Samson named Co-Defensive Player of the Year; three Bees named second team all-KCAC
Sophomore Maggie Samson was named the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year the conference announced on Wednesday. Samson shared the honor with Jordan Hauesser and Kaitlin Mills of Missouri Baptist. The is the first time in program history that a player has earned player of the year distinction. Samson, Katie Baranski, and McKenna Curzon were each named to the all-KCAC second team.
Samson, a goalie from Wilmette, Ill., made 70 saves in net while playing over 600 minutes this season. She made a career-high 15 saves against Missouri Valley on April 10th and had a save percentage of .625 in the win. Samson was named the KCAC Defensive Player of the Week on March 2nd after making seven saves in a win against Bethel (Ind.). She has recorded double-digit saves in three games - 10 against Aquinas (Mich.), 10 against Benedictine, and 15 against Missouri Valley.
Baranski, a senior attacker from Chicago Heights, Ill., returns to the all-KCAC team. She was a first-team selection in 2019 and was named to the 2020 Preseason all-KCAC in 2020. Baranski scored 27 goals on the year and surpassed 100 for her career, making her the first player in program history to achieve that feat. She scored a season-high four goals three times this season and won 20 draw controls on the year.
Curzon, a senior defender from South Elgin, Ill., helped solidify the SAU defense. She was a starter for all 13 contests this season and has started every game she has played in her career. Curzon managed 16 ground balls on the year and tallied a goal in the win against Morningside on March 13th.
These three have helped St. Ambrose to the best record in program history. SAU currently sits at 12-1 and will play in the KCAC Quarterfinals on Thursday.