CMS Women's Soccer Places Five on All-SCIAC Teams

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Kaitlyn Helfrich, Tori Holden and Annie McKinley earned spots on the All-SCIAC first team for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, while Sadie Brown and Laurel Ovenell were selected to the second team, the SCIAC office announced today.

The five honorees helped the Athenas earn a 6-4-2 SCIAC record and the No. 3 seed in the SCIAC Tournament, despite having only one senior on the roster (Ovenell). The Athenas open postseason play this afternoon when they travel across Sixth Street to play second-seeded Pomona-Pitzer at 2:30 p.m.

Helfrich earned first-team All-SCIAC honors for third year in a row, after also adding Newcomer of the Year honors as a first-year in 2021. She tallied two goals and two assists on the season, all of which came in conference play, including assisting on the lone goals in 1-0 wins over La Verne and Whittier. 

Holden makes her debut on the All-SCIAC teams after moving up from a midfield to a forward spot this year and tallying three goals for the Athenas. She had the game-winner on a volley off a corner kick in a win over La Verne, and added the go-ahead goal in the rematch with La Verne at home, a pivotal sweep in the CMS postseason race. 

McKinley has anchored the team defense from her center back spot this year, and also added two goals, including one against conference regular season champion Cal Lutheran. The Athenas had six straight shutouts in conference play, a shutout streak of 712 minutes, and allowed less than a goal per game during the regular season (14 in 16 games). 

Brown was also a big part of those defensive numbers from her goalie position, tallying an .817 save percentage and an 0.93 goals against average. In addition to her statistical impact, her distribution and her ability to patrol the CMS penalty area were key factors in the Athenas success this year. 

Ovenell had a big leadership role as the lone senior, while playing a holding midfield spot, and was key in allowing CMS to control possession in most contests. She also had her first career goal in a win over Occidental and picked up an assist against La Verne, earning her the SCIAC Offensive Player of the Week Award. 

CMS will look to upset a Pomona-Pitzer team that has not lost this season. The Athenas tied the Sagehens 0-0 in the only regular season meeting, in which CMS held a 15-7 shot advantage, but neither team was able to find the net as the Athenas picked up their fourth of six straight shutouts.