North Michigan News

United Soccer Coaches has announced the 2023 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's All-Americans, with Molly Pistorius and Maria Storm earning All-American honors. This achievement marks a significant milestone for NMU women's soccer, as it is the first time in the program's history that a player has been selected for All-American status.

The honored athletes will be recognized at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Ceremony & Reception on January 13, 2024, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. The event is part of the United Soccer Coaches Convention.

Jon Sandoval commented on this historic moment for NMU: "This is a historic and proud day for the program. We are ecstatic for Molly and Maria, as they are beyond deserving of this recognition, and we are beyond proud of them." He added that their success was also due to their teammates' support: "Iron sharpens iron, and this team helped shape and sharpen two of the best players in the country."

Molly Pistorius received Second-Team All-America honors after being named First-Team All-Region. She was previously recognized as GLIAC Freshman of the Year in 2022. In 2023, she earned several titles including USC First-Team All-Region and GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year. Pistorius led all GLIAC athletes with ten goals and 24 points during the regular season.

Maria Storm was selected as a Third-Team All-American after earning First-Team All-Region accolades. She played every match for NMU's Wildcats and logged significant minutes on the field. Her defensive skills were crucial to her team's performance, leading to her recognition as GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year.

The full release from United Soccer Coaches provides additional details about these accomplishments.