INDIANAPOLIS – Lydia Self was honored as the Horizon League's Defensive Player of the Year to go with an All-League First Team nod, Mickayla Kowalski, Kaya Vogt and Lilly Yordy were named All-League Second Team selections and Erykah Cornett and Sophia Kapszukiewicz were featured on the All-League All-Freshman Team as the conference released its yearly award winners on Friday.
 
It was the most All-League and All-Freshman Team selections earned by the Norse since 2020.
  Self was named the Horizon's Defensive Player of the Year as a mainstay on NKU's backline, one of the best defenses not only in the conference but in the nation.
 
The Noblesville, Indiana native was part of a Norse defense that ranked 35th in all of NCAA Division I in shutout percentage (.529) and 45th in goals against average (.765). Northern Kentucky also led the Horizon in goals against average, clean sheets, and save percentage (.840). On the offensive end, she also added two goals for four points on the year.
 
Self is just the second student-athlete in school history to win the Horizon League's Defensive Player of the Year award as she joins Mimi Stines who captured the top honor in 2020. She is also the first Norse to be named First Team All-League since teammate (and fellow honoree this year) Kaya Vogt was selected in 2021.
 
To go with her standout play on the pitch, Self also excels in the classroom where she was just named to the Horizon's All-Academic team.
  Kowalski was arguably the best keeper in the conference this season as she led the Horizon in shut outs (eight) and goals against average (.782) and was ranked second in save percentage (.835).
 
It was a record-setting season so far for the Harrison, Ohio native as Kowalski's eight clean sheets slot it at fifth all-time in school history in a single campaign. She was also named the Horizon's Defensive Player of the Week four times this season, a school and conference record.
 
On a national level, Kowalski finished the regular season ranked 24th in all of NCAA Division I soccer in shutouts, 41st in save percentage and 53rd in goals against average. She was also slotted 119th in total saves (66).
 
To go with the All-Conference honor for her work on the pitch, Kowalski is also a standout in the classroom and was just named to the Horizon's All-Academic team.
  Vogt, a First Team All-League honoree in 2021 and an All-League All-Freshman team member in 2020, was selected as a member of the conference's All-League Second Team in 2023.
 
Along with Selft, Vogt was a key piece of NKU's defense in the midfield position, a unit that was ranked at the top of both the conference and the nation (see stats above).
  Yordy was the fourth part of the NKU defense that was honored with an All-League selection as she made the All-Horizon Second Team.
 
To go with the previous mentioned standout stats from the defensive unit, Yordy also made a huge mark on the offensive end as she ranked tied for second in the Horizon and 40th in NCAA Division I soccer in assists (seven) and 44th in the nation in assists per game (0.44).
 
The Hamilton, Ohio native finished third overall on the Norse with nine points, as she also added a goal to her impressive resume from the season.
  Cornett was named to the All-Freshman team after one of the better starts to a career in school history.
 
The local product from Cincinnati, Ohio finished the regular season tied for the team-lead in both goals (four) and points (10). She also added two assists which was tied for third overall on NKU.
  Kapszukiewicz was another All-Freshman for NKU as a key reserve on the backline.
 
The Loveland, Ohio native stepped right in and helped the Norse to one of the best defensive units in the conference and nation. She appeared in 14 contests overall in her first year with the program, with 13 starts.

Kapszukiewicz also makes her mark on the offensive end of the pitch, as she features a long throw in that is used in opponent territory that puts constant pressure on the opposition's defense.
 
 
2023 #HLWSOC AWARD WINNERS AND ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
Player of the Year: Kayla Rollins, Milwaukee
Goalkeeper of the Year: Kendall Edwards, Milwaukee
Offensive Player of the Year: Kayla Rollins, Milwaukee
Defensive Player of the Year: Lydia Self, Northern Kentucky
Freshman of the Year: Caroline Kelley, IUPUI
Sportsmanship Awards: Allie Tefend, Oakland and Kaoru Hayashi, RMU
Coach of the Year:  Chris Johnson, IUPUI
 
All-League First Team
Abbey Lodato, Detroit Mercy, Midfielder
Emma Antoine, IUPUI, Forward
Samantha Slimak, IUPUI, Midfielder
Kailyn Smith, IUPUI, Defender
Clara Broecker, Milwaukee, Defender
Kendall Edwards, Milwaukee, Goalkeeper
Lainey Higgins, Milwaukee, Midfielder
Kayla Rollins, Milwaukee, Forward
Kat Van Booven, Milwaukee, Forward
Lydia Self, Northern Kentucky, Defender
Kaoru Hayashi, RMU, Midfielder
 
All-League Second Team
Brooke Parnello, Milwaukee, Defender
Mickayla Kowalski, Northern Kentucky, Goalkeeper
Kaya Vogt, Northern Kentucky, Midfielder
Lilly Yordy, Northern Kentucky, Defender
Frankie Mudd, Oakland, Forward
Putri Sazali, Oakland, Defender
Macey Wierenga, Oakland, Midfielder
Morgan Reitano, Purdue Fort Wayne, Forward
Malia Kearns, RMU, Midfielder
Lauren Borchert, Wright State, Forward
Jordan Evans, Youngstown State, Defender
 
All-Freshman Team
Leila Lanier, Detroit Mercy
Katie Hoog, IUPUI
Caroline Kelley, IUPUI
Emily Tobin, IUPUI
Erykah Cornett, Northern Kentucky
Sophia Kapszukiewicz, Northern Kentucky
Olivia Darnell, Oakland
Julia Zangerl, Oakland
Shauna Gamble, RMU
Kaitlyn Eyink, Wright State
Emma Berdiner, Youngstown State
 
 
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