Jessica Batey Named KIAC Defensive Player of the Year, Three Others Honored

WILMORE, Ky. – Asbury women’s soccer had four players named to the All-KIAC team including Jessica Batey being named Defensive Player of the Year and Coach Paul Nesselroade being named Coach of the Year for the fourth time.

The Eagles (12-8, 4-0 KIAC) wrapped up their sixth consecutive KIAC regular-season title and their fifth tournament championship with a 3-2 win over Cincinnati Christian on Saturday.  The Eagles bounced back from last season’s tournament championship loss to CCU.

Batey is the third Eagle to be named KIAC Defensive Player of the Year and the second straight following Maegan Rogers last year.  The junior defender was a key cog in the defensive back line all season as the Eagles didn’t allow a goal in KIAC matches this year.  They finished with a 1.94 goals allowed average on the season, the second-best in the KIAC.  Batey would also score three goals and record two assists.

Jessica Batey was also selected to the All-KIAC team for the second straight year.  Batey’s twin sister, Rebecca, was selected to the All-KIAC team for the third straight year after scoring 12 goals in the regular season.  She would also record a hat-trick in the semi-finals of the KIAC Tournament. 

Maegan Rogers was selected to the All-KIAC team for the third time as well.  The redshirt-senior goalie made 68 saves in 16 starts for the Eagles.  The fourth Eagle on the All-KIAC team was sophomore Andrea Hasik, making her first appearance on the team.  The midfielder scored three goals and recorded four assists in the regular season while playing all but 70 minutes.

This is the fifth straight year the Eagles placed at least four players on the All-KIAC team.  The Eagles will await their seeding and pairing in the NCCAA Mid-East Region Tournament to be played at a yet unknown location.