|
Cress Named SoCon Co-Player Of The Year; Five Bulldogs Earn All-SoCon Accolades
Nov. 4, 2009
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Samford soccer player Amber Cress was named one of the Southern Conference's Co-Players of the Year Wednesday as the league office released its annual postseason awards. Cress, the Bulldogs' senior from Zionsville, Ind., shared the conference's top honor with UNC Greensboro forward Tabitha Padgett. "This is a fantastic honor for Amber," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "When we were in the Ohio Valley Conference, she was named the Freshman of the year, and now three years later she's named the SoCon Co-Player of the Year. Amber has continued to progress throughout her time here at Samford and I'm glad that she's been honored for having an outstanding senior year." Cress, Samford's speedy forward, was one of five Bulldogs to receive All-SoCon honors Wednesday. Also joining Cress on the conference's first team were Natalie Fleming, Theresa Henry and Alyssa Whitehead. Samford's Sabbath McKiernan-Allen was honored by being named to the SoCon's All-Freshman Team. "Having four people on the first team was quite a turnaround from last year," Yelton said. "I really respect all of the coaches in this league and I really think they are all quality people and great coaches. The fact that they feel that our players are deserving of these honors really means a lot to me." Last season, Samford was shut out from receiving any First or Second-Team All-SoCon honors, but earned three All-Freshman accolades following the 2008 campaign.
This year, UNC Greensboro and Samford each earned four first-team all-conference selections in balloting conducted by the league's head coaches. UNC Greensboro's Padgett and Samford's Cress were named Co-Players of the Year. The Citadel's Bob Winch was named the league's Coach of the Year while Padgett was also named Freshman of the Year. Cress led the Bulldogs with 23 points on the season, including three game-winning goals. Padgett compiled 19 points for UNC Greensboro on the strength of eight goals, five of which have been game winners. Winch guided The Citadel to five wins during the regular season and a school-record eight points during league play. UNC Greensboro, which won its fourth-consecutive, regular-season title, placed midfielders Jen Bronson and Jenn Partenheimer, defenseman Lauren Lopez and Padgett on the first team. Samford was represented on the first team by goalkeeper Whitehead, midfielder Fleming, defender Henry and Cress. Davidson's Kyri Bye-Nagel, College of Charleston's Brittany Schneider and Elon freshman Claire O'Keefe also garnered first-team honors. UNC Greensboro and Davidson each placed three members on the league's second team. Forward Kristin Player, defenseman Cat Barnekow and goalkeeper Kelsey Kearney represented the Spartans while forward Blakely Low, midfielder Courtney Hart and defenseman Amanda Flink represented the Wildcats. Furman's Sara El-Shami and Katya Gokhman earned second team honors. College of Charleston's Annie Pease, Elon's Molly Calpin and Chattanooga's Donna-Kay Henry rounded out the second team. Elon placed three members on the all-freshman team. Scarlett Fakhar, Claire O'Keefe and Elizabeth Palmer represented the Phoenix while Padgett and Lauren Hein earned all-freshman honors for UNC Greensboro. Furman's Claire Hodge, College of Charleston's Alyssa Bearden, Appalachian State's Meggie Graham, Chattanooga's Becca Smith, Samford's McKiernan-Allen and Davidson's Louise Timboe also earned all-freshman distinction. "Sabbath has really progressed nicely as the year has gone on and I think she has an extremely bright future here at Samford," said Yelton. "She has improved steadily and has done a very good job for us this season." The 2009 Southern Conference Tournament is scheduled to begin Friday at 4 p.m. (CST) at UNC Greensboro's Soccer Stadium. The No. 2-seed College of Charleston will take on No. 3-seed Samford (12-1-4, 7-1-3 SoCon) in the opening semifinal. Top-seeded UNC Greensboro will then square off against No. 4-seed Davidson at 7:30 p.m. The championship match is slated to begin at noon on Sunday. 2009 SoCon Soccer All-Conference Honors First Team Second Team All-Freshman Team Co-Players of the Year: Amber Cress, Samford and Tabitha Padgett, UNC Greensboro |
