NSCAA Honors Trio of Express Women's Soccer Student-Athletes

(L to R): Jill Burkholder, Jessica Grindle, Marissa Ramirez
(L to R): Jill Burkholder, Jessica Grindle, Marissa Ramirez
Posted: Dec 11, 2013

By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Kansas City, Kan.---The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) has voted Jill Burkholder (Bryan/Bryan, Ohio) and Jessica Grindle (Northwood/Northwood, Ohio) to their 2013-14 All-American team.

Burkholder, a sophomore midfielder for the Express women's soccer team, was named NSCAA First Team All-American. Grindle, a sophomore forward, was named NSCAA Second Team All-American.

It marks the first time an Owens women's soccer student-athlete has been named an NSCAA All-American.

Burkholder was second on the team in scoring this past year with 13 goals and eight assists. She closed out her two-year career with 21 goals and 17 assists.

Grindle, meanwhile, led the team in scoring with 23 goals and five assists. She capped her two-year career with 29 goals and eight assists.

For a complete list of NSCAA D-I All-Americans, click here

NSCAA All-Region

Burkholder, Grindle and sophomore defender Marissa Ramirez (Northwood/Northwood, Ohio) were named to the NSCAA All-Central Region team. It also marks the first time an Owens women's soccer player has been awarded that honor.

Ramirez, who had one goal and two assists this past year, closed her two-year career with one goal and three assists.

For a complete list of the NSCAA All-Central Region team, click here

Notes

Burkholder, Grindle and Ramirez helped lead the Express women's soccer team to its best season in program history. The Express finished 17-2-2 (a program record for wins in a season), won a program record 15 consecutive matches, captured the program's first National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XII tournament title, and made the NJCAA D-I National Tournament for the first time, where they nearly made the NJCAA Final Four. Following the national tournament, Grindle was named to the all-tournament team, while the Express won the Lea Plarski Sportsmanship Award for exhibiting the best sportsmanship of any team at the tournament.

The team also achieved their highest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) D-I ranking - No. 13 - in program history.