MILWAUKEE – Emily Petring was named Horizon League Player of the Year, Emily Urban earned both Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors, and Kevin Boyd was selected as the Horizon League Coach of the Year to highlight the awards for the Milwaukee women's soccer team as the league office announced its postseason honors Friday.
 
Milwaukee had nine total student-athletes recognized, including three First-Team selections, four Second-Team honorees and two Third-Team choices.
 
In addition to the major awards, Petring, Urban and Natalie Zodrow were named to the All-Horizon League First Team. Ashlyn Derosier, Lauren Nidey, Ashlyn Skinner-Barrett and Kiersten White earned Second Team recognition, while Denise Camarena and Payton Green were selected to the Third Team.
 
Petring becomes the latest Panther to earn Horizon League Player of the Year honors, following Mallory McGuire's selection in 2025. It's the fourth consecutive season a different Panther has claimed the award, as well as the 15^th time in program history, done so by 11 different players.
 
Her recognition highlights another outstanding season for the Milwaukee forward, who also earned a spot on the All-League First Team. She leads the team in scoring with 23 points and nine goals, both totals that stand second in overall games in the Horizon League. In conference-only games, Petring led the way with four game-winning goals and was second in points (19), goals (7), and assists (5).
 
Urban enjoyed a standout debut campaign for the Panthers, earning a starting spot from day one. She has started all 19 games this fall and actually never left the field – playing all 90 minutes each outing. She has helped the defense to nine shutouts while stepping up in league play – in which the MKE defense allowed just seven goals in 11 matches (0.64 GAA). The First Team selection has made an immediate impact on the Milwaukee back line, earning recognition as the league's top defensive player while also being named its top newcomer. The honor marks the ninth time a Panther has won the award in program history.
 
Boyd earns his second consecutive Horizon League Coach of the Year award after guiding the Panthers through another successful campaign. In fact, Boyd led the team to an unblemished 11-0-0 mark, with the Panthers the only team across the NCAA Division I level to finish without a loss or tie on its league ledger. Not only did it mark just the 14^th unbeaten and untied campaign in Horizon League history, it also extended Milwaukee's unbeaten streak in regular-season play to a staggering 50 straight (42-0-8). The streak is the longest of its kind in the country and dates back to September of 2022.
 
Natalie Zodrow upped her status from a third-team selection last fall and has been a key piece of the midfield. She has started all 19 games this fall and has added nine points on four goals and one assist. She has been huge down the stretch, tallying goals in four straight outings as the Panthers claimed the regular-season crown, also picking up league player of the week accolades in that stretch.
 
Derosier, Nidey, Skinner-Barrett, and White all pick up second-team status, with Derosier enjoying a breakout season. She has started all 19 games this fall, recording nine points on a pair of goals and five assists to rank tied for fourth in the conference in helpers. She has also been a key presence on corner kicks and free kicks, adding an Olimpico as one of her scoring strikes off a corner kick against Northern Iowa in game two of the season.
 
Nidey earned the starting goalkeeper spot and has thrived, especially since league play began. On the season she has posted a 1.21 goals-against average and nine shutouts to go along with her 13-4-2 record. In league-only action, she was first in GAA (0.64) and second in shutouts (5), adding a .800 save percentage.
 
Skinner-Barrett continues to be an opposing offensive threat any time she touches the ball and has scored 15 points this fall on five goals and five assists. Her point total ranks tied for sixth in the league. White worked her way back into the starting lineup after missing time at the start of the season, but brings veteran leadership to the back. She also scored the lone goal in MKE's 1-0 victory over Green Bay to cap its perfect 11-0 campaign.
 
Camarena and Green round out the Milwaukee honorees on the Third Team. Camarena added a great deal of leadership and experience as a transfer, appearing in all 19 games while making 17 starts in recording eight points (2G/4A). Green capped her time in Milwaukee with postseason accolades after becoming a full-time starter this season on the back line.
 
2026 Horizon League Women's Soccer Award Winners
Player of the Year: Emily Petring, Milwaukee
Goalkeeper of the Year: Hayleigh Lewis, Cleveland State
Offensive Player of the Year: Megan Molner, Northern Kentucky
Defensive Player of the Year: Emily Urban, Milwaukee
Freshman of the Year: Emily Urban, Milwaukee
Sportsmanship Award: Caroline Kelley, IU Indianapolis
Coach of the Year: Kevin Boyd, Milwaukee
 
All-League First Team
Hayleigh Lewis, Cleveland State, Goalkeeper
Jess Howard, Green Bay, Defender
Laney Stark, Green Bay, Forward
Rebecca Stoeckmann, Green Bay, Midfielder
Keilah Muldrow, IU Indianapolis, Forward
Emily Petring, Milwaukee, Forward
Emily Urban, Milwaukee, Defender
Natalie Zodrow, Milwaukee, Midfielder
Megan Molner, Northern Kentucky, Forward
Caitlin Burger, Wright State, Midfielder
Kate Makkas, Youngstown State, Defender
 
All-League Second Team
Alyssa Flood, Green Bay, Defender
Annaliese Black, IU Indianapolis, Midfielder
Ashlyn Derosier, Milwaukee, Midfielder
Lauren Nidey, Milwaukee, Goalkeeper
Ashlyn Skinner-Barrett, Milwaukee, Forward
Kiersten White, Milwaukee, Defender
Erykah Cornett, Northern Kentucky, Forward
Emma Gianino, Northern Kentucky, Midfielder
Sophia Kapszukiewicz, Northern Kentucky, Defender
Camille Bultel, Youngstown State, Midfielder
Sara Felder, Youngstown State, Forward
 
All-League Third Team                
Bella Brozek, Green Bay, Forward
Aixa Helbringer-Escobar, Green Bay, Midfielder
Anna Scott, Green Bay, Goalkeeper
Bethany Hartigan, IU Indianapolis, Defender
Caroline Kelley, IU Indianapolis, Forward
Denise Camarena, Milwaukee, Midfielder
Payton Green, Milwaukee, Defender
Caitlin Evans, Northern Kentucky, Defender
Brae Cole, Oakland, Defender
Makenzie Chinn, Wright State, Midfielder
Ruby Dunlevy, Wright State, Forward
 
Sportsmanship Award Finalists
Olivia Cruz, Cleveland State
Leila Lanier, Detroit Mercy
Rebecca Stoeckmann, Green Bay
Caroline Kelley, IU Indianapolis*
Denise Camerena, Milwaukee
Lauren Mrugala, NIU
Natalie Newman, Northern Kentucky
Ella Shapiro, Oakland
Jenna Ellsworth, Purdue Fort Wayne
Emma Cameron, RMU
Addy Canter, Wright State
Makayla Thinger, Youngstown State