WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – The Chico State women’s soccer team is still in the hunt for an NCAA Championship Tournament berth, and as the ’Cats prepare for their California Collegiate Athletic Assocition (CCAA) Tournament opener against Cal State L.A. Friday, senior midfielder Ali Sward can feel good knowing that she is among 11 players in the conference to earn All-CCAA First Team honors.

The selection, announced Thursday, is Sward’s second All-CCAA award – she was a second team all-conference choice in 2008. This season, Sward has easily been the key component of the Chico State offense – the senior from Ocean Beach notched single-season bests with seven goals and eight assists in ’09, contributing directly to 15 of the 22 goals the Wildcats scored during the regular season. Sward finished the regular season ranked third in the CCAA in assists, and tied for seventh in points (22). With at least one more match to play, Sward sits just outside the Chico State career top 10 in goals scored (14), assists (11) and total points (39).

Senior goalkeeper Natalie Bensky, junior forward/midfielder Kelsey Ikemoto and sophomore defender Molly Downtain were also recognized by the CCAA Thursday, earning conference Honorable Mentions.

Liz Franco of Cal State L.A. was named the CCAA Women’s Soccer Most Valuable Offensive Player, with teammate Amanda Matthews selected as the conference’s Most Valuable Defensive Player. UC San Diego’s Jessica Wi and Ann Marie Tangorra of Cal State L.A. shared the CCAA Freshman of the Year award, while Britney Vance of Cal State Dominguez Hills was named the conference’s Newcomer of the Year. Chris Chamides of Cal State L.A. – ranked in the top 10 nationally and No. 1 in the West Region – was chosen as CCAA Coach of the Year.

Click here for a complete list of All-CCAA First and Second Team selections, and Honorable Mentions.

Chico State takes on Cal State L.A. in one of Friday’s two CCAA Tournament semi-final matches. The Wildcats and Golden Eagles are scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.