GULFPORT, Miss. – As expected, the Lee University women’s soccer team dominated the 2011 SSAC All-Conference squad. Seven were named tothe first team, one was a second-team member and several earned individual
honors.
Jamie Achten was singled out as the SSAC Player of the Year at the pre-tournament banquet on Wednesday evening. Laura Thacker is not only a member of the all-freshman team, but garnered the SSAC Freshman of the
Year award. Leah Fortune was the SSAC Newcomer of the Year and the OffensivePlayer of the Year. Stephanie Surgener was selected as the Champion of Character winner.
"I think that the all-conference team is a fantastic recognition of the quality of players that we have in our squad,” said coach Matt Yelton. “I think that each player is very deserving of the recognition that they have received. However, we try not to get too wrapped up in these awards because we know that all of our success comes as a team and no individual alone can win us a championship."
He added, "I am especially pleased with the recognition that Ode (Fulutudilu), Caroline (Scales), Amy (Cochran) and Charlotte (Canlett) received as this is their first selection to the all-conference team. I believe this is a direct reflection of the hard work and commitment that each of them demonstrated in the offseason.
"The other award that I think often gets overlooked but is very significant is the Champion of Character award,” Yelton pointed out. “Stephanie Surgener is a fantastic example of the type of player we want to have in our program and truly represents the five core values of the Champions of Character criteria."
SSAC Conference Award Winners
FIRST Team
Forwards: Jamie Achten, Ode Fulutudilu, Ashley Aragona
Midfielders: Leah Fortune, Laura Thacker
Defenders: Caroline Scales, Amy Cochran
SECOND TEAM
Midfielder: Charlotte Canlett
ALL FRESHMAN TEAM
Laura Thacker
Champion of Character:
Stephanie Surgener
Freshman of the Year:
Laura Thacker
Newcomer of the Year:
Leah Fortune
Offensive Player of the Year:
Leah Fortune
Player of the Year:
Jamie Achten
Photo ID's (top to bottom, left to right): Thacker,Fortune, Achten, Fulutudilu, Thacker, Aragona, Achten, Canlett, Scales, Fortune, Cochran
-All-Academic: Katelyn Hurst, Ali Eisnaugle, Surgener, Kim Conrad, Achten,
Lauren Welch, Scales, Fortune, Cochran
