MACOMB, Ill.- After three-straight years in which it set new benchmarks for wins in a season, the Western Illinois women's soccer team had to fight through injuries and still finished with the fourth most wins in a season in Western history, recording an 8-8-2 record in 2008.

In head coach Tony Guinn's second year at the helm of the Westerwinds, the team saw significant time missed from key players seniors Katelyn Wisner and Lainey Bruhn, who each played vital roles on the 2007 squad that played for The Summit League championship. Also missing time for Western due to injuries was junior Andrea Cain, sophomore Jenna Schonert and freshman Kristin Kuhar.

Despite the injuries, the 2008 Westerwinds finished second in school history for points (101) and assists (33) and third in goals (34). Western finished tied for fourth in the conference with Southern Utah with a record of 4-4-0, but was left out of the 2008 Summit League championships due to their head-to-head loss on the road to the Thunderbirds.

The highlight of the 2008 season was senior Ashley Hoch. The Brookfield, Wis., native scored the game-winning goal against Grand View with just over a minute left in the game to give her 21 in her career and propel her above former teammate Robyn Ruypers (2004-07) as the school's all-time leader in career goals. She finished her career as Western's all-time leader in points (76), goals (24), assists (28), shots (236) and shots on goal (113). Her seven goals and eight assists in 2008 gave her the second most points recorded in a season with 22, two shy of Amanda Wandtke's (1998-01) 24 points she tallied in 2001.

Hoch also earned her fourth all-league honors when she was named the all-Summit League first team for the second straight year and third time in her career. Sophomore Jenny Green earned second team honors in her first year with the Westerwinds after transferring from Minnesota. Freshman Nora Potempa was named to The Summit League's all-newcomer team.