Tiger Women’s Soccer Sweeps Top SCAC Honors

San Antonio - Trinity's women's soccer team placed nine players on the All-SCAC teams for the 2009 season, led by a trio of Tigers that won the conference's top awards.

Brianna Young was named the SCAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Danika Wright earned SCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.  First-year Lindsay Euers was also named the SCAC Newcomer of the Year.

Head Coach Lance Key was also named the SCAC Coach of the Year, after leading the team to a perfect 16-0-0 record during the regular season.  This marks the second undefeated and untied regular season achieved by a team under Coach Key, who took over the program in 2004.  Trinity had never previously gone undefeated and untied during the regular season prior to 2004.

Young is a two-time All-SCAC performer, also having earned a spot on the First Team in 2008.  This season, she led the SCAC in scoring with 14 goals, nine assists, and 37 points.  Young's 14 goals this season are the most for an individual in the conference since the 2006 season.

Wright paced a Trinity defense that has allowed just four goals this season, which is the second-fewest in SCAC history for the regular season.  She has also scored four goals and two assists on the year, giving her 10 total points.  Under Wright's leadership, the Tigers also lead the SCAC with 12 shutouts in 16 games this season.

A preseason injury to a returning starter pushed Euers into a starting role earlier than expected, but the Tiger first-year responded with an outstanding season.  She scored two goals this season - both in SCAC play, and one of those turned out to be a game-winning goal.  She has also been a key player for the defense from her midfield position, helping the team to those 12 shutouts.

Joining Young, Wright, and Euers on the All-SCAC First Team were Allyson Thrall, Abigail Loar, and Jordan Azar.  Thrall was an All-SCAC Second Team selection as a first-year player in 2008, while Loar was on the first team and the SCAC Newcomer of the Year last season.  Azar is Trinity's only player to earn All-SCAC honors three times.  She was on the All-SCAC Third Team in 2007, and is a repeat selection to the first team this year.

Kelly Watts and Alexandra Leamy were both voted to the All-SCAC Second Team, while Allyson Hunter earned All-SCAC Third Team honors.

Trinity has won five SCAC Offensive Player of the Year awards since 2003, as well as three each for the defensive equivalent and the top newcomer of the year.  This marks the first time, though, that Trinity has won all three awards in the same season.

The Tigers won their 14th overall SCAC Championship this season, and their fourth in six years under Coach Key.  Trinity opened the NCAA Playoffs with a 5-0 win over Maryville (TN) College in the second round. 

The team is in the postseason for the fifth time in the past six years, and will host the NCAA Sectionals this weekend at Trinity.  Specifics on the four-team sectional will be released on Tuesday, but Trinity will face Hardin-Simmons on Saturday.  The winner would face the winner between Concordia-Moorhead and Lynchburg in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Sunday.