Pride women's soccer earns five Heart All-Conference selections

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A day away from the beginning of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament, the Clarke University women's soccer team received five selections to the All-Conference teams, Heart officials announced on Thursday afternoon.

Led by the Pride's first ever All-Conference First Team selection in the Heart in forward Genevieve Cruz, the Pride also see Shannon Catchur (Second Team), Hope Ward (Third Team), Morgan Catchur (Third Team), and Samantha Rodriguez (Third Team) receive All-Conference designation.

Cruz, a senior from Racine, Wis., led the team in goals, assists, and point as she started in 17 of the team's 18 games to finish with 14 goals, six assists, and 34 points on the year. Her 14 goals in a season is the fifth most all time in program history and her 34 points are the fourth most in program history as she earned the Heart Offensive Player of the Week honor twice this season on Oct. 3 and Oct. 17, one of which was earned following a four-goal performance against Graceland University on Sept. 27, which tied a school record for goals in a game.

Shannon Catchur, a junior from Valparaiso, Ind., was also in double figures in goals scored on the season as she had 10 goals while also finishing one assist shy of Cruz's team lead at five in her 16 games played. Catchur earned Second TEam honors in 2021 as she scored four more goals in 2022 in two less games played on the year.

Ward, a junior from Burlington, Iowa, was a mainstay at center back whether the Pride were in a three-back or four-back formation as she was able to find the score sheet four times with two goals and two assists on the year as a primary option on aerial balls for set pieces. Ward was also able to earn a weekly honor this season as the Defensive Player of the Week in the Heart on that same Oct. 17 date where Cruz earned the offensive honor as Ward scored a goal against Evangel in CU's 5-1 win over the Valor.

Morgan Catchur, a sophomore from Valparaiso, Ind., was another defensive figure for the Pride in a central defensive midfield position as she also finished the season with two goals and two assists with both goals coming in conference play against Culver-Stockton College and Park University in the regular season finale.

Rodriguez, a freshman from Corona, Calif., finishes off the trio of third teamers to finish the regular season with a two-goal, two-assist stat line as she played a wing position for a majority of her time on the field for CU. All of her points came in conference outings with her goals coming against MidAmerica Nazrene and Baker with her assists coming in wins against Graceland and Evangel.

Clarke women's soccer is heading down to Atchison, Kan. for the Heart Tournament Quarterfinals as they will face Benedictine College in a rematch from an early conference game from Sept. 24 where the Ravens earned a 3-1 in, also in a Benedictine home game.