The Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2 CCA) unveiled its Player of the Year and its All-American teams on Wednesday afternoon. Lee University's Kate Dirkse was named to the Third-Team. Dirkse, a defender from Chattanooga (Chattanooga Christian), ended the season with seven goals and two assists while anchoring the back line for the Lady Flames.
Head Coach Chris Hennessey was very excited about the honors for Dirkse. "This is another accolade that represents a player who works incredible hard for the team.
Kate has one more year with us and I am hoping that it will ber best one yet."
West Florida forward Blair Cowan as its 2022 Women's Soccer Ron Lenz National Player of the Year. Cowan's honor highlights the D2 CCA Women's Soccer All-America Teams. The D2 CCA South Region Player of the Year, Cowan finished her exceptional 2022 season with 54 points on 22 goals and 10 assists. The Hillard, Ohio native scored eight game-winning goals over the course of the season. Cowan recorded three hat tricks and three two-goal games during the 2022 season and collected points for West Florida in 15 of its 23 games. Anna Grossheim from UNC Pembroke and Mackenzie Dimarco from Emporia State are the only two-time D2 CCA All-America award honorees on the first-team, while Caroline Cole of Central Missouri and Andrea Fernandez of Flagler both receive All-America honors for the second consecutive season as second-team members. Impressively the first-team consists of all eight NCAA Division II regions with the Southeast leading the way with three selections. The first-team features nine different institutions with both Columbus State and Emporia State picking up two first-team award winners.
The Ron Lenz National Player of the Year award was named for long-time South Dakota State Sports Information Director Ron Lenz in 2008. Lenz was instrumental in the foundation of the NCAA Division II All-America program, which honors outstanding student-athletes across eight NCAA Division II sports. Communication professionals from NCAA Division II schools and conferences selected the three D2 CCA All-America teams. The process begins at the regional level with all first-team all-region picks advancing to the national ballot. A total of 39 student-athletes filled out the three teams. The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education.
The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.