Nov. 2, 2005

Ann Arbor, Mich. - Senior defender Christen Karniski was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-Big Ten, and Marti Desjarlais and Emily Zurrer were named to the Big Ten All-Freshmen Team tonight at the awards banquet preceding the Big Ten Tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich earlier tonight. Karniski shared the Defensive Player of the Year Award with Penn State's Lindsay Bach.

Karniski (Iowa City, Iowa/West) has played every minute of every game so far for the Illini this season, the only Illinois player to do so. She has one goal and four assists, two on game-winning goals. She is an anchor in the Illini backfield, starring from her left back position with her defensive prowess and runs into the attacking third. Karniski is also Illinois' Big Ten sportsmanship award honoree. This is Karniski's first selection to the All-Big Ten first team. She was a second-team selection in 2004 and a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2002.

Freshmen Marti Desjarlais (Pewaukee, Wis./Brookfield Central), a midfielder, and Emily Zurrer (Vancouver, B.C./Cowichan Secondary), a defender, were named to the Big Ten All-Freshmen Team after enjoying successful first seasons. Desjarlais has two goals from her offensive midfield position and has started all 18 games, playing 74 percent of Illinois' total minutes this season.

Zurrer has two goals and two assists, with both of her goals serving as game-winners. Zurrer was named to the Soccer America Team of the Week on Sept. 27 after scoring the golden goal in Illinois' overtime win against No. 16 Wisconsin and tallying an assist against Northwestern in the previous game.

All-Big Ten Teams
First Team
Forwards
Melissa Dobbyn, MICH
Emma Harris, MSU
TIFFANY WEIMER, PSU
Lauren Sesselmann, PUR

Midfield
Kristen Zmijewski, IND
ALI KRIEGER, PSU
Kara Kabellis, WIS

Defense
Christen Karniski, ILL
Lindsay Bach, PSU
Marissa Brown, WIS
Natalie Jacobs, PSU

Goalkeeper
*Erin McLeod, PSU
*Molly Schneider, MINN

Second Team
Forwards
Lisa Collison, OSU
Jessica Okoroafo, PUR
Amy Vermeulen, WIS

Midfield
Tabitha Lowey, NU
Allie Long, PSU
Lara Dickenmann, OSU

Defense
Skylar Andrews, MICH
Nicki Burnie, MINN
Melissa Miller, OSU

All-Freshmen Team
Forwards
Molly Kruger, IND
Lisa Collison, OSU
Jessica Okoroafo, PUR

Midfield
*Marti Desjarlais, ILL
*Danelle Underwood, MICH
Kelsey Hood, MINN
Allie Long, PSU
*Sheree Gray, PSU

Defense
Emily Zurrer, ILL
Skylar Andrews, MICH
Clare Grimwood, MINN
Laura Janowitsch, NU

Goalkeeper
Courtney Cripps, OSU

Scholarship Award Nominees
Christen Karniski, ILL
Kristen Zmijewski, IND
Whitney Strain, IOWA
Katelin Spencer, MICH
Nina Mastracci, MSU
Kelsey Hood, MINN
Julie Lipinski, NU
Melissa Miller, OSU
Lindsay Bach, PSU
Rebecca Robison, PUR
Jessica Ring, WIS

Offensive Player of the Year: TIFFANY WEIMER, PSU
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Christen Karniski, ILL; Lindsay Bach, PSU
Freshman of the Year: Jessica Okoroafo, PUR
Coach of the Year: Paula Wilkins, PSU

Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
* Tie