Women's Soccer: Six Named All-BIG EAST
November 06, 2008 03:20 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
November 6, 2008
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| 2008 BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year Carolyn Blank with Head Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. |
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Six West Virginia women’s soccer players were named All-BIG EAST at the annual awards banquet Thursday evening at the South Bend Marriott. Junior Carolyn Blank was named co-BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year for her outstanding play this season.
Blank becomes the school’s second BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year, joining current Assistant Coach Lisa Stoia who won the award in 2002 and 2003. The six all-conference picks match the number of selections from last year’s BIG EAST Championship team.
“It’s an exciting honor and something that I can share with my teammates,” said Blank, one of three team captains on this year’s team. “It’s always nice to be recognized in such a great soccer conference. But right now, I’m just looking forward to winning tomorrow in the BIG EAST semifinals and helping this team defend our tournament title.”
“I’m very happy for Carolyn,” said Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “She has worked so hard for us at midfield and the honor is very deserving. She does so much for this team and to be recognized as the best in the BIG EAST is appropriate.”
Blank, senior defender Greer Barnes and senior midfielder Amanda Cicchini each were named First Team All-BIG EAST. The first-team honor is the third straight for Cicchini, second for Barnes, and first for Blank.
Forward Deana Everrett was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. The senior has earned all-league accolades in three of her four seasons as a Mountaineer.
Taking home Third Team All-BIG EAST honors is forward Megan Mischler. The sophomore led the team in scoring with six goals before sustaining an injury against Connecticut midway through the season.
Rounding out the all-league recognition is freshman Blake Miller. The forward was named All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention in her first season in Morgantown.
“I’m excited that coaches across the BIG EAST are recognizing how hard these ladies have worked,” said Izzo-Brown. “It’s nice for these six Mountianeers to receive individual awards for the effort they have given throughout the season. Our staff couldn’t be more happy and excited for them.”
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| WVU's First Team All-BIG EAST players with Head Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. |
Cicchini, a First Team All-American last season, joins Stoia as the only Mountaineers in program history to be named First Team All-BIG EAST on three occasions.
All-America forward Katie Barnes earned WVU’s first All-BIG EAST First Team selection in 2002. Since then, 10 different Mountaineers have earned 18 First Team All-BIG EAST selections.
Notre Dame won several major awards as Kerri Hanks was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, Carrie Dew earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors, teammate Melissa Henderson was named BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, and Head Coach Randy Waldrum took home BIG EAST Coach of the Year honors.
Villanova senior Erin Hardiman shared BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year honors with Blank, while Connecticut senior Stephanie Labbe was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year.
A complete list of All-BIG EAST teams is listed below:
ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Greer Barnes --- West Virginia, Sr., D
Carolyn Blank --- West Virginia, Jr., M
Brittany Bock --- Notre Dame, Sr., F/M
Amanda Cicchini --- West Virginia, Sr., M
Carrie Dew --- Notre Dame, Sr., D
Gina DeMaio --- Rutgers, Jr., M
Alicia Hall --- Rutgers, Sr., M
*Kerri Hanks --- Notre Dame, Sr., F
Erin Hardiman --- Villanova, Sr., M
Melissa Henderson --- Notre Dame, Fr., F
Stephanie Labbe --- Connecticut, Sr., GK
* unanimous selection
ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Jenifer Anzivino --- Rutgers, Jr., F/M
Kelly Eagan --- Villanova, Jr., D
Deana Everrett --- West Virginia, Sr., F
Erin Guthrie --- Rutgers, Jr., GK
Toni Marie Hudson --- Georgetown, Jr., F
Katie Kelly --- Marquette, Sr., D
Kristin May --- Cincinnati, Sr., F
Sarah McGrath --- St. John’s, Jr., F/M
Kacey Richards --- Connecticut, So., M
Courtney Rosen --- Notre Dame, Jr., M
Brittany Tegeler --- Connecticut, Sr., F/M
ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM
Ashley Bares --- Marquette, So., F
Megan Bellingham --- Syracuse, So., F
Shannon Cusick --- Marquette, Sr., D
Kelly D’Ambrisi --- Georgetown, Fr., M
Jackie DesJardin --- Georgetown, So., GK
Jesicca Mello --- Louisville, Sr., D
Megan Mills --- Seton Hall, Jr., D
Megan Mischler --- West Virginia, So., F
Shannon Smyth --- Louisville, Sr., F
Julia Victor --- Marquette, So., M/F
Annie Yi --- Connecticut, Jr., M
ALL-BIG EAST HONORABLE MENTION
Caitlin Durkee --- Georgetown, So., M
Caycie Gusman --- Rutgers, Jr., F
Tara Mendoza --- St. John’s, Jr., D/M
Blake Miller --- West Virginia, Fr., F
Kristin Russell --- St. John’s, Fr., GK
Elise Weber --- Notre Dame, Sr., D
Stephanie Zare Georgetown, Sr., M
