts in those 10 games, increasing her career total to 16. And she has helped EIU lead the OVC in saves, making 46 of her 60 stops in conference play. As a four-year starter, she has logged over 5,000 minutes in goal during her career.
Balek started every game for the second year in a row, extending her team-long streak to 38 consecutive games entering the OVC Tournament. She has gone the distance in 18 of the 19 games and been on the field for 1,806 of the possible 1,823 minutes this season. She played the entire game in all six EIU shutouts.
Germann ranks third on the team in minutes played (1,604), going the distance 11 times. She's the first EIU true freshman to start every game since 2006. Her goals versus Northern Iowa and Austin Peay proved to be game-winners, becoming only the fourth Panther freshman to score multiple game-winners in her first year. And by assisting on goals by
Alexis Miller and
Rachel Hamilton in the draws against Indiana State and Iowa State, Germann managed to record a point in all four games of the September homestand. That was longest point streak by a Panther since 2004.
Eastern opens OVC Tournament play against Tennessee Tech Thursday at 4 p.m. (CST). The winner advances to take on top-seeded Morehead State Friday at 4 p.m. (CST).
Individual Awards
OVC Offensive Player of the Year: Jen Hoffman, Tennessee Tech
OVC Defensive Player of the Year: Danielle Rogers, UT Martin
OVC Co-Freshmen of the Year:
Danielle McMurray, Murray State & Kris Cambron, Tennessee Tech
OVC Coach of the Year: Warren Lipka, Morehead State
