Nov. 4, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The No. 22 UCF women's soccer team tied a league-high with six selections to the All-Conference USA Teams, which were released on Tuesday. Juniors Becca Thomas (Burlington, Wash.) and Nikki Moore (Virginia Beach, Va.) were both named to the All-C-USA First Team, ensuring the Knights would have at least two players on the prestigious squad in all four seasons they have been members of the conference.
UCF, which finished the regular season with a 12-4-3 overall record and a 7-2-2 mark in C-USA play, also tied for the most players on the All-C-USA First Team and the All-Freshman Team with two apiece.
Junior Yvonne George (Winter Springs, Fla.) and freshman keeper Aline Reis (Campinas, Brazil) grabbed spots on the All-C-USA Second Team for the Knights, while Reis and Stacie Hubbard (Jacksonville, Fla.) were selected to the All-Freshman Team.
Moore has not been a stranger to the C-USA postseason awards, as she was named to the First Team as a sophomore and to the Second Team and Freshman Team in 2006. The defender was one of three players to be voted onto the All-C-USA First Team for the second-straight season. Moore has started all 19 matches and played 1,522 minutes, helping the defense post eight shutouts and adding two assists on the offensive side of the field.
Thomas was a member of the All-Freshman Team in 2006, and this season ranks fifth in C-USA with 50 shots. The midfielder also has four goals and five assists for 13 points. Thomas routinely sets up a large portion of UCF's scoring chances, but has scored two game-winners this year.
A member of the All-C-USA Second Team for the second season in a row, George is in eighth place in the league with a UCF-high 17 points, and also places third with seven assists. Serving as the Knights' first freshman starting keeper since 1995, Reis has been named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on four occasions. She currently owns an 11-4-3 record with six shutouts and 86 saves, which rank eighth in UCF single-season history.
Hubbard has evolved into one of the most problematic players for opponents in 2008, halting numerous offensive threats with her quick footwork. As one of UCF's midfielders, she has collected three assists in 12 starts and 19 total matches.
The Knights kick off postseason play this week when they travel to Houston, Texas, for the C-USA Championship. They will be serving as the No. 3 seed and take on host No. 6 Rice in the first round Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
2008 C-USA WOMEN'S SOCCER AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year
Vendula Strnadova, Memphis
Defensive Player of the Year
Amber Campbell, East Carolina
Midfielder of the Year
Vendula Strnadova, Memphis
Co-Freshmen of the Year
Lizzy Simonin, Memphis
Tiffini Turpin, UAB
Coach of the Year
Rob Donnenwirth, East Carolina
All-Conference First Team
F: Erin Scott, Rice
F: Tameka Sumter, UTEP
F: Tiffini Turpin, UAB
MF: Vendula Strnadova, Memphis
MF: Becca Thomas, UCF
MF: Shelley Wong, Rice
D: Madison Keller, East Carolina
D: Nikki Moore, UCF
D: Kim Peabody, SMU
D: Molly Uyenishi, Colorado College
GK: Amber Campbell, East Carolina
All-Conference Second Team
F: Yvonne George, UCF
F: Kelly LaVoie, Colorado College
F: Sarah McFadden, Southern Miss
F: Lizzy Simonin, Memphis
MF: Kate Edwards, Rice
MF: Emiko Schwab, Memphis
MF: Chelsea Winbush, UTEP
D: Kelsey Bakker, Memphis
D: Alexa Coralli, Rice
D: Jessica Rathweg, Houston
D: Savanna Russo, East Carolina
GK: Aline Reis, UCF
All-Freshman Team
Kelsey Wise, MF, Colorado College
Caitlin Hulyo, GK, Colorado College
Amanda Malkiewicz, F, East Carolina
Stephanie Derieg, D, Houston
Angela DeSumma, F/MF, Marshall
*Lizzy Simonin, F, Memphis
Lizzy Hildebrandt, MF, Memphis
Hope Ward, F, Rice
Logan May, F, SMU
Carolyn Polcari, MF, UAB
*Tiffini Turpin, F, UAB
Stacie Hubbard, MF, UCF
Aline Reis, GK, UCF
*unanimous selection