WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Kristen Berndt, a junior forward who led the Whitman College women's soccer team in scoring for a third consecutive season this fall, has been voted to the NCAA Div. III All-West Region First Team.
Two of her teammates, senior forward Sammie Arthur and first-year midfielder Corina Gabbert, were named to the All-Region Third Team. The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) selects both the All-Region and All-America teams. The adidas sporting goods company sponsors the awards program.
Berndt, who played prep soccer at Snoqualmie's Mount Si High School, topped Whitman in scoring this past fall with 12 goals and four assists, earning All-Northwest Conference First-Team honors for a second consecutive season. She finished second in the conference in scoring, and she twice received NWC Player of the Week honors.
"Kristen is the most explosive player we have in our program," Whitman coach Scott Shield said. "Her ability to run down a ball and to run past players is incredible. She has a knack for scoring goals and can do it in many different ways."
Berndt moved up to the regional First Team this fall after getting Second-Team honors a year ago. "This is the first time we've had a First Team All-Region player in the past 14 years," Shields said.
Arthur, a graduate of the Branson School (Ross, Calif.), was named to the All-Region Second Team for a second consecutive season. She had six goals and four assists this fall while serving as a team captain for the second time in two years. Despite missing several games during her junior season due to injury, Arthur finished her collegiate career with 31 goals and 10 assists.
"Sammie is a tremendous competitor who knows how to play the game well," Shields said. "It will be tough to replace her next season."
Gabbert, who played prep soccer at Portland's Catlin Gabel School, had four goals and three assists in her first season at Whitman. "This is the first time Whitman has had a first-year player crack the All-Region team, and it's an honor well deserved for Corina," Shields said. "She can attack and defend at the highest level, and that makes her a force on both sides of the field. Corina will only get better over the next three seasons."
Both Arthur and Gabbert earned All-NWC Second Team honors earlier this fall.
The Whitman women's team finished in fourth place in the NWC this season with an 8-4-4 record.