WINONA, Minn. — On the field, the Saint Mary's University women's soccer team's season may have come to a close with a 3-2 loss to Saint Benedict in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals — but the awards season is just getting started.
 
And what a start it is.
 
Alexis Nguyen (West Covina, Calif.) took center stage Wednesday afternoon, as the junior goalkeeper was not only named First-Team All-MIAC, but also captured MIAC Defensive Player of the Year honors — becoming the program's first DPOY award-winner.
 
Nguyen wasn't the only Cardinal raking in post-season honors when the league office unveiled in all-conference teams. Haddy Falkman (Waconia, Minn.), Jordyn Matthews (Seattle, Wash.) , and Sophia O'Neill (South Jordan, Utah), while Maya Wachter (Dubuque, Iowa) was an honorable-mention All-MIAC selection.
 
Nguyen was a literal brick wall for the Cardinals in 2021, allowing just six goals in nine conference starts, while compiling a 0.68 goals-against-average and an .875 save percentage. The sophomore amassed 42 saves and recorded five shutouts in conference action — and was a huge factor in the Cardinals' third-place regular-season finish and run to the MIAC Tournament semifinals.
 
For the season, Nguyen started 14 of the team's 20 contests, boasting a 0.45 goals-against-average and .891 save percentage, while stopping 49 shots and collecting eight shutouts. Nguyen's 0.45 GAA and .891 save percentage — not to mention her meager six goals allowed — were all tops among MIAC goalkeepers.
 
Falkman and Matthews were among the top offensive players in the conference this season, while O'Neill and Wachter were arguably among the best shut-down defenders the league had seen in 2021.
 
Falkman closed out her junior campaign scoring five goals and adding two assists for 12 points in 12 conference contests. She scored three game-winning goals and converted on the lone penalty kick she attempted. For the season, Falkman led the Cardinals in goals (10) and points (24), while chipping in four assists. Her 10 goals and 24 points were not only team- and career-highs, but were also No. 2 in the MIAC.
 
Matthews, a 2019 First-Team All-MIAC selection, was second to Falkman in both goals (4) and points (11) in conference play, while leading the team in assists (3), shots (42), and shots on goal (22). Matthews also netted a pair of game-winning goals. One of just three Cardinals to start all 20 games in 2021, Matthews closed out her senior campaign with eight goals, a team- and conference-best six assists, and 22 points.
 
O'Neill and Wachter spearheaded a defense that allowed just 10 conference goals and boasted a 0.82 goals-against-average in 12 MIAC contests. With O'Neill and Wachter leading the charge, SMU surrendered just 12 goals in 20 overall games and compiled a 0.58 GAA with 12 shutouts. Offensively, O'Neill, who, like Matthews, started all 20 contests, finished with three assists, while Wachter chipped in one assist in her freshman campaign in a Cardinal uniform.
 
With her MIAC Defensive Player of the Year honor, Nguyen took home one of the MIAC's top four individual honors, and was joined by St. Catherine's Amanda Elton, who was selected as the MIAC's Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year, and Augsburg's Jaelyn Nedelcoff, who was named MIAC Rookie of the Year. St. Catherine head coach Jesse Campos, who guided the Wildcats to both the MIAC regular-season and tournament titles, was tabbed MIAC Coach of the Year.
 
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC also announced the annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for women's soccer, which included Saint Mary's Dara Kaiser (Bozeman, Mont.). Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition.