University of Massachusets Athletics
Kössler and Frazier Ranked Among NCAA’s Elite Freshmen
December 18, 2019 | Women's Soccer
AMHERST, Mass. – After standout rookie seasons for the UMass women's soccer team, Melissa Kössler and Ansley Frazier finished the 2019 campaign among the nation's top 100 freshmen, according to TopDrawerSoccer.com. Kössler checked in at No. 27, while Frazier was ranked No. 63.
Earlier this year, Kössler became the sixth Minutewoman in team history to be named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year, and first since 1999. She was also UMass' third A-10 Rookie of the Year selection in program history, and first since 1996.
Kössler finished the year 52nd in the nation (seventh among freshmen) in total points (29) and 17th in points per game (1.81), while her 11 goals in 16 matches are good for a tie for 56th in the NCAA. Kössler's 29 points this season were the most for a Minutewoman since Moa Mattsson had 29 in 2012, and she was one away from becoming the first player since 1999 (Emma Kurowski) to reach 30 points in a season.
Frazier, meanwhile, finished 2019 with one goal and 12 assists in 19 matches. Her 12 assists were good for 10th in the NCAA and first among freshmen, while her 0.63 assists per game ranked eighth in the nation and second among rookies. She posted a season-best three assists in UMass' victory over Fordham in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals on Nov. 3
Led by second year head coach Jason Dowiak, the Minutewomen entered the postseason as the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament thanks to a 6-3-1 mark in league play, its best finish since 2000.
Overall, UMass finished 10-6-3 on the season, marking the first time since 2000 and 2001 that the Minutewomen recorded double-digit wins in consecutive seasons. Dowiak was also the first UMass head coach since Jim Rudy in 1998 and 1999 to win at least 10 games in each of his first two seasons at the helm.
Earlier this year, Kössler became the sixth Minutewoman in team history to be named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year, and first since 1999. She was also UMass' third A-10 Rookie of the Year selection in program history, and first since 1996.
Kössler finished the year 52nd in the nation (seventh among freshmen) in total points (29) and 17th in points per game (1.81), while her 11 goals in 16 matches are good for a tie for 56th in the NCAA. Kössler's 29 points this season were the most for a Minutewoman since Moa Mattsson had 29 in 2012, and she was one away from becoming the first player since 1999 (Emma Kurowski) to reach 30 points in a season.
Frazier, meanwhile, finished 2019 with one goal and 12 assists in 19 matches. Her 12 assists were good for 10th in the NCAA and first among freshmen, while her 0.63 assists per game ranked eighth in the nation and second among rookies. She posted a season-best three assists in UMass' victory over Fordham in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals on Nov. 3
Led by second year head coach Jason Dowiak, the Minutewomen entered the postseason as the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament thanks to a 6-3-1 mark in league play, its best finish since 2000.
Overall, UMass finished 10-6-3 on the season, marking the first time since 2000 and 2001 that the Minutewomen recorded double-digit wins in consecutive seasons. Dowiak was also the first UMass head coach since Jim Rudy in 1998 and 1999 to win at least 10 games in each of his first two seasons at the helm.
Players Mentioned
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