Four women's soccer players named to All-Region teams

Four Western Iowa Tech women's soccer players received All-Region recognition, the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference announced Wednesday.

Andrea Nicole Chiliquinga Haro, Anggy Villena, Brenda Villacres and Tashoy Dennis were all named to one of three teams consisting of 50 players from Region 11. Villacres was the lone Comets sophomore to make the list, but not the sole example of experience paying dividend.

"Building on Monse's and the sophomore class's exceptional foundation and culture established last year, our freshmen understood the high standards and challenges," head coach Eddie Vongsiprasom said. "As the season progressed, teamwork and mutual confidence flourished, fostering an unwavering commitment to one another."

Haro, a freshman goalkeeper from Ecuador, was named to the first team. Haro was 6-6 in net for the Comets, finishing with a .767 save percentage and allowing just 1.75 goals per game. She was fourth in the ICCAC with 69 saves made and fifth in save percentage. Haro had shutouts against North Iowa Area on Sept. 21 and against Northwest Iowa on Oct. 23. She combined for another shutout with teammate Lucie Kopitzky against Marshalltown on Oct. 2.

Villena was named to the second team with a team-best 11 goals and 26 points. Her four assists were tied for third on the team. The striker from Ecuador scored two game-winning goals this season as well as WIT's lone postseason goal, briefly giving them a 1-0 lead in the second half at Iowa Lakes on Oct. 27.

Villacres and Dennis were both All-Region honorable mentions.

Villacres, a sophomore from Ecuador, led the Comets with six assists and was second in both goals (seven) and points (20). The midfielder scored a hat trick at Scott on Oct. 12 and tallied two game-winning goals. 

Dennis, a freshman striker from Jamaica, scored four goals, five assists and 13 points in 15 games. She scored one game-winning goal and assisted on Villena's quarterfinal goal against Iowa Lakes.

Vongsiprasom said the freshman trio of Haro, Villena and Dennis entered the fall season "uncertain but determined."

"They quickly adapted and dedicated themselves to the team's vision," Vongsiprasom said. "From the outset, I emphasized my goal of finishing top three in the conference, and as the season unfolded, they began to genuinely believe in its attainability."

For a full rundown of the All-Region teams, visit the ICCAC website.