Nov. 29, 2007

San Angelo, Tex. - Grand Valley State University added to an as-yet undefeated season (21-0-1) and a berth in the NCAA Division II Final Four with the announcement that four players earned Daktronics Division II First Team All-American honors. Sue Christenson, Kristina Nasturzio and Katy Tafler earned the honors for a second year and were joined this year by Kourtney Willert, a first-time honoree. Tafler was also named the Daktronics Division II Player of the Year for the second year in a row.

Tafler, a junior, led Div. II in both points per game (3.82) and goals per game (1.63) en route to earned her second consecutive Player of the Year award. This season, Tafler set GVSU single season records in goals scored (36) and total points (84). Her 12 assists is also third on the GVSU single season list. Tafler is also the career leader at GVSU in goals (94) and points (215). She was also named the Daktronics Great Lakes Region Player of the Year and GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, as well as being named to the region and conference first teams.

Nasturzio, also a junior, has set numerous goalkeeping records this season before earning First Team All-American status. Her 0.29 goals-against average is tops all-time for a single season at Grand Valley, and her .905 save percentage places her second. She is also the career leader at GVSU in both goals-against average (0.35) and shutouts (30). This season, she ranked second in Div. II in both goals-against average (.288) and save percentage (.905). She was also a member of the conference and region first teams.

Christenson and Willert, both seniors, were key components of a Laker backline that ranked second in Div. II in goals-against average (.359) and eighth in shutout percentage (.636). They helped GVSU outscore opponents by an 87-8 margin and put 246 shots on goal, as opposed to just 61 by opponents. Both were members of the conference and region first teams. Christenson will become the all-time leader at GVSU in games played (85) after today's match against Tampa, and Willert will rank sixth (80).