Vukic named to All-Northwest team

Published 9:54 am Sunday, November 18, 2012

Emma Vukic of Bainbridge Island has been named to the 2012 All-Northwest Conference Women’s Soccer Team.

Vukic is a freshman and played for the Wildcats at Linfield College.

In all, five Linfield players were named to the first team. The team was selected after a vote of the league’s coaches.

The Wildcats were one of the top teams in the conference this past season, and claimed second place in the team standings for the second straight year. The Wildcats also set numerous program records – including 16 wins – and earned a first-ever Top 25 ranking before just missing out on an at-large invitation to the NCAA playoffs.

The Linfield coaching staff said Vukic had an impressive freshman campaign, and wrapped up the season with six goals and six assists to finish with Linfield’s second-highest point total (18).

Vukic also scored three game-winning goals, including both goals in the Wildcats’ 2-1 home win over Lewis & Clark.

In the hunt for a program-first Northwest Conference championship from start to finish, the ‘Cats were passed up by Puget Sound on the final day of the regular season.

Linfield finished with a 12-2-2 record in league play (16-2-2 overall), including one win each over playoff-bound teams UPS and then-23rd ranked Cal Lutheran, with 38 total points. The Loggers captured their 11th straight conference title with a 13-2-1 NWC record (14-4-1 overall) and 40 points.