Nov. 7, 2007
EL PASO, Texas. (www.ucfathletics.com) - UCF senior midfielder Kate Begley (Hatfield, Pa.) and senior goalkeeper Jennifer Manis (Pensacola, Fla.) each were voted onto the Conference USA Women's Soccer All-Academic Team, announced by the league Wednesday. Both student-athletes have played key roles in helping the Knights earn the top seed for this week's C-USA Championship in El Paso, Texas, as UCF finished the regular season with a 12-3-3 record and 7-1-1 in league play.
UCF and Rice were the only two programs to place two student-athletes on the academic squad.
Begley holds a 3.88 GPA, and received the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal in 2005 and 2006. She also earned a spot on the Atlantic Sun All-Academic Team in 2003 and 2004 (redshirt year). The education major has started all 18 matches this season after suffering from injuries throughout her career. Begley registered her first-career goal in a 3-0 win over UC Davis Sept. 9, and was voted onto the 2007 UCF Invitational All-Tournament Team. She has taken 22 shots this year and is one of the team leaders in minutes played.
Manis, meanwhile, majors in biology and claims a 3.68 GPA. She was named to the C-USA All-Academic Team last season, and also earned NSCAA All-Southeast Region honors in 2006. A member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2005 and 2006, Manis earned C-USA Defensive Player of the Year accolades Tuesday as she posted seven shutouts this year, including a league-high six in conference games. Her 91 saves are tied for fifth in UCF single-season history.
The duo will try to help UCF claim the C-USA Championship title when the Knights open the postseason Wednesday at 2 p.m. with a first-round match-up vs. East Carolina. The event is being hosted by UTEP.
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