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Stoia Snags Coaching Honor; Duo Named Best XI
December 16, 2015 03:02 PM | Women's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University women’s soccer associate head coach Lisa Stoia has been named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
The honor is the second straight for Stoia and the third of her career. The Shirley, New York, native also earned the award in 2010.
“I am humbled to have been selected for this award among a talented pool of coaches,” Stoia said. “This is an honor that represents more than just one name. This is an award for West Virginia University and the women’s soccer program. There are countless hours of hard work that get put in behind the scenes to make this a staff and team award. Without (head coach) Nikki Izzo-Brown, (assistant coach) Marisa Kanela, (volunteer assistant) Zach Johnson and our entire support staff, this honor could not be achieved – this award also is a recognition of their work, too.”
In her ninth season at her alma mater, Stoia helped guide the Mountaineers to a program-record 19 wins, an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight bid and the team’s fourth straight Big 12 Conference regular-season title. With primary oversight of the midfielders, she coached junior Ashley Lawrence to NSCAA All-America First Team honors and a spot on the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy semifinal list. Stoia helped a conference-best 10 student-athletes earn 11 All-Big 12 honors.
WVU was ranked in the top 10 nationally each week but two this year and hit a program-high No. 2 ranking twice.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to work for and represent my alma mater,” Stoia continued. “The pride you have to work hard in an environment that constantly challenges you to perform to the highest standard and be successful is something I am taught every day by Nikki. She is a true mentor, and this honor is a direct reflection of the constant guidance she provides and continues to pass along to her staff.”
In addition to her coaching duties, Stoia also heads up the program’s recruiting efforts, including on-campus visitations, scouting, team travel throughout the season and the squad’s Nike allotment.
The TopDrawerSoccer.com Best XI Teams also were announced today. Junior Kadeisha Buchanan was named to the first team for the second straight season, while Lawrence was named to the second team, her first career honor.
A native of Brampton, Ontario, Buchanan was named a finalist for the 2015 MAC Hermann Trophy on Dec. 11. A three-time NSCAA All-American and two-time first team honoree, she anchored a Mountaineer back line that recorded 15 shutouts this season, a program record, and allowed a program-low 11 opponent goals. The three-time reigning Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Buchanan and the WVU defense also put together a program-record nine-match shutout streak this season (Aug. 28 – Sept. 25).
One of three team captains, she also tallied five points (1 G, 3 A) and scored the game-winning goal at No. 15 Ohio State on Sept. 11. In addition to today’s recognition, Buchanan, a three-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree, was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team and the Big 12 All-Academic Second Team.
Lawrence, a native of Toronto, Ontario, is a three-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree. She finished 2015 ranked No. 3 on the team, No. 5 in the Big 12 Conference, with 18 points (5 G, 8 A), a career single-season high. Lawrence paced the Mountaineers with eight assists, the second-best Big 12 total, and she now ranks No. 11 in the WVU record book with 19 career assists. Additionally, her five goals were the third-best team total, and she helped the Mountaineers tally a program single-season best 61 goals.
Lawrence also was named to the All-Big 12 Academic Second Team.
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