Queens' Brown, Lenoir-Rhyne's Belsky Named South Atlantic Conference Soccer Scholar-Athletes of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Queens' Corey Brown was voted the South Atlantic Conference men's soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while Brianna Belsky of Lenoir-Rhyne picked up the women's soccer honor, the League announced today.  The pair earned the honor for their achievements in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the Conference's championship sports, and is voted on by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee.

Brown, a junior biochemistry major, has achieved a 3.95 GPA and has made the Dean's list every semester in his freshman and sophomore years. More recently, Brown was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District First Team.

"We are very proud of Corey's accomplishments on and off the field for our program," said head coach Oliver Carias. "He is a great example of a successful Student-athlete. It is a well-deserved honor."

At the conclusion of his junior season, Brown has continued to see success on the pitch. Beginning with his freshman campaign, Brown and the Royals advanced to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals after claiming the South Atlantic Conference regular season title and the South Atlantic Conference Championship title. This year, the Toronto native started in all of Queens' games. He totaled nine goals and 11 assists, leading Queens in both categories and finished the season ranked second in the League in goals, assists and points. Brown also made a total of five game-winning goals and had three five-point games on the year. In addition to being a two-time AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week this season, Brown was also named Queens' September and November InterCon Male Student-Athlete of the Month and earned a Second Team selection in the Division II Collegiate Commissioner's Association All-Southeast Region team.

Over the course of three years, Brown has been highly involved in the community, being active in various leadership and service commitments. Since his first year at Queens, Brown has been a member of the school's Emerging Leaders Program as well as being a part of Milestone Ministries. The junior has also had extensive volunteer experience, assisting at the Mount Sinai Hospital and North York General Hospital where he shadowed doctors during their practice. On top of this, he has volunteered at Team Impact – an organization that helps children going through serious illness – and taught young soccer player how to become better athletes by being a Power Soccer coach.

Belsky, a senior chemistry major holds a 3.94 GPA and has been a recipient of the Lineberger Scholarship throughout her collegiate career while being a Lineberger Fellows member for the last three years. She has made an appearance on the Dean's list and has made the President's list her freshman through junior years. Belsky has also been named to the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll three times and is a two-time GlaxoSmithKline Women in Science Scholar. To add to these accomplishments, Belsky is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District III and Academic All-American honoree and a four year Honors Academy member.

Beslky has carved an impressive career at Lenoir-Rhyne, making a big impact on the field that has led the Bears to success.

"Brianna is everything that a coach looks for in a student-athlete," said head coach Gary Higgins. "She is a model of consistency and professionalism, on and off the field".

The senior has helped Lenoir-Rhyne to three consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament, making it to the regional finals her junior year. She has also won three-straight South Atlantic Conference regular season titles, while leading the program to its fifth. The senior has garnered numerous athletic honors in her four years, including two First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference selections, two First-Team All-South Region and All-State honors, two All-American honorable mentions, and a three-time South Atlantic Conference All-Tournament Team honoree. Recently, the Lenoir-Rhyne defender was a First Team selection in the Division II Collegiate Commissioner's Association All-Southeast Region team.

Off of the field Belsky has divided her time to help on campus and in the community. A member of the Debate team for all four years, she is also a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta, Chi Beta Phi and Chi Alpha Sigma chapters, being Vice President for the latter. On campus she further splits her time serving as a mathematics tutor and an organic chemistry lab assistant and group tutor. Belsky has volunteered regularly at the Catawba Valley Youth Soccer Association and served as a Pharmacy Technician at Sophrite Pharmacy in her native state of New Jersey.

Other Men's Soccer Nominees:
Cameron Burrows, Wingate
Luke Lynch, Lenoir-Rhyne
Johnathan Spicher, Tusculum
Sindre Welo, Carson-Newman

Other Women's Soccer Nominees:
Kaitlyn Brunworth, Wingate
Aerial Ellis, Mars Hill
Gabrielle Gianeselli, Carson-Newman
Carlie Thornber, Tusculum