SIOUX FALLS, SD – North Dakota State women’s soccer Morgan Russmann, Payton Mulberryand head coach Mike Regan claimed the 2024 Summit League honors announced by the league Thursday morning.
Russmann was named Summit League Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, while Mulberry was named Goaltender 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 honors.
Russmann became the first freshman in Summit League history to win the player of the year award. She is also the first player in league history to win the Player of the Year award along with the Newcomer of the Year award. The Bettendorf, Iowa native scored eight league goals, 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 consecutive Bison to win the goalie of the year award, after Abby Wilkinson last season. Mulberry started all eight league games, tied for the league lead with two shutouts. Among goalkeepers who played at least 500 of a possible 720 minutes in league play, Mulberry led the league with an average of 1,000 goals against.
Regan led the Bison in a remarkable comeback 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 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 earned her first all-league honor in her sophomore season after leading the NDSU backline to seven shutouts over the course of the season, including two in league play. Garrett and the Bison allowed the second fewest goals in league play and she also contributed 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 the game. Arnold also had two championship game-winning goals, scoring in wins over Kansas City and South Dakota, which was third in the league. She also finished with seven points in eight games for a .88 ppg average, 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 had a crucial impact on the Bison defensively, helping with shutouts and the 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 earned honorable mention after his first season as a starter for the Bison. Garrett made a big impact in league games, playing in a variety of roles in midfield as well as outside back. She recorded a pair of goals in wins over North Dakota and South Dakota. She also contributed 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 are the most for the Bison since 2105, when they also claimed Offensive Player of the Year, Goalie of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year. It is also the first time a Summit League team has won four major awards in the same season since 2019, when South Dakota State earned four honors.
The Bison are set to host the Summit League Tournament semifinals and championship next week, with the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 7 and the finals on Sunday, Nov. 10 at Dacotah Field.
Individual awards 2024 (as selected by The Summit League head coaches)
Offensive Player of the Year
Morgan Russmannthe state of North Dakota
Midfielder of the year
Ella Frost, Denver
Defensive Player of the Year
Regan Zimmers, Omaha
Goalkeeper of the year
Payton Mulberrythe state of north dakota
Newcomer of the year
Morgan Russmannthe state of North Dakota
Coach of the year
Mike Reganthe state of North Dakota
First team all-league
Riley Baker, Denver, D
Ella Frost, Denver, MF
Amaya Garrettthe state of North Dakota, D
Alyssa Kellar, Omaha, F
Kaycee Manding, South Dakota State, D
Payton MulberryNorth Dakota State, GK
Laney Murdzek, South Dakota State, MF
Grace Ostergaard, Omaha, MF
Morgan RussmannNorth Dakota State, F
Julia Thasaphong, Oral Roberts, F
Regan Zimmers, Omaha, D
All-league second team
Hannah ArnoldNorth 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 Watsonthe state of North Dakota, D
Alexa Riefer, Oral Roberts, GK
Honorable Mention
CeCe Behrens, Omaha, D
Alani Chaple, Oral Roberts, D
Lauren Eckerle, South Dakota State, D
Campbell Fischer, South Dakota, GK
Gabrielle GarrettNorth Dakota State, MF
Jadyn Goodrich, Denver, MF
Lexi Huber, Saint Thomas, F
Amelia Loeffler, North Dakota, F
Grace Miller, North Dakota, GK
Avery Murdzek, South Dakota State, MF
Vanessa Murray, Denver, MF
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
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
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