Lauren Hancher

College of Wooster junior midfielder Lauren Hancher was named All-North Coast Athletic Conference First Team, the league office announced Wednesday, while three teammates – junior defender Rachael Davis (second-team), senior forward Jessica Friesen (honorable mention), and junior defender Carly Joliat (honorable mention) – were also recognized as some of the league's best players.

Hancher is now a three-time all-conference selection, having been voted honorable mention her first two seasons, and has developed into Wooster's top overall player. Playing as a center midfielder, Hancher is a difference-maker on both ends of the field, including offensively, where she finished second on the team with a career-high 14 points (6 goals, 2 assists). Many of Hancher's goals have been headers off free kicks and corner kicks, and she also regularly uses her head to win the ball defensively, which helped Wooster limit opponents to the third-lowest goals per game (1.15) in the conference.

Davis, who earned an honorable mention last season, was once again the team's defensive anchor in 2014. With Davis leading the way, Wooster's defense produced seven shutouts, and held six other opponents to just one goal. The Scots also allowed less than 10 shots per game (9.55) for the third-straight year with Davis roaming the backfield.

Friesen got better as her career went on, as she entered her junior year with just one assist, but added 18 points (7 goals, 4 assists) over the last two seasons. This year, Friesen ranked third on the Scots with eight points coming on three goals and two assists. Her best game was in a win over Geneva College (Sept. 20), where she recorded a goal and a helper, and she also scored a game-tying goal in an eventual loss to NCAC Tournament champions Kenyon College (Oct. 11).

Joliat was not only a strong defensive presence, but found a niche as a free kick and corner kick specialist, where she routinely gave Wooster strong chances on goal. Overall, she recorded a team-high five assists, with three coming on corner kicks, one on a free kick, and another from a traditional cross, and she also notched her first career goal, also off a free kick, against Kenyon (Oct. 11).