KANSAS CITY, Kan. – It’s there’s such a thing as hitting a postseason awards trifecta, Chico State’s Ali Sward has officially accomplished the feat. On the heels of earning All-CCAA First Team honors and an NCAA/Daktronics All-West Region First Team selection, the Wildcats’ senior midfielder was named Monday to the 2009 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Far West All-Region First Team. Sward’s teammate, sophomore defender Molly Downtain, was also honored as an NSCAA Far West All-Region Second Team selection.

Sward was among 12 athletes who received Far West All-Region First Team recognition. The California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) landed nine players on the First Team, with UC San Diego claiming five spots. The conference also collected nine of the dozen Second Team selections.

Sward contributed to 65 percent of Chico State’s total scores in 2009, posting seven goals and eight assists on the season. She also accounted for three match-winning goals in leading the Wildcats to an 8-6-9 record and a second round appearance NCAA Championship Tournament.
 
For Downtain, who returned to the Chico State lineup after sitting out 2008 as a medical redshirt, Monday’s NSCAA honor was her second postseason accolade of ’09 – earlier this month the Upland native received an All-CCAA Honorable Mention. Downtain started all 23 matches for the Wildcats, and her 1,904 minutes played was third most on the team.

COMPLETE LIST OF NSCAA FIRST AND SECOND TEAM SELECTIONS