University of Northern Colorado Athletics
11/10/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
FARMINGTON, Utah – Northern Colorado collected seven Big Sky Conference postseason awards Tuesday, highlighted by Mia Norman as Co-Defensive Most Valuable Player, Thordis Melsted as Tri-Top Newcomer of the Year and Tim Barrera as Coach of the Year.
Norman, the senior captain from Celina Texas is the sixth Bear to be named Defensive MVP and the first since 2021. The center back led anchored a back line that posted eight shutouts the most since 2017 and held opponents to one goal or fewer in 13 of the Bears' 19 matches. On the offensive end Norman put up 20 shots and gave two assists on the year, setting a season-high to go along with her first career Offensive Player of the Week Awards.
Melsted is the third Bear to earn Top Newcomer of the Year and the first since 2018. The goalkeeper from Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, started all 19 matches and played 1,686:55 of a possible 1,710 minutes, making 97 saves with a .815 save percentage and a 1.17 goals-against average. Her eight shutouts are tied for the fourth-most in a career in the program's Division I era.
Barrera's Coach of the Year honor is the third of his career, following 2011 and 2021. He guided the Bears to a 6-1-2 mark in conference play and a second-place finish after being picked to finish 9th in the preseason poll. He also led his team with the program's first Big Sky Tournament berth since 2021.
Northern Colorado placed three players on the All-Big Sky First Team for the first time since 2021. Those three included leading scorer Ava Marshall, freshman phenom Maddie Mori, and Norman as the defensive anchor.
Marshall, a midfielder, leads the Bears with seven goals, including goals in five straight matches to close the regular season, all in conference play. She has taken 28 shots with 17 on target. Her seven goals were tied for the second most in the Big Sky this season. Six of her goals came during the conference slate to go along with two Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week Awards.
Mori, a freshman forward, has four goals and two assists on 22 shots, with 12 on frame. She got off to a fast start to the season with two goals against Colorado State to earn her first career Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week Award. She scored two goals in conference play including the game winner in a 1-0 victory over Eastern Washington.
Norman rounds out the first team at defender.
Defender Francesca Jordan was named to the All-Big Sky Second Team after starting 11 matches on a back line that posted eight shutouts and held opponents to one goal or fewer in 13 of the Bears' 19 matches. She has taken 13 shots with five on goal and recorded three assists and her first career goal. She wrapped up the regular season with the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honors last week after defending preseason Big Sky Player of the Year Micala Boex in the Bears' 3-0 win over Northern Arizona.
Midfielder Lauryn Maggio was named to the All-Big Sky Second Team after playing in all 19 Â matches with 18 starts. She has taken four shots and has been part of a midfield that helped the Bears post eight shutouts while conceding just four goals across nine conference matches.
Northern Colorado opens the Big Sky Tournament on Friday, Nov. 13 at 10:30 a.m. MT in Missoula, Mont., against the winner of Northern Arizona and Idaho State.
Center Circle Club
The Center Circle Club plays an important role in the success of UNC Women's Soccer, providing resources and opportunities that enhance the student-athlete experience and help the Bears compete at the highest level. Your support helps provide the experiences and resources needed for UNC Soccer to thrive on and off the field.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Bear action online and on social media. Follow the Bears on X @UNC_BearsSoccer, Instagram @UNC_BearsSoccer, and Facebook /UNCBearsSoccer.
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Norman, the senior captain from Celina Texas is the sixth Bear to be named Defensive MVP and the first since 2021. The center back led anchored a back line that posted eight shutouts the most since 2017 and held opponents to one goal or fewer in 13 of the Bears' 19 matches. On the offensive end Norman put up 20 shots and gave two assists on the year, setting a season-high to go along with her first career Offensive Player of the Week Awards.
Melsted is the third Bear to earn Top Newcomer of the Year and the first since 2018. The goalkeeper from Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, started all 19 matches and played 1,686:55 of a possible 1,710 minutes, making 97 saves with a .815 save percentage and a 1.17 goals-against average. Her eight shutouts are tied for the fourth-most in a career in the program's Division I era.
Barrera's Coach of the Year honor is the third of his career, following 2011 and 2021. He guided the Bears to a 6-1-2 mark in conference play and a second-place finish after being picked to finish 9th in the preseason poll. He also led his team with the program's first Big Sky Tournament berth since 2021.
Northern Colorado placed three players on the All-Big Sky First Team for the first time since 2021. Those three included leading scorer Ava Marshall, freshman phenom Maddie Mori, and Norman as the defensive anchor.
Marshall, a midfielder, leads the Bears with seven goals, including goals in five straight matches to close the regular season, all in conference play. She has taken 28 shots with 17 on target. Her seven goals were tied for the second most in the Big Sky this season. Six of her goals came during the conference slate to go along with two Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week Awards.
Mori, a freshman forward, has four goals and two assists on 22 shots, with 12 on frame. She got off to a fast start to the season with two goals against Colorado State to earn her first career Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week Award. She scored two goals in conference play including the game winner in a 1-0 victory over Eastern Washington.
Norman rounds out the first team at defender.
Defender Francesca Jordan was named to the All-Big Sky Second Team after starting 11 matches on a back line that posted eight shutouts and held opponents to one goal or fewer in 13 of the Bears' 19 matches. She has taken 13 shots with five on goal and recorded three assists and her first career goal. She wrapped up the regular season with the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honors last week after defending preseason Big Sky Player of the Year Micala Boex in the Bears' 3-0 win over Northern Arizona.
Midfielder Lauryn Maggio was named to the All-Big Sky Second Team after playing in all 19 Â matches with 18 starts. She has taken four shots and has been part of a midfield that helped the Bears post eight shutouts while conceding just four goals across nine conference matches.
Northern Colorado opens the Big Sky Tournament on Friday, Nov. 13 at 10:30 a.m. MT in Missoula, Mont., against the winner of Northern Arizona and Idaho State.
Center Circle Club
The Center Circle Club plays an important role in the success of UNC Women's Soccer, providing resources and opportunities that enhance the student-athlete experience and help the Bears compete at the highest level. Your support helps provide the experiences and resources needed for UNC Soccer to thrive on and off the field.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Bear action online and on social media. Follow the Bears on X @UNC_BearsSoccer, Instagram @UNC_BearsSoccer, and Facebook /UNCBearsSoccer.
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Players Mentioned
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