Husker Trio Named 2023 Big Ten Players to Watch

Nebraska Soccer’s Eleanor Dale, Gwen Lane and Sarah Weber earned spots on the Big Ten Players to Watch list, the conference announced Tuesday.

Dale, a senior forward, garnered this award for the third-straight year and returns this season after an impressive first three seasons. Last year, Dale earned third-team All-Big Ten accolades as she recorded seven goals and two assists. Dale played in 18 games, while starting 17, and amassed 1,473 minutes. Additionally, Dale led the conference in shots on goal with 32 in 18 total games and was named to the 2022 Big Ten All-Tournament Team.

Earning this award for the first-career time is senior defender, Lane. In 2022, Lane was a constant in the Husker backfield as she started all 20 games and totaled 1,591 minutes. She helped Nebraska to five shutouts, while individually totaling one goal and one assist on the year. Her lone goal occurred in the Huskers’ upset of #24 Penn State on Oct. 20.

Rounding out the group is junior, Weber, who was named to the list for the second-straight year and returns this season after impressive freshman and sophomore seasons. In 2022, Weber earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades as the leader of the Husker offense. Weber started all 20 games and amassed 1,745 minutes. She led the team with 10 goals, while also adding five assists for a total of 25 points. Weber topped the conference standings with 81 shots on the season and was sixth in shots on goal with 28. Additionally, she recorded three game-winners, including a finish in the Huskers’ game against PSU to secure the upset.

The Big Ten also released its preseason poll voted on by the head coaches. Nebraska is picked to finish sixth in the conference.

2023 Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll

1. Penn State

2. Northwestern

3. Rutgers 

4. Michigan State

5. Wisconsin

6. Nebraska

7. Ohio State 

8. Michigan

9. Minnesota

10. Iowa

11. Maryland

12. Purdue

13. Illinois

14. Indiana

Players to Watch

Kennedy Berschel, Sr., M, Illinois

Ella Karolak, Jr., D, Illinois

Makala Woods, Sr., F, Illinois

Jaime Gerstenberg, Jr., GK, Indiana

Zoe Tiger, Sr., D, Indiana

Paige Webber, Gr., F, Indiana

Samantha Cary, Gr., D, Iowa

Macy Enneking, Sr., GK, Iowa

Meike Ingles, RS-Jr., F, Iowa

Liz Beardsley, Jr., GK, Maryland

Catherine DeRosa, Sr., M, Maryland

Lauren Wrigley, Jr., M, Maryland

Avery Kalitta, Jr., M, Michigan

Jenna Lang, So., M, Michigan

Aniyah League, So., D, Michigan

Raegan Cox, Gr., D, Michigan State

Justina Gaynor, Sr., M, Michigan State

Emerson Sargeant, So., M, Michigan State

Sophia Boman, Sr., M, Minnesota

Abi Frandsen, Sr., D, Minnesota

Megan Plashcko, Gr., GK, Minnesota

Eleanor Dale, F, Sr., Nebraska

Gwen Lane, D, Sr., Nebraska

Sarah Weber, F, Jr., Nebraska

Josie Auliconi, Sr., M, Northwestern

Meg Boade, Sr., M, Northwestern

Caterina Regazzoni, So., M, Northwestern

Kailyn Dudukovich, Jr., F, Ohio State

Sydney Jones, Jr., D, Ohio State

Peyton McNamara, Sr., M, Ohio State

Cori Dyke, RS-Sr., M, Penn State

Payton Linnehan, RS-Sr., M, Penn State

Kate Wiesner, RS-Sr., D, Penn State

Kayla Budish, So., F, Purdue

Gracie Dunaway, Jr., F/M, Purdue

Emily Mathews, Sr., M, Purdue

Sara Brocious, Sr., M, Rutgers

Becci Fluchel, Sr., M, Rutgers

Riley Tiernan, Jr., F, Rutgers

Emma Jaskaniec, Sr., F, Wisconsin

Aryssa Mahrt, Sr, F, Wisconsin

Macy Monticello, Sr, D, Wisconsin