Lakers see 11 Athletes earn All-Region Honors

Lakers see 11 Athletes earn All-Region Honors

The ICCAC released the All-Region team selections on Wednesday, to which 11 Lakers earned ICCAC All-Region honors. Coach Ogitchida said this about the selections, "Congratulations to all eleven athletes for earning spots on the all-region teams! They've had exceptional seasons so far."

The Lakers earned 4 selections for First Team-All Region after winning the regular season conference championship, winning the NJCAA Region 11 Tournament, and winning the North Plains District championship. The 2025 First Team All-Region selections were defender Amelie Prie, forward Ana Zamorano, midfielder Stina Mathews, and goalkeeper Holly Poole.

Coach Ogitchida had this to say about the first team selections "Amelie Prie, dominate physical defender who scored a handful of goals on set pieces. You could literally see attacking players give up when having to face her. Was hurt at the start of the year but came back strong and lead the back line. Ana Zamorano, so proud to have met the amazing human named Ana Zamorano! She would have done anything I asked to help the team go to the nationals. Turns out what we needed from her was leadership off the pitch, and running the right wing, and scoring the most goals on the team. Holly Poole, from day one Holly made being part of this team amazing. That is why she will be next year's captain. On the pitch, she is the best goalkeeper in the region! Completing 12 clean sheets and giving up less than a half goal a game! Stina Mathews, Playing the hardest position on the pitch, the defensive holding mid, having to work very hard getting the first-year midfielders on the same page and playing correctly. Stina became the heart of the team all of our joy, commitment, passion for the game came from her beating rhythm on the pitch."

The Lakers saw 4 more individuals selected, earning Second Team All-Region, Claudia Beaujon, Emma Fournie, Ines Balaghni, and Miu Kamei. Coach Ogitchida said this about the second team selections, Claudia Beaujon, first year player, came into camp as the left wing, had to fill in at left back, had to fill in at center back, in the process of all that she became the most reliable defender on the team. She is the perfect amount of aggression and skill; I am looking forward to what she can do in year two. Ines Balaghni, in her first year she could not find playing time, over the spring I got to see her find her love of the game again. With a high level of technical ability, and her rebound passion to play she lead the team in goal contributions, finishing 2nd on the team in both goals and assist. When we scored, she usually had something to do with it. Miu Kamei, Last Spring she played Keeper, over the summer she told me she wanted to focus on playing in the field. At the time I thought she would be a backup player for both left mid and keeper. After the first tournament in Indianapolis, she had earned the starting spot on the left side. She kept scoring goals and showing of her wonderful first touch on the ball and become the first player I would write down to start every game."

Three more Lakers earned All-Region Honorable Mention, Chanell Makusu, Mahee Montenegro, and Zoe Lawrence. Chenell Makusu, simply the best athlete on the team, a pure joy to be around, stand up would not be a surprise to be in her future. If she had not gotten hurt in the summer, she would have been first team, as it was, she was amazing even at 70%. Onto D1 for her next year. Mahee Montenegro, Mahee almost quit playing and that would have been so sad. The game needs a player like her. Can not be matched in game intelligence and creativity. She was also very versatile playing lots of minutes at Left Back, left Mid, and at center mid. Mahee is one of those players that make space for all of her teammates to play at their best. She was often the first player experienced coaches asked about, because they could see her impact. Zoe Lawerence, Zoe came in and did what I knew she was going to do. Be a dynamic playmaker, and a determined pest on defense. Unfortunately, the early part of the season she got an injury that kept her out for a few weeks. After some recovery time she was able to come back into the squad and become that player again for the payoffs, and what a ride she helps us have!"

Also earning post season honors was head coach Mukwa Ogitchida. Coach Ogitchida earned Region 11 Coach of the Year as well as the North Plains District Coach of the Year. In his first season as the head coach of the Lakers, they finished with a 12-5-3 overall record and 7-1 in the ICCAC.

Congratulations to the 11 Lakers who earned ICCAC All-Region honors, as well as the rest of the Lakers for an amazing season, which included the ICCAC Regular Season Championship, NJCAA Region 11 championship, the North Plains District championship, and their 1st ever trip to the NJCAA National Tournament.