Skelly Named to Scholar All-West Region Team by NSCAA

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior midfielder Stephanie Skelly (Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) has been named to the Women's College Scholar All-West Region Second Team for the 2011 season, as chosen by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Skelly was one of 26 athletes from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, the NAIA and junior colleges selected to receive College Scholar All-West Region honors, with 13 players on the First Team and 13 on the Second Team. Willamette, which finished the year 11-8-1 overall and 10-5-1 (3rd place) in the Northwest Conference, is a member of NCAA Division III.

Each student-athlete who earned Scholar All-Region honors met several academic and athletics requirements.

Requirements included at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale and starts in at least 50% of games played by the athlete's college team. In addition, each student-athlete was at least a junior in academic standing and made significant contributions to their team. Transfer students in their first year at their current college or university were not eligible for Scholar All-Region status.

As a Willamette student, Skelly is majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She entered the fall semester with a 3.877 cumulative grade point average.

Skelly was the leading scorer in the Northwest Conference this season in both goals and total points. She scored 16 goals and added five assists for 37 points. She scored two goals in a single game six times during the year and was involved in 21 of the 37 goals scored by the Bearcats.

Her goal with 21 seconds left against against the University of Puget Sound sent Willamette to a 2-1 victory over the Loggers on Oct. 23. During her WU career, Skelly achieved a total of 10 game-winning goals, including three this season.

"Stephanie had a tremendous senior season," said Willamette Head Coach Hillary Arthur. "It's one of those dream seasons that every athlete at every level hopes and works for, and for Stephanie, that dream became her reality!"

Skelly finished her four seasons at Willamette with 35 goals and 7 assists for 77 points. She increased her goal-scoring each year, from two goals as a freshman and six goals as a sophomore to 11 goals during her junior season and 16 goals as a senior.

She played in 75 games for the Bearcats with a total of 70 starts. She blasted 196 total shots in her career, including 97 shots on goal.

The Scholar All-West Region selection adds to a string of postseason honors for Skelly this season.

She was named First Team All-Northwest Conference, was chosen NWC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year, and earned Second Team All-West Region honors for her efforts on the field. She previously was chosen First Team All-NWC in 2009 and was Second Team All-NWC in 2010.

She was named First Team Capital One Academic All-America for NCAA Division III, as chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). She was selected First Team Academic All-District VIII for the second year in a row.

"What I'm enjoying right now is that it's January 12 and we are still talking about Stephanie Skelly and her many awards, which seem to keep coming and coming," Arthur said. "I was thrilled to call her again to offer my congratulations on yet another award. Stephanie has been recognized both academically and athletically from several organizations and it's great to see that she is being honored by the NSCAA as a recipient of the NSCAA Scholar All-Region award."