University of Massachusets Athletics
Melissa Kössler Headlines Nine All-Conference Selections
November 07, 2019 | Women's Soccer
The freshman is UMass’ first Offensive Player of the Year since 1999
AMHERST, Mass. – After posting 29 points in 16 games during the regular season, UMass women's soccer freshman Melissa Kössler has been named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, the conference announced on Thursday. In addition, Kössler was named an All-Conference First Team selection along with junior Jenny Hipp, while Lauren Bonavita and Ansley Frazier were named to the Second Team.
Kössler, Frazier and Serena Ahmed were also named to the conference's All-Rookie Team.
Kössler is the sixth Minutewoman in team history to be named the Offensive Player of the Year, and first since 1999. She is also UMass' third Rookie of the Year selection in program history, and first since 1996.
Kössler is 29th in the nation in total points (29) and 19th in points per game (1.81), while her 11 goals are good for a tie for 37th in the NCAA with teammate Lauren Bonavita. Kössler's 29 points this season are the most for a Minutewoman since Moa Mattsson had 29 in 2012, and she's one away from becoming the first player since 1999 (Emma Kurowski) to reach 30 points in a season.
Hipp had three primary assists in a six minute span in the second half against Fordham, leading UMass to a 4-0 victory in the A-10 quarterfinals to advance to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2013. Hipp is fifth on the team with nine points (one goal, seven assists) this season, and tied for second in assists.
Bonavita has also added 11 goals, and enters Friday's match on a five-game scoring streak. Kössler and Bonavita are the first Minutewomen duo since 1998 to both record double-digit goals in a season.
Frazier, meanwhile, joins Kössler as one of the top freshmen in the nation. She is tied for fifth in the NCAA with 12 assists this season, including a three-assist afternoon against Fordham in the A-10 quarterfinal against Fordham last weekend.
Ahmed has been a mainstay for UMass all season, starting in 16 of the 17 games she's played, and is tied for fifth on the team with nine points (two goals, five assists).
UMass is back in the Atlantic 10 semifinals for the first time since 2013. The Minutewomen, the No. 3 seed in the tournament, will take on No. 2 seed George Washington on Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. (ET) at Hermann Field in St. Louis, Mo. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Kössler, Frazier and Serena Ahmed were also named to the conference's All-Rookie Team.
Kössler is the sixth Minutewoman in team history to be named the Offensive Player of the Year, and first since 1999. She is also UMass' third Rookie of the Year selection in program history, and first since 1996.
Kössler is 29th in the nation in total points (29) and 19th in points per game (1.81), while her 11 goals are good for a tie for 37th in the NCAA with teammate Lauren Bonavita. Kössler's 29 points this season are the most for a Minutewoman since Moa Mattsson had 29 in 2012, and she's one away from becoming the first player since 1999 (Emma Kurowski) to reach 30 points in a season.
Hipp had three primary assists in a six minute span in the second half against Fordham, leading UMass to a 4-0 victory in the A-10 quarterfinals to advance to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2013. Hipp is fifth on the team with nine points (one goal, seven assists) this season, and tied for second in assists.
Bonavita has also added 11 goals, and enters Friday's match on a five-game scoring streak. Kössler and Bonavita are the first Minutewomen duo since 1998 to both record double-digit goals in a season.
Frazier, meanwhile, joins Kössler as one of the top freshmen in the nation. She is tied for fifth in the NCAA with 12 assists this season, including a three-assist afternoon against Fordham in the A-10 quarterfinal against Fordham last weekend.
Ahmed has been a mainstay for UMass all season, starting in 16 of the 17 games she's played, and is tied for fifth on the team with nine points (two goals, five assists).
UMass is back in the Atlantic 10 semifinals for the first time since 2013. The Minutewomen, the No. 3 seed in the tournament, will take on No. 2 seed George Washington on Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. (ET) at Hermann Field in St. Louis, Mo. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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