Dec. 16, 2005

Senior defender Christen Karniski (Iowa City, Iowa) was named to the All-Great Lakes Region first team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Karniski's fourth postseason award this season.

The All-Region recognition follows a trio of awards so far this season for Karniski, as she was named NSCAA second team All-America and NSCAA Academic All-Central Region and Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Year. She helped lead an Illini defense that allowed only 24 goals on the season, the third-fewest in school history, and gave up a school-record low 51 corner kicks.

Karniski started every game and played every minute of the season, never getting a break in 2,085 minutes. For her career, she started all 89 games Illinois played - a school record - and saw action in 7,710 minutes out of a possible 8,265 (93 percent). This season, Karniski also scored one goal and assisted on five for seven points.

The All-Great Lakes region award is Karniski's second as she earned a second-team honor in 2004. As a team, Illinois has had five All-Great Lakes Region selections by the NSCAA, all in the last three years.

NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region First Team
First Team

Pos. 	Name 			Year 	School 			Hometown
GK 	Laura Boyer 		Sr. 	Marquette University 	Overland Park, Kan.
D 	Candace Chapman 	Sr. 	Notre Dame  		Ajax, Ontario
D 	Virginia Graczyk 	Jr. 	Wisconsin-Milwaukee 	Libertyville, Ill.
D 	Christen Karniski 	Sr. 	Illinois 		Iowa City, Iowa
D 	Krista Mitts 		Sr. 	Ball State 		Ft. Mitchell, Ky.
M 	Jen Buczkowski 		Jr. 	Notre Dame 		Elk Grove, Ill.
M 	Mary Parker 		Jr. 	Detroit 		Troy, Mich.
M 	Julie Thompson		Sr. 	Marquette University 	Palos Heights, Ill.
F 	Jamie Craft 		Jr. 	Louisville 		Owings, Md.
F 	Kerri Hanks 		Fr. 	Notre Dame 		Allen, Texas
F 	Katie Thorlakson 	Sr. 	Notre Dame 		Langley, B.C.