KANSAS CITY, MO – Recognition for an impactful first season continue to roll in for University of Mary midfielder Dina Polanco as the freshman was named to the 2025 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Women's All-Central Region third team.
 
The native of Guatemala was previously named the Northern Sun's Newcomer of the Year and was tabbed as a midfielder on the All-NSIC first team. Polanco also earned D2CCA All-Central Region 1^st team honors.
 
Polanco is the first UMary scholar-athlete to earn a spot on two different all-region teams in the same season since Alex Bachman-Williams in 2012.She is the first UMary player to receive 1^st team all-region honors since 2011 (Jessica Curl). The last time a UMary player was named the NSIC Newcomer of the Year was Amy Tanaka in 2008. Additionally Polanco is the first UMary freshman named to the All-NSIC 1^st team since Megan Wilson in 2007.  
 
One of just three freshmen on the USC All-Central Region 36-player team, Polanco totaled nine goals and three assists for 21 points in 17 games. She tied for the team lead in points and finished second in goals scored. Additionally she scored two game-winning goals and made both her penalty kicks.
 
The nine goals was the most for a UMary freshman since 2007 when Wilson scored 15 goals.
 
Polanco's final goal of the season came in the opening round of the Northern Sun tournament. It was the Marauders 40th counter of the year, breaking the program's NCAA single season mark of 39 in 2007, a season in which UMary advanced to the NCAA tournament.
 
Additionally Polanco plays for the Guatemala national team in World Cup qualifying matches. She scored a goal for her national team in a 4-1 victory for Guatemala over Bermuda on December 1. Earlier this fall Polanco played for the national team at the Centro Americanos tournament and helped Guatemala finish third.
 
UMary finished the season 8-7-4 overall and 6-5-4 in NSIC play to earn a spot in the league tournament for an 8^th straight season. Over the last nine seasons the Marauders have finished with a .500 record or better, including seven seasons with a winning record. The Marauders scored the most goals by any team in the NSIC during the regular season.
 
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