Russmann, Mulberry and Regan Headline Summit League Awards

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota State women’s soccer’s Morgan Russmann, Payton Mulberry, and head coach Mike Regan headlined the 2024 Summit League honors announced by the league Thursday morning.
 
Russmann was named the Summit League Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, while Mulberry was named the Goalkeeper of the Year and Regan earned Coach of the Year honors.
 
Mulberry, Russmann, and Amaya Garrett were also named to the All-Summit League First Team. Hannah Arnold and Olivia Watson received All-Summit League Second Team honors and Gabrielle Garrett was named honorable mention All-Summit League. Russmann also received All-Newcomer Team accolades.
 
Russmann became the first freshman in Summit League history to win a player of the year award. She is also the first player in league history to win a player of the year award, along with Newcomer of the Year award. The Bettendorf, Iowa native scored eight goals in league play, including four game-winning goals, leading the league in both categories. She also tied for the league lead with three assists, totaling 19 points in eight games.
 
Mulberry becomes the second straight Bison to win the Goalkeeper of the Year award, following Abby Wilkinson last season. Mulberry started all eight games in league play, tying for the league lead with two shutouts. Among goalkeepers who played at least 500 of the 720 possible minutes in league play, Mulberry led the league with a 1.000 goals against average.
 
Regan led the Bison on a remarkable turnaround to claim the program’s first Summit League Regular Season Championship since 2016. The Bison were picked seventh in the preseason coaches poll and finished 2023 in seventh, missing the Summit League Tournament. Regan and the Bison became the first program in Summit League history to win the regular season title after missing the tournament the previous season.
 
After being named to the All-Newcomer Team last season, Amaya Garrett picked up her first all-league honor in her sophomore season, after leading the NDSU backline to seven cleansheets throughout the season, including two in league play. Garrett and the Bison allowed the second fewest goals in league play and she also chipped in with an assist in a league game against Omaha.
 
Arnold and Watson also received their first all-league honors with their second team selections. Arnold tied Russmann for the league lead with three assists during league play. Arnold also had two game-winning goals in league play, scoring in the wins over Kansas City and South Dakota, which was third in the league. She also finished with seven points in eight games, averaging .88 points/game, sixth best in the league.
 
Watson moved from an offensive role in non-conference play to a defensive role in league play, and the positional change made a crucial impact on the Bison defensively, aiding in the shutouts and second fewest goals allowed in league play. Watson still contributed offensively at times and was able to add a goal against Denver and an assist.
 
Gabrielle Garrett received honorable mention honors after her first season as a starter for the Bison. Garrett made a big impact in league games, playing in a variety of roles across the midfield, as well as outside back. She recorded a pair of goals in wins over North Dakota and South Dakota. She also chipped in with two assists, including one on the tying goal in a come-from-behind win to clinch the league title on the final day.
 
North Dakota State’s four major awards is the most for the Bison since 2105, when they also claimed the offensive player of the year, goalkeeper of the year, freshman of the year and coach of the year honors. It is also the first time a team in the Summit League has won four major awards in the same season since 2019 when South Dakota State claimed four honors.
 
The Bison are set to host the Summit League Tournament semifinals and championship next week, with the semifinals on Thursday, November 7 and the final on Sunday November 10 at Dacotah Field.
 
2024 Individual Awards (as selected by The Summit League head coaches)
Offensive Player of the Year
Morgan Russmann, North Dakota State
 
Midfielder of the Year
Ella Frost, Denver
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Regan Zimmers, Omaha
 
Goalkeeper of the Year
Payton Mulberry, North Dakota State
 
Newcomer of the Year
Morgan Russmann, North Dakota State
 
Coach of the Year
Mike Regan, North Dakota State
 
All-League First Team
Riley Baker, Denver, D
Ella Frost, Denver, MF
Amaya Garrett, North Dakota State, D
Alyssa Kellar, Omaha, F
Kaycee Manding, South Dakota State, D
Payton Mulberry, North Dakota State, GK
Laney Murdzek, South Dakota State, MF
Grace Ostergaard, Omaha, MF
Morgan Russmann, North Dakota State, F
Julia Thasaphong, Oral Roberts, F
Regan Zimmers, Omaha, D
 
All-League Second Team
Hannah Arnold, North Dakota State, MF
Katelyn Beulke, South Dakota State, F
Grace Crockett, Omaha, D
Samantha Guzman, Oral Roberts, MF
Ashby Johnston, South Dakota, F
Sophia Limongi, Kansas City, D
Michaela McGowan, Denver, F
Meg Nemnich, Omaha, MF
Hannah Tate, Denver, MF
Olivia Watson, North Dakota State, D
Alexa Riefer, Oral Roberts, GK
 
Honorable Mention
CeCe Behrens, Omaha, D
Alani Chaple, Oral Roberts, D
Lauren Eckerle, South Dakota State, D
Cambell Fischer, South Dakota, GK
Gabrielle Garrett, North Dakota State, MF
Jadyn Goodrich, Denver, MF
Lexi Huber, St. Thomas, F
Amelia Loeffler, North Dakota, F
Grace Miller, North Dakota, GK
Avery Murdzek, South Dakota State, MF
Vanessa Murray, Denver, MF
 
All-Newcomer Team
Adrianne Agbayani, South Dakota State, F
Mia Bosch, South Dakota State, MF
Grace Miller, North Dakota, GK
Taylor Mulligan, South Dakota, D
Megan Murray, Denver, F
Solala Nasu, South Dakota State, MF
Emery Ruliffson, Kansas City, MF
Morgan Russman, North Dakota State, F
Kinsley Smith, Kansas City, D
Emily Thielbahr, Denver, D
Hannah Voskuhl, Oral Roberts, D