CHICO, Calif. – The No. 14 University of California San Diego women's soccer team came away with three of the conference's top awards and had eight scholar-athletes earn postseason recognition from the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The conference announced the recipients on Thursday.
 
Top Honors
 
Of the conference's top honors, UC San Diego claimed Defensive Player of the Year (Natalie Saddic), Goalkeeper of the Year (Angelica Ramos), and Freshman of the Year (Mika Celeste). All three players were also named to the All-CCAA First Team.
 
After claiming the title of CCAA Defensive Player of the Year the past two years, Saddic closes her career with yet another CCAA Defensive Player of the Year accolade. Saddic is the first ever player or coach to win back-to-back-to-back individual awards from the conference. In her final year with the Tritons, the Triton captain has helped UC San Diego's defense record 12 shutouts in 16 contests. The Tritons' shutout percentage (0.75) is good for fourth nationally.
 
The former Newcomer of the Year in 2017, Ramos claims the title of Goalkeeper of the Year in her final season. Ramos has been a force to be reckoned with in the Triton net, as the San Clemente native currently leads the nation with 12 clean sheets. Ramos' goals-against average (0.37) is also among the best in the country, ranking sixth nationally.
 
Celeste has shined in her first year at the collegiate level, earning the Freshman of the Year award. The first-year Triton ranked eighth in the conference with 14 points (six goals, two assists) and fifth in the CCAA with three game-winning goals. Celeste was one of just two freshmen to be awarded a weekly honor from the conference, as she was named the CCAA Player of the Week on Oct. 15 for her three goals in two games.
 
First Team
 
Rounding out the Tritons' first team honorees is captain Kelsey Kimball. Kimball has been key to the success of the UC San Diego defense, starting every game. The Thousand Oaks native and her defensive counterparts allowed just six goals in 16 contests, the least in the conference. Kimball also contributed three goals on the season, two of which were game-winners.
 
Second Team
 
Michelle Baddour and Sophia Bruno were honored as second team recipients. Baddour dished out six assists during the regular season, which was the third most in the CCAA. With two goals as well – both of which were game-winners -- the San Diego native has racked up 10 points during 2019. Baddour started all 16 of the Tritons' matches.
 
Like Baddour, Bruno started every contest for UC San Diego as well. In addition to bolstering the team's defensive efforts, the Triton midfielder also picked up a goal and an assist during the regular season. Bruno's goal was crucial in UC San Diego's first road match of the season, as she regained the lead for the Tritons in the 66^th minute and they went on to capture a 3-2 win over Azusa Pacific.
 
Honorable Mentions
 
UC San Diego midfielders Kameryn Hoban and Caitlin McCarthy earned honorable mentions from the conference. Hoban, a transfer from LMU, made an impact in her first year as a Triton. The Encinitas native ranked third on the team with three goals during the season.
 
This is the second-straight year McCarthy has earned postseason recognition from the conference. The junior recorded two goals during the season in wins over Biola and Stanislaus State.
 
Up Next
 
The Tritons will look to bring home a CCAA title in their final year of Division II. UC San Diego will face No. 22 Cal Poly Pomona in the semifinals at 7 p.m. on Friday at Triton Soccer Stadium.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
With 30 national team championships, nearly 150 individual titles and the top student-athlete graduation rate among Division II institutions in the United States, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program annually ranks as one of the most successful in the country.  The Tritons sponsor 23 intercollegiate sport programs that compete on the NCAA Division I and II levels and, in summer 2020, will transition into full Division I status as a member of the Big West Conference.  UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent.  A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.  In competition, more than 1,300 UC San Diego student-athletes have earned All-America honors.
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