Given that Jessica Burden led the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference in goal scoring, the KCAC women?s soccer ?offensive player of the year? selection by the conference coaches comes as no surprise. With 19 goals and a scoring average more than doubling the next-highest producer?s, she literally ran away with the honor.
?JB had an outstanding senior year,? coach Grant Brubacher said. ?Her offensive production was her best in her four years at Tabor. Her importance to our attack was known by every team and she still produced.?
Burden netted 76 percent of the team?s goals. She not only thrived in the face of single-minded defense from every opponent, but also produced at a pace on par with the NAIA?s elite.
She ranked sixth in goals per game, 10th in total goals, 13th in points per game and 17th in shots per game. Many of these opportunities were products of a counter-attacking style made possible by superb goaltending from Aubrey Whitehorn.
Whitehorn ?has consistently been ranked in the top 10 in the nation for saves during the last three seasons,” Brubacher said.
Whitehorn earned all-KCAC honorable mention.
?This recognition comes without a great goals against average, but is a testament to Aubrey’s abilities,? Brubacher said. ?She kept us in every conference match and was a key factor in our ability to be competitive. She is very deserving of this award.?
Whitehorn led the conference in saves (160) and ranked seventh in the nation in that category. She also posted 9.41 saves per-game, good for 9th in the nation.
Tabor finished 3-11-3 and did not qualify for tournament play.
