2009 All-SSC Women’s Soccer Team Announced
Twenty-five student-athletes have been named to the 2009 All-Sunshine State Conference Women’s Soccer Team, which was announced on Thursday. Florida Tech’s Teresa Brantley was tabbed Player and Offensive Player of the Year. Rollins’ Meagan Thomas was named Defensive Player of the Year, while Tar skipper Tony Amato was chosen Coach of the Year. Barry’s Melissa Madrid was selected Freshman of the Year.
Voting for the all-conference women’s soccer team was conducted among the league’s coaches and sports information directors.
Recognized as All-SSC First Team along with Brantley and Thomas were: forwards Hannah Beard (Saint Leo) and Melissa Ortiz (Lynn); midfielders Alexis Hernandez (Nova Southeastern), Rachel Jakubowski (Rollins), and Sara Macko (Saint Leo); defenders Leah Hirsch (Rollins) and Charlotte Murrell (Rollins); goalkeeper Melissa Pyles (Florida Tech); and at-large selection DeeDee Newland (Florida Tech).
Named to the All-SSC Second Team with Madrid were: forwards Chelsea Brady (Rollins) and Princess Haley (Florida Southern); midfielders Jackie Bachteler (Florida Southern), Alex Hoover (Florida Southern), and Sara Lewis (Florida Tech); defenders Mindy DeCara (Lynn), Ann-Marie Helgestad (Florida Tech), and Francesca Williams (Saint Leo); goalkeeper Michelle Dillingham (Rollins); and at-large selections Dari Alcantara (Saint Leo) and Brittany Rainbow (Florida Tech).
Forward Pia Soesemann (Saint Leo) and midfielder Brittany Evernden (Lynn) received honorable mention.
A senior from Satellite Beach, Fla., Brantley has played a key role in Florida Tech’s most successful soccer season to date. She is tied for first in the SSC with 14 goals and ranks second with 32 points. Brantley’s three game-winning goals ties for fourth among conference players. She has done the bulk of her damage against SSC opponents and leads the league in both points and goals in conference-only contests.
A junior, Thomas anchored the stingiest defense in the SSC. The Tars rank first in the conference with 11 shutouts. They also rank first with only 11 goals allowed and a 0.67 goals against average. A native of Ponte Vedra, Fla., Thomas has started every game for the Rollins defensive unit.
Currently in his seventh season at the helm, Amato wins his second straight Coach of the Year honors after leading Rollins to its second consecutive SSC regular-season title with a 13-1-2 overall record and a 7-0-1 SSC slate. Amato’s squad is a balanced unit that boasts the toughest defense in league, yet also ranks second in the SSC with 49 goals. The Tars are currently ranked No. 8 in the NSCAA Division II Poll and have been in the top 10 for nearly the entire season.
Coming to Miami Shores from Petalumer, Calif., Madrid made an immediate impact for the Buccaneers. She ties for fourth in the conference with 25 points and is tied for third with 12 goals. Having netted four game-winning goals, Madrid also ties for first in that statistical category.
2009 ALL-SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM
FIRST TEAM
F – Hannah Beard, Saint Leo, Senior
F – Teresa Brantley, Florida Tech, Senior
F – Melissa Ortiz, Lynn, Sophomore
M – Alexis Hernandez, Nova Southeastern, Junior
M – Rachel Jakubowski, Rollins, Senior
M – Sara Macko, Saint Leo, Senior
D – Leah Hirsch, Rollins, Junior
D – Charlotte Murrell, Rollins, Sophomore
D – Meagan Thomas, Rollins, Junior
GK – Melissa Pyles, Florida Tech, Senior
At-Large – DeeDee Newland, Florida Tech, Junior
Player of the Year – Teresa Brantley, Florida Tech
Offensive Player of the Year – Teresa Brantley, Florida Tech
Defensive Player of the Year – Meagan Thomas, Rollins
Coach of the Year – Tony Amato, Rollins
Freshman of the Year – Melissa Madrid, Barry
SECOND TEAM
F – Chelsea Brady, Rollins, Junior
F – Princess Haley, Florida Southern, Junior
F – Melissa Madrid, Barry, Freshman
M – Jackie Bachteler, Florida Southern, Junior
M – Alex Hoover, Florida Southern, Sophomore
M – Sara Lewis, Florida Tech, Junior
D – Mindy DeCara, Lynn, Senior
D – Ann-Marie Helgestad, Florida Tech, Sophomore
D – Francesca Williams, Saint Leo, Sophomore
GK – Michelle Dillingham, Rollins, Sophomore
At-Large – Dari Alcantara, Saint Leo, Junior
At-Large – Brittany Rainbow, Florida Tech, Sophomore
HONORABLE MENTION
F – Pia Soesemann, Saint Leo, Sophomore
M – Brittany Evernden, Lynn, Junior