After picking up Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference first team All-Conference honors, as well as being voted KJCCC East Co-Defensive Player of the Year, sophomore defender Sandra Thiman was named National Junior College Athletic Association second team All-American.
"I'm grateful for getting selected as an All-American," said Thiman. "It wouldn't have happened without my teammates or coaches; I am so happy!"
Announced by the national office Thursday morning, Thiman joins an elite class of student athletes named to the NJCAA Division I women's soccer All-American team. Thiman is one of 33 students on the list and just one of nine in her position as defender.
"We are honored to have Sandra Thiman be recognized as an NJCAA All-American," commented head coach Adam Hunter. "In my opinion, Sandra was the top defender returning to the KJCCC and Region VI for the 2019 campaign."
Sandra Thiman, a sophomore defender from Stockholm, Sweden, started in all of the Grizzlies 19 games this season. She tied for most goals scored this season from her defender position with seven total goals. She was relentless on the defensive side of the field and was a big reason that teams only averaged 1.07 goals per game against the Grizzlies during the season.
Thiman was a United Soccer Coaches All-American after her freshman season and in the words of coach Adam Hunter, "we were expecting similar performances and success from her as a sophomore."
Hunter went on, "in fact, in my 13 seasons at Butler, I would be hard pressed to say that we have had a more talented center-back in the program. Not only did Sandra lead the program's back line for the past two years, she led the team in goals as a sophomore with her dominating aerial headers off of set pieces."
Sandra is the 13th Grizzly women's soccer player to be named an NJCAA All-American in the program's history.
"We are so happy for all the successes that Sandra has been able to find at Butler, on the field and in the classroom," said Hunter. "I know that Sandra is grateful for her teammates and the position they helped put her in to be recognized as an All-American this season."
Butler now has had 13 students named NJCAA All-Americans during the program's history. To view a complete list of Butler Soccer's All-Americans, click HERE.
2019 NJCAA All-American List
Butler Soccer NJCAA All-Americans
2019- Sandra Thiman
2018- Elise Leidersten
2016- Colleen Howland
2015- Paige Achey
2013- Morgan Foster
2012- Teresa Offerman
2010- Cindy Benitez
2009- Cindy Benitez
2007- Katy Rodriguez
2005- Ashley Tatum
2004- Ashley Tatum & Toni Knabe
2003- Toni Knabe
