Flaws Repeats as Big Ten Forward of the Year
November 4, 2014 | Soccer
ROSEMONT, Ill. - University of Illinois senior Jannelle Flaws was named Big Ten Forward of the Year for the second straight season, announced the conference office Tuesday. Flaws, who was a unanimous pick and a first-team All-Big Ten selection, led the Big Ten with 17 goals, which was five more than any other conference player. Freshman Abby Elinsky was chosen to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team as a defender, while senior Megan Green was Illinois' Sportsmanship honoree.
Flaws is the fifth player in Big Ten history to win the conference's Player of the Year honor in consecutive seasons, joining Minnesota's Jennifer McElmury (1996-97) and Penn State's Christie Welsh (1999-01), Tiffany Weimer (2004-05) and Maya Hayes (2011-12). The Big Ten honored a singular Player of the Year from 1994-2003 before expanding it to a Big Ten Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year from 2004-10. The conference began recognizing the top player at each position (Forward, Midfielder, Defender, Goalkeeper) in 2011.
Flaws is the first Illinois soccer player to earn the Big Ten's top honor twice and is one of six Illini to garner one of the conference's top individual awards in school history. Prior to Flaws winning last season, Vanessa DiBernardo (Midfielder of the Year) and Jenna Carosio (Defender of the Year) were the last Illini to earn the conference's top honor at their position in 2011. Former Illini Ella Masar earned the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Emily Zurrer was the Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2006. Christen Karniski was selected as Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2005.
Flaws is tied for fourth in the NCAA with 17 goals this season after leading the nation with a school-record 23 goals in 2013. Since the beginning of the 2013 season, she owns 40 goals in 42 games, which is five more goals than any other player in the nation. For her career, Flaws has 43 goals, which is tied with DiBernardo for third on the school's all-time list. Flaws is chasing the top two goal scorers in program history: Tara Hurless (47 goals) and Emily Brown (46 goals).
Flaws also equaled her career-high with three assists this season and leads the Big Ten in shots (101) and points (37). In Big Ten games only, Flaws boasts the most goals (13), points (27) and shots (79) in league play.
From Sept. 14-28, Flaws scored in five consecutive games, equaling the school record set by Brown in 2000. She scored 10 goals during that stretch, the most ever by an Illini in that span. The Glenview, Illinois, native became the first Illini to tally multiple goals in four straight games to start her streak: 2 at Nebraska; 2 vs. Indiana; 3 vs. Purdue; and 2 at Ohio State. Her fifth straight game with a goal came at Penn State.
Elinsky started all 19 games during her debut season, primarily playing on the back line. She scored two goals and tallied an assist while taking 26 shots. The Rocky River, Ohio, native has played nearly 1,600 minutes and owns one game-winning goal.
Up Next: No. 7 seed Illinois will square off against No. 2 seed Wisconsin in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 3:30 p.m. CT at the Boilermaker Soccer Complex in West Lafayette, Indiana.
2014 Big Ten Individual Honors
Forward of the Year: JANNELLE FLAWS, Illinois
Midfielder of the Year: Raquel Rodriguez, Penn State
Defender of the Year: Whitney Church, Penn State
Goalkeeper of the Year: Genevieve Richard, Wisconsin
Freshman of the Year: Emily Ogle, Penn State
Coach of the Year: Erica Walsh, Penn State
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
