Despite all the recognition junior Cal State-Stanislaus forward Katelyn Nebesnick received during the season, she was still in shock after this one.
Nebesnick was named Second Team All-American by the National Soccer Coach’s Association of America following a stellar 2013 campaign. The Gilroy High alum had the third most goals for the Warriors this season, nine, and was fifth overall in assists with seven. She was second on the team in earned points with 25.
“I was actually really excited,” Nebesnick said. “I didn’t expect it at all. I got a text from my coach saying ‘Check the website’ and I made the second team, so I was really excited when I found out.”
In addition to being named an All-American, the NSCAA named her to the All-Region team. The forward earned All-California Collegiate Athletic Association First team honors and was the CCCA Championships MVP and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Nebesnick also earned Daktronics Second Team All-Western Region honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America.
“I think what really makes her successful is that she loves playing the game, she loves having the ball at her feet — she’s confident with it, she’s skilled,” Warriors coach Gabe Bolton said. “I think when you come to college and as you get a little bit older and a little bit more comfortable you start to play better. Each year she’s continued to get better as a player. I think it really all starts with her passion for playing soccer and her love of the game.”
Even amongst all the honors she’s received, Nebesnick said the most exciting part about the season is what the Warriors, as a team, were able to do. CSUS went undefeated in the regular season for the first time in 15 years to earn the conference crown. The team’s only loss came in the NCCA Division II Championship game where Cal State San Bernardino topped it 1-0 on Nov. 16. The Warriors finished the season 18-1-2.
“This season was amazing,” Nebesnick said. “We had a really good team. I just feel like we drove each other on the field, off the field. Our success was, I think, the best part about it.”
Nebesnick worked hard in the offseason, tweaking little things like passing and quick turns on the field. Off the field, she worked on conditioning so she could be ready to play for as long as her team needed her to.
“She’s our playmaker; She’s the person that we want to have the ball as much as possible,” Bolton said. “She scores goal, but she also makes every player around her better with her vision, her skill. In addition to scoring, she’s also creating a lot of opportunities for others. … She’s just a really intricate part of our team. There were some teams toward the end of the year would actually man mark her just to keep her from getting the ball.”
Nebesnick will return to CSUS for her senior season next fall.
“She really is, in many ways, the heart and soul of our team,” Bolton said. “Her spirit, her love for the game is contagious and shines through. I couldn’t ask for anything more out of her as a soccer player or as a person.”
I think what really makes her successful is that she loves playing the game, she loves having the ball at her feet — she’s confident with it, she’s skilled.”
Goals — 9; Assists — 6; Shots — 63; Games Played — 21
Second Team All-American – NSCAA
All-Region – NSCAA
CCAA First Team
CCCA Championships MVP
All-Western Region Second Team – Daktronics/CSIDA
