Women's Soccer earns program-high three All-Cal Pac honors

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. – Senior center midfielder Jackie Garcia, junior goalkeeper Maddy Dack and sophomore defender Vonne Ng-Bader earned All-California Pacific Conference honors when league officials unveiled their 2021 honor roll prior to the start of the conference's postseason tournament. 

All three Keelhaulers were named to the Honorable Mention list and comprise the highest total of all-conference awards in program history.

"Three honorable mentions for Cal Maritime Women's Soccer is a positive achievement this season after the pandemic kept us away for a season. In the past we've only had one award with Jackie, so we are very excited she is in good company this year. I nominated all three from their respective positions on the field," said head coach Emily Scheese.

Named a starter in all 12 games played this season, Dack finished with a league-high 182 saves this season.

"Maddy is stellar for us in goal, a great shot stopper when facing the amount of shots she does with 182 saves (entering the team's season finale) on the season. She has one of the highest save percentages in the league, facing the most shots. She is also the soul of the team and a great leader who guides us through times of triumph, and plenty of adversity, with a positive never-give-up attitude that doesn't go unnoticed by our opponents."

Added Scheese, "Maddy was honored by praise of other teams' goalkeeper coaches; a referee from one of our matches was impressed by her leadership and positivity that he gave her his referee coin at the conclusion of the match."

Also named a starter in all 11 games played this year was Ng-Bader, a solid defender who displayed her talents in the middle and back third of the field all season long.

Said Scheese, "Vonne is a player that could thrive anywhere on the field. The plan was to host her in midfield this year, but due to injuries, she stepped up and filled the role as one of our center backs, providing cover for her teammates and doing her best to shut down key strikers. Vonne also possesses a calmness on the ball and is central to helping us build an attack out of the back with her confidence to carry the ball, and her eye for distribution. Even though she is a sophomore, this was her first year out on the pitch for us due to COVID. Earning All-Cal Pac recognition in her first year is a special honor. 

"And last, but not least, Jackie returns to the Honorable Mention list after earning this accolade in 2019 as the only previous Keelhauler to do so. In her senior year, Jackie deserves this award in the midfield position for her tireless work from end-to-end, defensively covering and tracking marks while simultaneously having the composure to launch an attack when she gains possession. Anyone familiar with Jackie's calmness on the ball and technical ability has been wowed in the stands with the ease she has in juking opponents; this does not go unnoticed by other teams who often double or triple team her, to no avail. She has been central to the growth of the program here, set an example of work rate and dedication on the field that I hope current players recognize and emulate in future years." 

Garcia also earned a spot in Cal Maritime's lineup every game this season and earned an assist on Mia Rathsack's goal when the Keelhaulers hosted Pacific Union.

"I couldn't be happier with the league's selections, which are forwarded by me but decided on by our opponents' coaches. This recognition by the league shows how these players stand out as leaders and role models for our program," Scheese said.

Cal Maritime will wrap-up the 2021 season in Oakland in its return game versus Mills College, kickoff at Hellman Soccer Field is set for 3 p.m.