FARMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its annual women's soccer awards on Tuesday.

St. Olaf senior forward Emily Johnson was named Offensive Player of the Year, St. Catherine junior defender Jaidyn Richter earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Saint Benedict first-year forward Eva Gower was selected Rookie of the Year. Carleton head coach Jessica Mueller was named Coach of the Year.

2026 INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Emily Johnson (Sr. / Vadnais Heights, Minn. / Mounds View) was named MIAC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference with 10 goals - including three game-winners - and 22 points in league play. Johnson also set St. Olaf program records for career goals and points this fall. The 2023 MIAC Women's Soccer Rookie of the Year, Johnson is the first Ole to earn the MIAC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year honors since it was introduced in 2015.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jaidyn Richter (Jr. / Portland, Ore. / Cleveland) was named MIAC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year after helping St. Catherine to a 9-1-1 conference record and a league-high seven shutouts against conference opponents in 2026. The leader of the Wildcats' back line, Richter also contributed three goals and two game-winners in conference play. The 2024 MIAC Women's Soccer Rookie of the Year, Richter is the first St. Catherine player to be named MIAC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year since the award was established in 2015.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Eva Gower (Fy. / Plymouth, Minn. / Orono) was selected MIAC Women's Soccer Rookie of the Year after scoring eight goals and totaling 18 points in conference play during her debut season. Gower led all first-years and finished second among all field players in both categories. Gower is the second Saint Benedict player to be named MIAC Women's Soccer Rookie of the Year, joining 2017 recipient Megan Thompson.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jessica Mueller (sixth season) was selected Women's Soccer Coach of the Year for the third time in her career after guiding Carleton to a 10-0-1 conference record and the outright MIAC regular-season championship. Mueller's Knights became just the ninth program in recorded MIAC women's soccer history to collect double-digit conference wins while remaining undefeated in league play. Carleton has earned at least a share of the MIAC regular-season championship four times in the last five seasons and seven times overall. Mueller is now the first Carleton coach to earn MIAC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year honors three times, having also won it in 2022 and 2023.

ALL-CONFERENCE & HONORABLE MENTION

In addition to the individual awards, 23 players were named All-Conference, and nine received honorable mention distinctions. All-Conference and individual awards were nominated by and voted on by the 12 MIAC head coaches; any nominated player not selected as All-Conference but still receiving votes from at least three coaches was named honorable mention. St. Catherine (six) and Carleton (five) led all schools in All-Conference selections.

Eight of the 23 All-Conference selections had been named All-Conference in a previous season. St. Olaf senior forward Emily Johnson earned her fourth consecutive All-Conference selection, becoming the 23rd player in recorded conference history to be selected four times. Carleton seniors Zaraya Jordan and Avery Trapp each earned the third All-Conference selection of their careers.

ALL-PLAYOFF TEAM

The conference also announced the All-Playoff Team for women's soccer, which recognized 11 performers from the MIAC Playoffs, as selected by the head coaches of the playoff-participating teams. Of the 11 selections, only St. Catherine senior midfielder Ali Owens (2025) and St. Olaf senior midfielder Wren VanDeWalker (2025) had previously received the honor.

COMPLETE LIST OF HONOREES

A complete list of MIAC women's soccer honorees can be found below.