Five Pioneers Named to All-Region Women’s Soccer Team

MISSION, Kan. --- Five members of the Tusculum College women's soccer team have been named to the 2003 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Team announced College officials Tuesday.

Seniors Tara Henderson and Rachel Barron were named to the First Team, while Elaine Green garnered Second Team recognition. Elaine Knudsen and Claudia Turner rounded out the All-Region Third Team for the Pioneers.

Henderson, a midfielder from Norwood, Ohio, earns All-Region distinction for a third straight year and second time on the First Team. Henderson also earned Second Team All-American honors this year and second for her career. She was a Second Team All-American selection in 2001. Henderson holds the distinction as the first All-American in the program's history. She is also the first TC student-athlete to earn All-South Atlantic Conference recognition four times. She started in all 21 matches this season recording four goals, including three match-winners. Her biggest score came in the Food Lion SAC Tournament Final when she recorded a golden goal in TC's 1-0 overtime win over Presbyterian College. For her efforts, she was named to the All-Tournament team for the second time in her career. She was the 2001 SAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, scoring the match-winning goal with 26 seconds left in the semifinal round over Wingate University. This year, Henderson recorded 11 points, including three assists as the Pioneers captured its third SAC Tournament title in four years. During her career, she was a three-time All-Southeast Region selection, including First Team honors in 2001 and 2003.

Barron, a Cincinnati, Ohio native, caps off one of the finest soccer careers in school history and earns All-Region First Team honors for a second time. Barron ends her career as Tusculum's all-time leading goal and point scorer, totaling 66 goals and 152 points, both ranking second in conference history. Barron burst on to the scene her freshman season, scoring 33 goals and 76 points en route to SAC Freshman of the Year Honors. Both of those totals ranked second in the nation and were the best single-season numbers in league history. She holds six school and two conference records.

Senior forward Elaine Green (Durand, Mich.) saved her best season for last, leading the Pioneers with 39 points on 15 goals and nine assists. Green tallied five match-winning goals while earning All-SAC honors for a second straight season.

Knudsen, a junior midfielder from Amelia, Ohio, finished fifth on the team in scoring with two goals and six assists (10 points).

Sophomore defender Claudia Turner rounds out the list of Tusculum honorees earning All-Region recognition as a defender. The Cape Canaveral, Fla. native has been a valuable member of a TC defense that allowed 0.99 goals per match, including seven shutouts.

Tusculum finished the season 15-5-1, winning four of its last five matches with the only setback coming against eventual national champion Kennesaw State University in the Southeast Region final. The Pioneers ended the year ranked No. 11 in the nation, the program's highest ranking to end a season.