Two Women’s Soccer Players Named To NSCAA All-America Team; 11 Named All-Region

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Two women's soccer players from the South Atlantic Conference have been named to the NSCAA/adidas All-America Team, while nine others joined them to the NSCAA/adidas All-Southeast Region Team, announced the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Tusculum College junior Courtney Turner garnered NSCAA/adidas All-America honors for the second time in her career, earning a spot on the Second Team after leading the Pioneer women's soccer team to a 15-5-3 record and a berth in the second round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer National Tournament.

Carson-Newman College junior midfielder Morgan Gruenenfelder was named to the Third Team.

Turner, a junior from Cocoa Beach, Fla., scored two goals and tallied eight assists this season, earning her second career NSCAA/adidas All-America selection. The 5-3 midfielder notched her third consecutive season with five or more assists, dishing out a career-high eight helpers this year to move into sixth on TC's all-time list with 18 career assists.

Courtney Turner	Morgan Gruenenfelder
Tramicka James	Ashley Bradford
Elizabeth Hawes	Catherine Hauck
Laura Linehan	Emily Rhoades
Nikki Brannen	Trenna Howell
	Sandra Kaelin

The 2007 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division II All-America Third Team selection tallied four two-assist matches this season, including a pair of helpers in a pivotal 5-4 victory over Lynn University on Sep. 13. The three-time All-SAC selection also scored one of the biggest goals of her career against Newberry on Oct. 3, netting the match-winner late in the second half to give TC a 1-0 victory.

The NSCAA All-Region teams are voted on by the head coaches of each of the respective regions in Division II.

Four student-athletes were named to the All-Region first team, including SAC Women's Soccer Player of the Year Elizabeth Hawes from Lenoir-Rhyne University. Also on the first team are Tramika James and Courtney Turner from Tusculum College and Morgan Gruenenfelder from Carson-Newman College.

Tusculum College

The Tusculum College women's soccer placed three players on the NSCAA/adidas All-Southeast Region Team, including a pair of First Team selections in Tramicka James and Courtney Turner. Senior defender Ashley Bradford was also named to the Third Team, garnering NSCAA/adidas All-Southeast Region honors for the first time in her career.

James, a freshman from Wilson N.C., led the Pioneers with 11 goals and eight assists, earning All-Southeast Region First Team honors after leading Tusculum to a sterling 15-5-3 record and the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 2007. The 5-4 forward scored a team-high three match-winners this season, including the deciding tally against Wingate on Oct. 24 en route to an All-South Atlantic Conference Second Team selection. James was also named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Second Team.

Turner, a junior from Cocoa Beach, Fla., scored two goals and tallied eight assists this season, earning her second career NSCAA/adidas All-Southeast Region selection. The 5-3 midfielder notched her third consecutive season with five or more assists, dishing out a career-high eight helpers this year to move into sixth on TC's all-time list with 18 career assists. Turner tallied four two-assist matches this season, including a pair of helpers in a pivotal 5-4 victory over Lynn University on Sep. 13. The three-time All-SAC selection also scored one of the biggest goals of her career against Newberry on Oct. 3, netting the match-winner late in the second half to give TC a 1-0 victory.

Bradford was a critical component of the Pioneers' success this season, answering the call countless times this fall to mark and shut down opposing teams' top players. The 5-7 defender has come through in the clutch several times, scoring three match-winners this fall to tie James for the team lead. Bradford's three deciding goals came in three consecutive matches early this season, as the senior defender netted the match-winners against Southern New Hampshire and Lynn. Bradford was also named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Second Team earlier this fall.

Tusculum is expected to return 10 starters and 21 letter-winners from this year's squad, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer National Tournament. The Pioneers are also expected to return eight of their top 10 scorers from this season.

Carson-Newman

The Carson-Newman women's soccer team is well-represented on the 2009 NSCAA All-Southeast Region and All-America teams as the Lady Eagles garnered four all-region players and one All-American. The announcement was made Wednesday by the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America).

C-N also finished the season ranked fifth in the nation after reaching the Elite Eight for the third time in school history and first time since 2005. The team posted a 20-3-1 overall record in the 2009 campaign and won the South Atlantic Conference Regular Season Title for the fifth time in seven years and advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the seventh straight season.

