Women’s Soccer All-Conference Teams And Award Winners Annunced

ROCK HILL, SC - Lincoln Memorial University's Heloisa de Oliveira, who led the Lady Railsplitters to the South Atlantic Conference women's soccer championship, was named the 2007 women's soccer Player of the Year, and was one of four Railsplitters named the All-Conference team, the league announced today.

Oliveira, a senior from Campinas, Brazil, led the conference in goals per match and points per match. She ranked second in Division II in both categories and has set most school scoring records during her career.

Heloisa de Oliveira

Abby Martin

Nicole Ferris

John Cullen

Mars Hill's Abby Martin, who led her team with seven goals and was one of the league leaders in shot attempts, was named Freshman of the Year.

Catawba coach John Cullen, who guided the Indians to a tie for second place, was named Coach of the Year. He receives this award for the fourth time in his career.

The Scholar Athlete Award for women's soccer went to Nicole Ferris of Tusculum College.

Joining Oliveira on the All-Conference first team from Lincoln Memorial is midfielder Becky Thompson. Midfielder Juliana Povoa and defender Lea Cattaggio were named to the second team.

Catawba, Newberry and Carson-Newman each placed four on the All-Conference squad.

Catawba forward Alex Beshk, midfielder Lainey Nichols and defender Alyssa Schoenberg were all named to the first team, while defender Nikki Blackwelder was named to the second team.

Newberry forward Inga Woiwode was a first team selection, while defenders Sarah Barnes and Elizabeth Jonesand goalkeeper Danielle Beckerle were named to the second team.

Carson-Newman midfielder Zarmena Kasparites and defender Julie Nelson were selected to the first team, while forward Nikki Brennen and midfielder Morgan Gruendenfelder were selected to the second team.

Tusculum had three All-Conference selections with forward Danielle Tanner, midfielder Courtney Turner and defender Nicole Ferris all named to the first team.

Lenoir-Rhyne also placed three on the All-Conference team. Defender Amber Holt was named to the first team, while forward Rebbecca Lin and midfielder Michelle Garcia were named to the second team.

Mars Hill's Martin was one of two from Mars Hill named to the All-Conference first team. She was joined by teammate Claudia Cala, who was the first team goalkeeper.

Wingate University midfielder Julie Zielinski was named to the second team and rounds out the All-Conference team.

The All-Conference teams are selected by the league's head coaches.

The Fair Play Award for women's soccer went to Catawba College. The award goes to the team that demonstrates good sportsmanship in conference play.

Ferris has a 3.85 GPA as a sports management major. She was the 2006 Tusculum Academic Freshman of the Year and is a member of the Aphla Chi Honor Society as well as the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll and SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll.

She is a team captain and had scored one goal and shares the team lead with five assists. She was an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District second team selection in 2006.

In the community, Ferris is a tutor at Tusculum and participates with Nettie Day service projects. She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is president of the Physical Education & Sport Studies club and is a volunteer coach for a YMCA youth soccer team.

2007 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS AND AWARD RECIPIENTS

FIRST TEAM
Forward - Alex Beshk, Catawba
Forward - Heloisa de Oliveira, Lincoln Memorial
Forward - Abby Martin, Mars Hill
Forward - Inga Woiwode, Newberry
Forward - Danielle Tanner, Tusculum
Midfielder - Zarmena Kasparites, Carson-Newman
Midfielder - Lainey Nichols, Catawba
Midfielder - Becky Thompson, Lincoln Memorial
Midfielder - Courtney Turner, Tusculum
Defender - Julie Nelson, Carson Newman
Defender - Alyssa Schoenberg, Catawba
Defender - Amber Holt, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defender - Nicole Ferris, Tusculum
Goalkeeper - Claudia Cala, Mars Hill

