ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – For the first time in program history, the UCF women's soccer team swept the American Athletic Conference major awards on Tuesday.
Senior Morgan Ferrara was named Offensive Player of the Year; senior Kayla Adamek earned Midfielder of the Year honors; senior Kathellen Sousa shared Defensive Player of the Year honors with Cincinnati's Vanessa Giles; junior Vera Varis was named Goalkeeper of the Year; and freshman Dina Orschmann was lauded as the Rookie of the Year. Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak was the unanimous selection as The American Coach of the Year.
All five earned all-conference nods. Ferrara, Adamek, Sousa and Varis earned first-team selections, while Orschmann was a second team honoree. Orschmann, who was a unanimous selection, was joined by classmate Stefanie Sanders on the all-rookie team.
Ferrara led the league in five statistical categories, netting 10 of her team-leading 12 goals in league play. A two-time Offensive Player of the Week, the Tampa native recorded her first career hat trick in a 5-0 win over Memphis. Ferrara, who earned all-conference honors for the second consecutive year, ranks among the top six in the nation in goals per game and game-winning goals.
Adamek earned her first major award as a Knight, ranking just behind Ferrara in four statistical categories. The Ottawa, Canada native bagged eight goals in league play and racked up 17 points in nine matches. Adamek, who collected her third all-conference nod, is among the top 50 in the country in goals per game, points per game and total goals.
Sousa played six complete games during the nine-game league campaign and recorded an assist in the 2-0 win over UConn. Moving to centerback in the season opener, Sousa has helped the Knights to eight shutouts during their 14-match unbeaten streak.
Varis has allowed just three goals all season, and only one over 740 minutes of league action. The Vantaa, Finland native currently ranks fourth in the country with an overall goals against average of 0.252 and compiled a 0.12 GAA that led the league.
Roberts Sahaydak earned her third Coach of the Year accolade after leading the Knights to their second season without a loss in The American. UCF (12-1-2), currently ranked No. 7 in the nation, stands among the top 10 teams in the country in scoring offense, points per game, assists per game, win-loss-tie percentage and shots on goal per game. During the non-conference season, she guided UCF to wins over programs from the Pac-12, ACC and SEC.
Orschmann made an immediate impact during her rookie campaign. The Berlin, Germany native ranked fourth in the league in goals, points and points per game, and is the top rookie in the conference in all three statistical categories. Orschmann collected Rookie of the Week honors a league-leading four times, and paced the conference with six assists in league play.
Sanders joined fellow German Orschmann on the all-rookie team. The Hamburg native tallied a pair of goals in conference play, which ranked fifth on the squad.
Ferrara, Adamek and Orschmann combined for 22 of UCF's 30 goals in league play. On the defensive end, Sousa and Varis limited opponents to 28 shots on goal in conference action, with just three goals allowed.
Tuesday's hardware haul marked the first time in program history – including UCF's time in Conference USA and the Atlantic Sun – that the Knights swept each major award category.
UCF earned Defensive Player of the Year honors for the fourth time in the five-year history of the league, while collecting Offensive Player of the Year honors for the third time. The Knights earned their second Rookie of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year accolades, while garnering Midfielder of the Year laurels for the first time in The American.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
As regular season champions, the Knights will host the American Athletic Conference Championship at the UCF Soccer Complex beginning Nov. 1. UCF will host the winner of the No. 4 Memphis – No. 5 UConn quarterfinal at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. The American Digital Network will provide coverage for the entire quarterfinal and semifinal action. ESPNews will broadcast the championship match on Nov. 5.
Full coverage of The American Championship will be available at the championship central.
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