WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Wendy Lilliedoll and Jamie Grindrod, the two defensive
cornerstones of the Whitman College women's soccer team, have earned second-team
all-conference honors in the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges (NCIC).Lilliedoll, a senior English major and 1994 graduate of Davis (Calif.) High School, played the stopper position for the Missionaries. She is the daughter of Suzanne and Jerald Lilliedoll of Davis, Calif.
Grindrod, a sophomore and 1996 graduate of North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo, Wash., played the sweeper's role. She is the daughter of Marilyn and Mark Grindrod of Poulsbo.
"Both players were very deserving," Whitman coach Scott Shields said. "Defense doesn't always get much praise or attention, but defense wins a lot of games when you play it well. Wendy and Jamie played well, all season, every game. You could count on them playing 90 minutes every game. I think Jamie played all but about 20 minutes during the season, and Wendy probably missed less time than that."
Grindrod and Lilliedoll also received three of Whitman's top team awards. In voting by team members, Grindrod was named Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Player. Lilliedoll won the Team Player award.
Winners of other team awards included:
"Our defense wasn't the problem," Whitman coach Scott Shields noted. "The defense kept us in a lot of games. We didn't score as many goals as we wanted, and we lost a lot of very close games. We played five overtime games, winning once and losing twice to Seattle University, one of the top teams in the conference. We also had two ties in overtime."
Lilliedoll, who did not play as a freshman, was a starter in each of her last three years at Whitman. "Wendy wanted to concentrate on academics her first year, but she's been a key part of the team ever since then," Shields said.
"We moved Wendy this season from marking back to stopper, which is a position that requires good vision of the field and a good touch with the ball," he added. "It's primarily a defensive position, but having a stopper with good offensive skills means your attack will be much more skilled. Wendy filled that role perfectly. She is a very intelligent player who switched very easily between defense and offense."
Grindrod started at the defensive sweeper's position last year as a freshman and continued in the same role this season. "Jamie is young, but she is one of the most mature players on the team in terms of her confidence and ability with the ball," Shields said. "She's very good at reading the other team's attack, and her vision of the field is excellent. She knows where the ball needs to be, two or three passes ahead."
Grindrod also contributed at key times to Whitman's offense, making precision passes to the forwards or making long runs up the field. She had two goals and an assist. "Jamie was always the player the opposing coaches would talk about after the games," Shields said. "She also served as a team leader for us, which is what you need from that position in your defense."
Dave Holden, Whitman Sports Information, (509) 527-5902
E-Mail: holden@whitman.edu