SECOND TEAM
Forward - Nikki Brennen, Carson Newman
Forward - Rebbecca Lin, Lenoir-Rhyne
Forward - Kerstin Williams, Wingate
Midfielder - Morgan Gruendenfelder, Carson-Newman
Midfielder - Michelle Garcia, Lenoir-Rhyne
Midfielder - Juliana Povoa, Lincoln Memorial
Midfielder - Caity Murnahan, Mars Hill
Midfielder - Julie Zielinski, Wingate
Defender - Nikki Blackwelder, Catawba
Defender - Lea Cattaggio, Lincoln Memorial
Defender - Sarah Barnes, Newberry
Defender - Elizabeth Jones, Newberry
Goalkeeper - Danielle Beckerle, Newberry

COACH OF THE YEAR: John Cullen, Catawba
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Abby Martin, Mars Hill
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Heloisa de Oliveira, Lincoln Memorial
SAC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Nicole Ferris, Tusculum
FAIR PLAY AWARD: Catawba College

STATISTICAL CHAMPIONS
Goals Per Match - Heloisa de Oliveira, Lincoln Memorial, 1.56
Points Per Match - Heloisa de Oliveira, Lincoln Memorial, 3.62
Assists Per Match - Zarmena Kasparites, Carson-Newman, 0.61
Goals Against Average - Tori Hadjopoulos, Tusculum, 0.74
Goalkeeper Shutouts Per Game - Nyssa Griffin, Carson-Newman, 0.42
Save Percentage - Tori Hadjopoulos, Tusculum, .869
Team Points Per Match - Lincoln Memorial, 10.75
Team Goals Per Match - Lincoln Memorial, 4.06
Team Assists Per Match - Lincoln Memorial, 2.62
Team Shutouts Per Match - Carson-Newman, 0.50
Team Goal Against Average - Tusculum, 0.93
Team Winning Percentage - Carson-Newman, .778

SENIOR AWARDS
Nyssa Griffi n, Carson-Newman
Melissa Terrell, Carson-Newman
Claire Ramsdale, Carson-Newman
Zarmena Kasparites, Carson-Newman
Julie Nelson, Carson-Newman
Sage Sizemore, Carson-Newman
Kathleen Blake, Catawba
Carrie Wollaston, Catawba
Lindsay Hinkle, Catawba
Ashley Boles, Catawba
Nicole Ley, Lenoir-Rhyne
Caroline Herzl, Lenoir-Rhyne
Camilla Verissimo, Lincoln Memorial
Patty Spielman, Lincoln Memorial
Heloisa Oliveira, Lincoln Memorial
Lauren Korte, Lincoln Memorial
Juliana Povoa, Lincoln Memorial
Claudia Cala, Mars Hill
Danielle Beckerle, Newberry
Greta Hewett, Newberry
Jenn Richards, Newberry
Ashleigh Mayer, Newberry
Brooke Tumblin, Newberry
Inga Woiwode, Newberry
Adriana Farfan, Newberry
Sarah Barnes, Newberry
Katherine Prete, Newberry
Caitlyn Tooley, Newberry
Mandi Butler, Newberry
Chrisy Awtonomow, Tusculum
Ashley Steinle, Tusculum
Amanda Tripp, Tusculum
Lisa Service, Wingate
Kelly Mottola, Wingate
Katie Bullard, Wingate
Caitlin Brougham, Wingate
Christina Acosta, Wingate
Megan Smith, Wingate

The Lincoln Memorial University women's soccer celebrates are receiving their 2007 South Atlantic Conference women's soccer championship trophy during Thursday night's awards ceremony.

Lincoln Memorial University's Heloisa de Oliveira receives her women's soccer Player of the Year Award from SAC Commissioner Doug Echols.	Tusculum College's Nicole Ferris receives her award as the SAC Scholar Athlete for women's soccer from SAC Commissioner Doug Echols.
Catawba College coach John Cullen receives his award for SAC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year from SAC Commissioner Doug Echols.	Mars Hill College's Abby Martin receives her award as the SAC women's soccer Freshman of the Year from SAC Commissioner Doug Echols.