GPAC women’s soccer honors go to Johnson, Ali Said

MITCHELL, S.D. – For a large portion of the early season, senior forward Megan Johnson (Rapid City, S.D.) was leading not only the Great Plains Athletic Conference, but the NAIA in goals scored. She had 22 near the midway point of the season before an injury forced her out of regular action.

For her effort in 2014, Johnson was named to the All-GPAC First Team, it was announced Monday.

Johnson set the DWU women's single season record for goals this season, finishing with 23. Her top performance came in a matchup against Grace University when she found the back of the net six times in an 8-2 road win for the Tigers. Against Clarke University in the previous contest she netted four goals and had a six-game stretch of scoring at least two times for the Tigers.

An injury against Northwestern College on Oct. 10 cost Johnson a regular spot in the lineup the rest of the way. She was able to come back and play in two more games, including a 1-1 tie against Midland University at home on Oct. 25. She scored the lone goal for the Tigers, the last of her career.

Johnson added four assists and put 37 total shots on net in 2014, while helping the Tigers return to the GPAC postseason under first-year coach Clayson Glasgow. Johnson is ranked third in the NAIA in goals per game at 1.53 and sixth in total goals.

Senior forward Thara Ali Said (Muscat, Oman) also picked up another accolade to close out her impressive run in a Tiger uniform. Ali Said was named an All-GPAC Honorable Mention for her performance this season with the Tigers.

Ali Said finished her season with 13 goals and three assists. After Johnson went out with her injury, Ali Said stepped up and put together back-to-back hat tricks for DWU in wins over Doane College and Mount Marty College. She finished with 32 goals and eight assists in her career. The honorable mention honor is the second straight for Ali Said.

The Tigers finished the season 9-10-1 overall and fell to eventual GPAC tournament champion Concordia University in the semifinals of the GPAC playoffs.