"What a week it has been for our Women's Soccer Program. Finishing the year with a national ranking of fifth is an amazing honor for our program the college and our conference," said Head Coach Phil McNamara. "This has been a remarkable season and one to remember, especially with such a young team. Also to have four players making the NSCAA All-Region Team, three of whom are from Tennessee. The players need to be extremely proud of their achievements; this was a fantastic season."

Junior midfielder Morgan Gruenenfelder (Sweetwater, Tenn.) was named to the All-Southeast Region First Team and also took home Third-Team All-America Honors. Gruenenfelder tallied five goals and four assists for a total of 14 points this season including one match-winner. She is the first Lady Eagle from the state of Tennessee to be named a NSCAA All-American.

"The staff are delighted for Morgan; she is an outstanding player and we are extremely proud to have her represent our program," added McNamara. "I'm convinced "G" could have played for any program at any level in the Country and she chose Carson-Newman. Her attitude and application has been simply first class; she is an outstanding Student-Athlete."

Senior forward Nikki Brannen (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) and sophomore forward Trenna Howell (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) were selected as second-team all-region players. Brannen recorded 10 goals and six assists for 26 points and had one match winner while Howell led the team in all offensive categories as she recorded 13 goals (seven match-winners) and nine assists, which was good for 35 points.

Sophomore midfielder Sandra Kaelin (Trachslau, SWITZERLAND) rounded out the all-region accolades as she was named to the All-Southeast Third Team. Kaelin posted 11 goals, five assists and 27 points including three match-winners.

Lenoir-Rhyne University

Three members of the Lenoir-Rhyne University women's soccer team were named to the 2009 NSCAA NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Teams. Elizabeth Hawes (Valdese, N.C.) was chosen to the first team while Catherine Hauck (Lake Mary, Fla.) and Laura Linehan (San Diego, Calif.) earned third-team honors.

Hawes, a freshman midfielder, was recently named a Daktronics NCAA Division II First-Team All-American after becoming the first player in South Atlantic Conference history to be named the Player Of The Year and the Freshman Of The Year in the same season in 2009. Hawes, L-R's first-ever league MVP and the first Women's Soccer All-American since 1995, led the SAC in goals (17) and points scored (41) this year.

Hauck, a sophomore defender, has earned First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference honors in 2008 and 2009 and tallied eight goals and 16 points this year from her defensive spot. Hauck was also named to the 2009 Food Lion SAC All-Tournament Team and was chosen to the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region First Team last month.

Linehan, a sophomore forward, finished second on the team in goals (11), assists (six) and points (28) this year and has been a first-team all-league performer the last two seasons as well. In 2008, Linehan garnered first-team all-region accolades after leading the team in goals (16), assists (five) and points (37).

All three players led the Bears to a 14-7-2 record in 2009 and a berth in the league tournament finals.

Newberry College

The Newberry College women's soccer team earned another accolade after one of the best seasons in program history, as Emily Rhoades was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Women's Division II All-Southeast Region second team.

Rhoades, a sophomore goalkeeper from Buckley, Wash., becomes the first Newberry women's soccer player to make the NSCAA team since Inga Woiwode was named to the second team in 2007. Rhoades finished the year with a 13-5-2 record, a goals against average of 0.70 and save percentage of .851, as well as compiling nine shutouts through the season.

Her nine shutouts and 0.70 GAA set new Newberry single-season records, and her 14 career shutouts also set a new career mark for the scarlet and gray. Her 0.92 career GAA is also the current career best in school history.

Rhoades was also named to the All-South Atlantic Conference first team earlier this year.

2009 NSCAA Women's NCAA Division II All-America Team

First Team

Pos. Player Year School Hometown
GK Jamie Gillis Sr. Massachusetts-Lowell Billerica, Mass.
D Kelly Guerin Jr. College of St. Rose Sutton, Mass.
D Katie Whiting Jr. College of St. Rose Holden, Mass.
D Kim Abbott Sr. St. Edward's Missouri City, Texas
D Lisa Bradley Jr. UC San Diego Martinez, Calif.
MF Amanda Deck Jr. College of St. Rose Cicero, N.Y.
MF Erin Mruz So. Grand Valley State Gurnee, Ill.
MF Jenna Boyko Sr. Quincy St. Charles, Mo.
F Kristin Burton Sr. Armstrong Atlantic St. Ocala, Fla.
F Irie Dennis Sr. Grand Valley State New Albany, Ohio
F Shakira Duncan Jr. West Florida Kingston, Jamaica
F Becca Mays Sr. Metro State San Antonio, Texas

