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 University of Wisconsin juniors Laurie Nosbusch (Mequon Homestead) and Meghan Flannery (Milwaukee DSHA) were named to the All-Big Ten Conference women's soccer team, the first time since 2005 the Badgers have had more than on player on the top squad.
Nosbusch has played a role in 10 of UW's 18 goals, scoring nine times to lead the team in scoring third straight season. Flannery, meanwhile, shifted inside to center back this season and anchors a backline that has allowed just eight goals in 18 matches with 12 shutouts.
Both players made the first team for the first time; Nosbusch was a second-team choice last year after making the All-Freshman team in 2008.
The Badgers also had three players on the second team: sophomore midfielder Alev Kelter, junior goalkeeper Michele Dalton and junior midfielder Erin Jacobsen. Kelter also was a second-team selection a year ago. Dalton leads the Big Ten with a 0.36 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.
With five players on the two teams, it was UW's best total since 1998.
Defender Catie Sessions, the Badgers' starting right back and the team leader with four assists, was one of three unanimous selections on the All-Freshman Team. Junior midfielder Leigh Williams was UW's Sportsmanship Award winner.
Minnesota senior forward Katie Bethke (Eau Claire Memorial), a first-teamer last fall as the Golden Gophers won the conference title, was a second-team selection. She leads the Big Ten with 13 assists.
Ohio State, which shared the Big Ten title with Penn State, claimed three of the four major awards: Paige Maxwell was the Offensive Player of the Year, Cassie Dickerson was the defensive honoree and the Buckeyes' Lori Walker was the Coach of the Year. Illinois midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo was named Freshman of the Year.
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Nosbusch was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season, her program-record sixth career award. She had a hand in all three goals in the Badgers' 3-0 win over Northwestern in their regular-season finale, scoring twice.
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UW coach Paula Wilkins recently received verbal commitments from a pair of FC Milwaukee players: Wauwatosa East midfielder Cara Walls is the Badgers' fifth known commitment for 2011, while Wisconsin Lutheran defender Becky McGrath became the second known recruit in the 2012 class.
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