Union-North Tama soccer’s Dena Robb, left, and Avery Knoop, right, were both 2024 NICL Girls Soccer All-Conference Team selections this season with Robb a first team utility pick and Knoop receiving honorable mention. While Knoop will return next year for her final, senior season, Robb graduated in May from Union High School. PHOTOS BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

LA PORTE CITY – Union-North Tama girls soccer players Dena Robb and Avery Knoop were honored for their efforts on the pitch this season with All-Conference team selections.

Robb, a team captain who graduated from Union High School last month, was a 2024 NICL All-Conference First Team pick as one of two utility players. After beginning the season as the leader of the team’s back line, Robb transitioned to goalie in the wake of Dacey Powell’s hand injury which kept her off the field for much of the season.

“[I’m] super proud of Dena,” Knights head coach John Simon told the newspaper last week. “Coaches voted her as utility since they knew about Dacey getting hurt and Dena stepping (into) the goalie position and doing a very good job.”

Robb led the team’s defense with an 87.9% save rate by making 217 saves and allowing 30. She was 11th overall and sixth in Class 1A for saves.

Her teammate Avery Knoop was also a 2024 NICL Girls Soccer All-Conference pick as one of seven honorable mention selections. The junior forward led the Knights offense with 11 goals and six assists.

Knoop was also a 1A Northeast All-District selection this season at forward.

“Avery is a great athlete,” Simon said. “She is good at everything she does.”

In his second season as head coach, Simon led Union-North Tama to a 7-12 (2-7) record – improving on last season’s 4-11 – taking the Knights to the second round of regionals after beating North Fayette Valley, 4-2 at home for the regional opener.

In the Region 7 semifinal, the Knights fell 3-0 to Denver (20-3), the eventual 2023-24 1A runner-up state champions.

In addition to Robb, the Knights also graduated Dacey Powell, Molly Clark, Charlie Keegan, and Adelyn Sienknecht this year.

For his part, Coach Simon said he plans on returning next year for his third season at the Knights’ helm, telling the newspaper, “Yup, I’m sticking around.”

2024 NICL Girls Soccer All-Conference Teams

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Savannah Schneider, Hudson

COACH OF THE YEAR: Derek Krebsbach, Denver

FIRST TEAM

Savannah Schneider, senior, Hudson, forward

Taylor Davis, fresh., Hudson, forward

Alex Yoder, junior, Denver, forward

Grace Mullihan, soph., Denver, forward

Bailey Mullihan, soph., Denver, midfielder

Gia Baldiviezo, soph., Hudson, midfielder

Ana Bering, senior, Dike-New Hartford, midfielder

Keira Gehrke, junior, Denver, midfielder

Ella Hiatt, junior, Hudson, utility

Dena Robb, senior, Union-North Tama, utility

Miranda Thurm, junior, Denver, defender

Amelia Klenk, junior, Hudson, defender

Hannah Steffen, junior, Dike-New Hartford, defender

Isabella Schoo, senior, Columbus Catholic, defender

Miranda Tyler, senior, Dike-New Hartford, goalie

SECOND TEAM

Gentry Harberts, junior, Dike-New Hartford, forward

Alyssa Harberst, junior, Denver, forward

Kiara Morris, fresh., Aplington-Parkersburg, forward

Payton Foster, fresh., Dike-New Hartford, forward

Makena Youngblut, senior, Columbus Catholic, midfielder

Lucy Varney, junior, Dike-New Hartford, midfielder

Kenzie Snyder, junior, Denver, midfielder

Annabelle Lange, senior, Hudson, midfielder

Ansley Trunck, junior, Hudson, utility

Gina Pranger, senior, Columbus Catholic, utility

Callie Stickford, soph., Hudson, defender

Ella Buttjer, soph., Aplington-Parkersburg, defender

Alayna Akers, junior, Denver, defender

Mallory Petersen, soph., Denver, defender

Lauren Seres, junior, Hudson, goalie

HONORABLE MENTION

1-Tori Schroeder, senior, Denver

2-Mackenzie Stuart, senior, Hudson

3-Joy Eilderts, junior, Dike-New Hartford

4-Jenna Lupkes, senior, Aplington-Parkersburg

5-Meaghan Martens, senior, Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck

6-Abby Rhomberg, Columbus Catholic

7-Avery Knoop, junior, Union-North Tama