By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior defender Kelsey Rogel (Tacoma,WA/Bellarmine Prep) has been named Second Team All-West Region and WU senior forward Lauren Miller (Portland, OR/Grant HS/Northwestern State, La.) has been selected for Third Team All-West Region honors, in voting by members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Overall, the NSCAA recognized a total of 33 athletes with All-West Region honors.

The All-West Region Team included 14 players from the Northwest Conference. Five players were named to the First Team, with four on the Second Team and five more on the Third Team.

Rogel provided Willamette with outstanding defense throughout the season. She also supplied the Bearcats with one goal and a team-high five assists on offense. Her passing and shooting skills resulted in many scoring chances on set plays during the year.

This fall, she was one of four Willamette players who started all 20 games. During her career, she saw action in 77 games, including 76 starts.

Rogel was named All-Northwest Conference during each of her four years with the Bearcats. She earned First Team All-NWC recognition in 2006 and 2008 and was chosen Second Team All-NWC in 2005 and 2007. She was a defender in 2005, 2006 and 2008, and played forward during most of the 2007 season.

This year, she focused primarily on defense, but continued to provide support on offense. She was named NWC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 27, after earning four assists on Willamette's six goals in come-from-behind wins over George Fox University (2-1 on Oct. 24) and Lewis & Clark College (4-2 on Oct. 26). Earlier in the year, she scored the game's only goal in WU's 1-0 win over Pacific University on Oct. 4.

Rogel took 66 shots during her career and placed 30 shots on goal. She earned 5 goals and 11 assists for 21 career points. She recorded three game-winning goals.

Miller saw action in all 20 games with 19 starts this fall. She scored three goals and one assist for seven total points. She took 37 shots and had 19 shots on goal.

Against Whitworth on Sept. 21, Miller broke a 1-1 tie by scoring a goal with 4:21 left in regulation, sending the 'Cats to a 2-1 win. She earned the only goal in a 1-0 triumph over Linfield College on Nov. 5.

Miller played two seasons at Willamette after returning to the Pacific Northwest from Northwestern State University in Louisiana. She previously played soccer at Grant High School in Portland, Ore. At Willamette, she helped the Bearcats in all 39 games the past two seasons, including 38 starts. She scored 11 goals and contributed two assists in 2007.

During her Willamette career, Miller accumulated 14 goals and three assists. She also accumulated 104 total shots with 52 shots on goal. She earned four game-winning goals as a Bearcat.

Willamette finished the 2008 season with a 12-8 record and went 10-6 (3rd place) in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats went 10-4 in games decided by a one-goal margin and were victorious seven times by a 1-0 score. Willamette's winning record was the 21st for the Bearcats in the past 23 years.