Nov. 10, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford soccer player Candace Clippard was officially named the Alabama Sports Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance's Student-athlete and Young Professional of the Year Monday. The prestigious honor is the highest award given annually to a non-faculty member.

Clippard, the Bulldogs' native of Nashville, Tenn., is a four-year senior on Samford's soccer team who helped her squad to a third-place finish in the Southern Conference and an 8-1-2 league record. She is also a three-time All-Ohio Valley Conference Academic award-winner and a two-time member of the OVC Dean's Honor Roll in both 2006 and 2007.

Clippard has been an active role model and leader for the Samford soccer team since her arrival in 2005.

As a true freshman, she played in 14 games for the Bulldogs and scored a pair of goals on only two shot attempts. Clippard also led the team in both shooting percentage and shot-on-goal percentage during her first season. Following her freshman campaign, she was moved to defender and played in 11 matches as a junior and seven as a sophomore.

Clippard is one of the hardest workers on the team, both on and off the field, and has been a perennial member of Samford's Dean's List for maintaining a grade-point average of at least 3.5.

The Samford University soccer team concluded its 2008 season with a 9-9-3 overall record. The Bulldogs advanced to the semifinal round of the SoCon Tournament and will return all 11 starters to the team next season.