All-HCAC release http://www.bluffton.edu/athletics/womenssoccer/2013/allhcac.pdf

BLUFFTON, Ohio - Senior Aimee Whitmer (Grand Rapids/Otsego) capped her superb career at Bluffton by being named first team All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference for the 2013 women's soccer season. Freshman Abby Karikas (Curtice/Genoa Area) was selected honorable mention All-HCAC after anchoring the Beaver defense in her first season at Bluffton.

Aimee Whitmer found a change of position to her liking as she handed her spot in the back over to Karikas while moving into the midfield for her final campaign at Bluffton. The switch paid immediate dividends as she fired a team-high 73 shots that led to six goals, including two game winners, and an assist this season. In the process she upgraded to First Team All-Heartland Conference after three Second Team All-HCAC awards.

A fixture in the lineup from the day she walked onto campus, Whitmer wrapped up her career with a school-record tying 67 matches played, all as a starter. She rocketed 13 goals (tied for 10th all-time) while contributing six assists (tied for 8th all-time). Her 32 career points are also top-10 all time at Bluffton.

In 2011 when the Beavers advanced to the HCAC tournament championship, Whitmer helped limit Bluffton opponents to a school-record 20 goals, one season after the Beavers shattered the previous mark of 30 with 21 goals allowed. She was a key component in Bluffton's school-record nine shutouts and 523:31 minute scoreless streak by the Bluffton opposition that year.

The addition of freshman Abby Karikas to the squad in 2013 allowed Coach Nussbaum to bolster his offense by moving Whitmer up the field. Karikas was an integral component in a Bluffton defense that allowed just under two goals per 90 minutes of action. She started all 15 matches for Bluffton and chipped in with two shots during her first collegiate campaign.

In conjunction with the All-HCAC selections, the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference also announced the All-HCAC Sportsmanship Team for the fall of 2013. Senior Liz Webb (Ashland) was selected to the All-Sportsmanship Team from Bluffton. This award has been developed as part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative. Members of the All-HCAC Sportsmanship team are selected by the coaches and their teammates as individuals who demonstrate the ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field/court of competition.

Bluffton wrapped up its season with a 5-10 record, including a 3-6 mark in the conference. Full statistics and information on the Bluffton women's soccer program are available online at www.blufftonbeavers.com/womenssoccer .