KANSAS CITY – The Carleton College women's soccer coaching staff was tabbed the Region IX Coaching Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches.
 
In voting by their peers, head coach Jessica Mueller and assistant coaches Mike Navarre and Ashley Becker were selected as the top coaching staff in NCAA Region IX. While Mueller has twice been tabbed as the MIAC Coach of the Year, this is the first regional level award for her and her staff. They guided the Knights to the MIAC Playoffs Championship, a third consecutive NCAA Championships appearance, and the program's first run to the Elite Eight since 2008.
 
The Knights went 18-3-3 this fall, tying the 2008 squad for the most victories in program history. After finishing second in the MIAC regular-season race, Carleton topped St. Olaf College and St. Catherine University by 1-0 tallies in the conference playoffs to punch its ticket to the NCAA Championships.
 
The Knights entered the national tournament ranked No. 16 in the NCAA Power Index (NPI) and defeated No. 60 John Carroll in the opening round by a 1-0 score. The second round saw Carleton prevail 2-0, handing No. 12 Lake Forest College its first loss of the season. The Knights tied No. 20 Swarthmore College 1-1 (2 OT) in the Sweet Sixteen and advanced after winning the shootout by a 4-2 margin. Carleton's season ended with a 2-1 loss at No. 4 University of Chicago in the Elite Eight.
 
The Knights finished the season ranked No 13 in NPI and No. 16 in the final United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll.
 
Five players—forward Claire Burbery, defender Sam Gotch, defender Zaraya Jordan, midfielder Kathryn Kresse, and goalkeeper Avery Trapp—were named to the All-MIAC squad. Gotch, Jordan, Kresse, Trapp, and midfielder Ashlyn Haigh collected All-Region recognition from United Soccer Coaches, with Trapp ultimately being honored as a Second-Team All-American.