NEW ULM — Five Martin Luther College women’s soccer players received postseason honors from the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) on Tuesday.

Courtney Ritter was the lone MLC player to be named First Team All-UMAC. Lydia Bitter and Mollie Fischer were each named Second Team All-UMAC, while Mary Falck and Sarah Kjenstad received Honorable Mention All-UMAC honors.

Ritter started all 19 games at the center of the Knights’ defense, helping the team finish third in the conference with only seven goals allowed during UMAC play. Ritter and the Knights allowed only 52 shots on goal (6.5 per game) during those eight games, helping the team finish fourth in the conference with a 4-3-1 record.

Bitter received all-conference honors for the third consecutive season after leading the Knights with six goals, including three game-winning goals, and 14 total points. She also lead the team in shots (62) and shots on goal (26). Bitter was named Second Team All-UMAC as a sophomore in 2018, and received Honorable Mention honors following her debut season in 2017.

Fischer finished a stellar junior season with seven shutouts, four of which came in UMAC contests. She finished third in the UMAC in both save percentage (.865) and goals against average (0.84) during league play, and was named UMAC Defensive Player of the Week on three separate occasions.

Falck finished second on the Knights with four goals and 10 total points. After missing time early in the season due to injury, Falck started all eight conference games and helped as both a scorer and in holding possession from her forward spot.

Kjenstad received Honorable Mention honors for the second consecutive season as Ritter’s defensive partner in the middle of the defense. She started all 19 games during her senior season and played in all 37 games for the Knights the last two seasons.

Senior Carissa Friebe was named the MLC recipient of the Sportsmanship Award, given to one player on each team who best exemplifies sportsmanship during the season.

MLC finished the 2019 season with a 8-10-1 overall record, including a 4-3-1 conference record.