Women's Soccer: Blank Named MVP
February 12, 2010 10:04 AM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
February 13, 2010
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| Carolyn Blank |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women's soccer team honored its seniors and handed out the 2009 season awards Saturday at its annual postseason banquet. The afternoon luncheon celebrated the team's season and the careers of its four-member senior class.
Senior Carolyn Blank was named the team’s most valuable player for the third-straight year. A Women’s Professional Soccer draft pick by the St. Louis Athletica, Blank earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) second team All-America honors in 2009. The midfielder was also named a TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Season third-team choice, an NSCAA all-Northeast region first-team player and an all-BIG EAST first-team selection. The Toms, River, N.J., native was a two-time team captain and leaves WVU as the school’s all-time leader in matches played (92) and started (92).
Senior Nicole Mailloux was named the team’s most defensive player in guiding the Mountaineer back line to a school record 13 shutouts. The Mississaugua, Ontario, native was named a third team all-BIG EAST selection and an NSCAA all-Northeast region third-team pick. A team captain, Mailloux helped WVU’s defense limit 10 different opponents to two shots on-goal or less on the season.
Blake Miller earned the team’s most offensive player award after a three-goal, two-assist sophomore season. The forward attempted a team-best 66 shots (34 on-goal) while earning BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week honors after guiding WVU to a win at No. 5 Penn State. A St. Louis, Mo., native, Miller pushed her career point total to 29.
Forward Chelsey Corroto was voted the team’s most improved player after a solid sophomore season. The Hilliard, Ohio, native saw action in all 23 matches, including eight starts. She scored a goal against Duquesne and in her first career start against No. 8 Notre Dame, she tallied an assist. Corroto was named to ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA’s Academic All-District second team.
Finally, senior Mallory Beck was selected for the Mountaineer S.O.C.C.E.R. award. The award is given by the coaches to the individual who displays good sportsmanship, optimism, character, concern, effort and respect. The Johnston, Iowa, native was a team captain this season and finished her goalkeeping career with seven shutouts in 19 matches played.
All other team awards were voted on by the players. The graduating seniors are goalkeeper Beck, midfielder Blank, defenders Mallioux and Heather Saffel, an NSCAA Scholar all-East region honorable mention selection.
West Virginia closed out the season with a 10-7-6 record, its 10th-consecutive 10-plus win season. The Mountaineers advanced to the NCAA second round for the seventh time in 10 years. WVU faced eight Top 25 opponents in 2009, a season in which coach Nikki Izzo-Brown picked up her 200th career win.
