Monday, August 13, 2007

THREE PIONEERS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-SAC WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM

Kelly Barron	Nicole Ferris	Jere Whitbred

ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Three Tusculum College women's soccer players have been named to the 2007 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Team announced league officials Monday. Kelly Barron and Nicole Ferris were named to the All-SAC First Team, while Jere Whitbred was selected to the Second Team.

Barron, a 5-0 junior forward from Cincinnati, Ohio, garnered Third Team All-Southeast Region honors last year as she returns as Tusculum's top scorer. The 2006 All-SAC First Team pick accounted for eight goals and three assists for 19 points. She finished ninth in the SAC in goals scored and 10^th in points. Barron knocked home the winning-goal in the 108^th minute in Tusculum's double-overtime win over Carson-Newman in the finals of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.

Ferris, a 5-10 defender from Lebanon, Ohio, started on the back row of one of the top defenses in the nation in 2006. The Pioneers posted a 0.65 shutout percentage, which was 23^rd in the country, while TC's 0.68 goals against average was 23^rd in NCAA II. Ferris was named to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV College Division Second Team.

Whitbred, a 5-8 sophomore midfielder from Ft. Myers, Fla., had a stellar rookie campaign as she played in all 20 matches where she contributed two goals and two assists for six total points.

Tusculum returns 10 letter winners and four starters from last year's 14-3-3 squad that won the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championship and advanced to the national Elite Eight for the first time in school history.

The Preseason All-SAC Women's Soccer team is selected by a vote of the league's eight sports information directors.

Tusculum will open the 2007 regular season on Aug. 23 when it hosts Milligan College for a 7 p.m. match at Pioneer Field.

- SAC -

2007 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Women's Soccer Team

FIRST TEAM

F – Kelly Barron, Tusculum

F - Heloisa DeOliveira, Lincoln Memorial

F – Riley Dorsey, Mars Hill

F - Inga Woiwode, Newberry

MF - Brittany Moore, Carson-Newman

MF - Caity Murnahan, Mars Hill

MF – Zarmena Kasparites, Carson-Newman

MF - Lisa Service, Wingate

D - Julie Nelson, Carson-Newman

D – Camilla Verissimo, Lincoln Memorial

D - Elizabeth Jones, Newberry

D - Nicole Ferris, Tusculum

GK –Kathleen Blake, Catawba

SECOND TEAM

F – Tasha Wilhelm, Catawba

F – Madi Welch, Wingate

F - Claire Ramsdale, Carson-Newman

F – Brooke Tumblin, Newberry

MF – Mandi Butler, Newberry

MF – Juliana Povoa, Lincoln Memorial

MF – Megan Julian, Carson-Newman

MF – Jere Whitbred, Tusculum

MF—Lainey Nichols, Catawba

D - Shea Kinzer, Carson-Newman

D – Sarah Barnes, Newberry

D - Megan Smith, Wingate

D - Alyssa Schoenberg, Catawba

GK – Danielle Beckerle, Newberry