MOBILE, Ala. – The Sun Belt Conference has announced its 2012 Women’s Soccer All-Conference team and individual award winners announced on Tuesday evening during the pre-tournament banquet at the SBC Soccer Championship in Mobile, Ala. The selections were made in a vote by the league’s 11 head coaches.
Middle Tennessee's Paige Goeglein was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Blue Raiders to a 13-4-1 record during the regular season. Goeglein, a Fort Wayne, Ind. native, tallied a league best 32 points, 1.78 points per game, 14 goals, 0.78 goals per game and led the nation with eight game-winning goals which set a school record.
The midfielder was a two-time SBC Player of the Week winner. She also earned a spot on the prestigious College Soccer 360 Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll.
Western Kentucky's Ali Stahlke was named the league's top defender as the senior anchored a WKU defense that held opponents to a 0.46 goals against average in league play and 0.85 overall. The Naperville, Ill. native's presence in back helped WKU allow just five goals during conference play.
Goeglein's teammate, freshman Kate Loye was tabbed as the league's top freshman while Blue Raider head coach, Aston Rhoden was selected by his peers as the SBC Coach of the Year.
Loye, from New Zealand, registered seven goals, six assists and 20 points in 14 matches played this season. Her six assists led the SBC during conference matches, while her 18 points ranked second and six goals placed third.
Rhoden picked up his third SBC Coach of the Year honor after his Blue Raiders collected their second regular season title in school history. MT led the league in goals scored (54) and points (146) while boasting the nation's third highest scoring offense (3.12 goals per game).
In addition to the individual awards the SBC honored the All-SBC First and Second teams. Second-seeded Middle Tennessee placed six individuals on the All-Conference teams while Western Kentucky and FIU each placed five on the All-Conference lists. North Texas had four individuals selected, three of them to the All-SBC First Team.
The SBC Women's Soccer Championship begins Wednesday, Oct. 31. The opening round match will pit No. 1 North Texas against No. 8 Florida Atlantic at 10 a.m. CT. All matches can be seen live via web streaming on the Sun Belt Conference official website - www.sunbeltsports.org. All streamed matches are free for viewing.
2012 SBC First Team All-Conference
Chelsea Leiva (FIU, Junior, Forward)
Regina Thomas (Middle Tennessee, Senior, Forward)
Michelle Young (North Texas, Senior, Forward)
Paige Goeglein (Middle Tennessee, Senior, Midfielder)
Kate Loye (Middle Tennessee, Freshman, Midfielder)
Karla Pineda (North Texas, Freshman, Midfielder)
Chrissy Tchoula (Western Kentucky, Junior, Midfielder)
Kelsey Hodges (North Texas, Junior, Defender)
Ali Stahlke (Western Kentucky, Senior, Defender)
Allison Stallard (Middle Tennessee, Senior, Defender)
Kaitlyn Savage (FIU, RS-Junior, Goalkeeper)
2012 SBC Second Team All-Conference
Amanda Buechel (Western Kentucky, Senior, Forward)
Claire Emslie (Florida Atlantic, Freshman, Forward)
Whitney Jorgenson (Middle Tennessee, Senior, Forward)
Carly McDowell (North Texas, Senior, Midfielder)
Courtney Rymer (Western Kentucky, Senior, Midfielder)
Johanna Volz (FIU, Sophomore, Midfielder)
Charity Blair (Middle Tennessee, Senior, Defender)
Marie Egan (FIU, Sophomore, Defender)
Ashley McMurtry (Arkansas State, Senior, Defender)
Nikki Rios (FIU, Sophomore, Defender)
Nikki Hall (Western Kentucky, Freshman, Goalkeeper)
2012 SBC Offensive Player of the Year
Paige Goeglein (Middle Tennessee, Senior, Midfielder)
2012 SBC Defensive Player of the Year
Ali Stahlke (Western Kentucky, Senior, Defender)
2012 SBC Freshman of the Year
Kate Loye (Middle Tennessee, Freshman, Midfielder)
2012 SBC Coach of the Year
Aston Rhoden, Middle Tennessee