Second Team

Pos. Player Year School Hometown
GK Lyndsie Bernardini Fr. West Chester Elmer, N.J.
D Alli Miller Sr. Central Oklahoma Norman, Okla.
D Abby Schuhmann So. Bellarmine Louisville, Ky.
D Kathleen Strazzere Sr. Massachusetts-Lowell Wilmington, Mass.
MF Megan Beal Sr. Davis and Elkins Pilesgrove, N.J.
MF Marcela Franco Sr. West Florida Sao Paulo, Brazil!
MF Courtney Turner Jr. Tusculum Cocoa Beach, Fla.
F Kayla Mitchell Sr. Colorado School of Mines Ontario, Ore.
F Jessica Murphy So. Cal State Dominguez Hills Torrance, Calif.
F Jocelyn Charette Sr. Seattle Pacific Lakewood, Wash.
F Gabriela Demoner Sr. Franklin Pierce Vitoria, Brazil
F Gina Goforth Sr. Columbus State Fayetteville, Ga.

Third Team

Pos. Player Year School Hometown
GK Mary Rob Plunkett Jr. Georgia College Augusta, Ga.
D Shameka Gordon Sr. West Florida Old Harbour, Jamaica
D Casey Smith Jr. North Georgia Stockbridge, Ga.
D Meagan Thomas Jr. Rollins Porte Vedra, Fla.
MF Brittany Godin So. College of St. Rose Rochester, N.Y.
MF Morgan Gruenenfelder Jr. Carson-Newman Sweetwater, Tenn.
MF Jamie MacArthur Sr. Fort Lewis Albuquerque, N.M.
MF Katie Reuck Sr. Truman State Jacksonville, Ill.
F Shaneka Gordon Sr. West Florida Old Harbour, Jamaica
F Gabrielle Gramprey Sr. Merrimack Brockton, Mass.
F Angelika Johansson Jr. Franklin Pierce Falkenberg, Sweden
F Sarah Oswald Jr. West Chester Macungie, Pa.

2009 NSCAA Women's NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region

First Team
Pos. Name Cl. School
GK Mary Plunkett Jr. Georgia College & State University
D Casey Smith Jr. North Georgia College & State University
D Carey Patterson Jr. Armstrong Atlantic State University
D Laurel McKenzie Jr. Columbus State University
M Courtney Turner Jr. Tusculum College
M Morgan Gruenenfelder Jr. Carson-Newman College
M Elizabeth Hawes Fr. Lenoir-Rhyne University
F Kristin Burton Sr. Armstrong Atlantic State University
F Gina Goforth Sr. Columbus State University
F Connie Axiotis So. Belmont Abbey College
F Tramicka James Fr. Tusculum College

Second Team
Pos. Name Cl. School
GK Emily Rhoades So. Newberry College
D Sara McCormack Jr. Pfeiffer University
D Amanda Maddock Sr. Belmont Abbey College
D Kayla Brown Fr. Columbus State University
M Morgan Mitchell Fr. Armstrong Atlantic State University
M Jill Walthall Jr. Columbus State University
M Celene Molera Sr. Belmont Abbey College
M Tiffany Urquhart Sr. Flagler College
F Stephanie Parrish Jr. Columbus State University
F Trenna Howell So. Carson-Newman College
F Nikki Brannen Sr. Carson-Newman College

Third Team
Pos. Name Cl. School
GK Kelly Nimmo Sr. Columbus State University
D Catherine Hauck So. Lenoir-Rhyne University
D Ashley Bradford Sr. Tusculum College
D Morgan Cobb Sr. Georgia College & State University
M Kelly Penston Fr. North Georgia College & State University
M Sandra Kaelin So. Carson-Newman College
M Natalie Martineau So. University of Montevallo
F Christina Barbour So. Lander University
F Laura Linehan So. Lenoir-Rhyne University
F Cherie Sayon So. Clayton State University
F Vickie Rich So. Lees-McRae College