South Region Champs Place Four on NSCAA All-Region Team

TAMPA, Fla. - The National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced its 2011 women's soccer all-South Region team, with Sunshine State Conference tournament and NCAA South Region champion University of Tampa placing four on the team.

Shannon Walisch and Gabby Russo were named second-team performers as Brittan Spence and Samantha Kay found recognition on the third team.

"Congrats to Brittan, Sam, Shannon and Gabby on their awards," says head coach Gerry Lucey. "They are fully deserving of these plus more in my opinion. Gabby finished as the top freshman assist player in D2 and should have had further recognition. In addition, Sam and Brittan have done so much in the past two years helping us win back-to-back conference tournaments and twice making the regional final, winning it of course this year."

Russo led Tampa with 12 assists as a freshman while Walisch led a Spartan defensive unit that outscored its opponents 54-16 in 2011. Spence and Kay, both seniors, led the team as Spence was the top scorer with nine goals and six assists. Kay added two goals and three assists from her midfield position.

"Shannon was the most consistent performer in the SSC this year," states Lucey. "It's disappointing that so many coaches don't give our players the respect they deserve but that just provides the extra motivation we need to keep winning. It's the same tune with the SSC voting. A number of the coaches in our own conference didn't even have the respect to vote for players in their own conference. Our conference only had two all Americans which based upon the talent level is ridiculous. Sadly, at the end of the day, the players who put in so much time and energy are the ones to lose out."

"I'm very proud of all of our players and we wouldn't be winning so much as a team without a combination of great individual endeavor and true team spirit," comments Lucey.

The NSCAA all-South Region team was unveiled on Wednesday, Dec. 20, following the NSCAA All-American release on Dec. 7.

"Finally the NSCAA sent me a copy of our region awards a full two weeks after they published the All-American awards and almost two weeks since they published all the other seven regions," comments Lucey. "This is a very poor showing by the NSCAA this time. I had to send five emails and a number of texts in this time to get a copy. Finally the national chairperson was kind enough to get me a copy."

Tampa finished the 2011 season with an overall record of 16-6-2, including victories in six of its final seven contests. Among the season accomplishments were SSC and South Region championships, outscoring its opponents 12-4 in the final seven matches.

2011 NSCAA South All-Region
All Region 1st Team
GK Michelle Dillingham Rollins College
D Charlotte Murrell Rollins College
D Anita Cox Rollins College
D Aija Bent- trinder Saint Leo University
D Daniele Cruz Mejia University Of West Florida
M Cassie Barbaresi Saint Leo University
M Monica Malavassi University Of West Florida
M Ashley Waplinger Rollins College
F Tina Murray University Of West Florida
F Chloe Roberts North Alabama, University of
F Ali Schrader Rollins College
F Dari Alcantara Saint Leo University

All Region 2nd Team
GK Laura Carstens Saint Leo University
D Rachel Cutts University Of West Florida
D Jasmine Johnson Saint Leo University
D Shannon Walisch University Of Tampa
D Rachael Reid Nova Southeastern
M Jordan Stone University Of West Florida
M Melissa Madrid Barry
M Josie Chubb North Alabama, University of
F Adrian Lucar Harding University
F Gabby Russo University Of Tampa
F Jennifer Osmond North Alabama, University of
F Ariana Foreman Saint Leo University

All Region 3rd Team
GK Lauren Byrd University of West Florida
D Carrie Lieblong Ouachita Baptist
D Hannah Hatcher Harding University
D Andrea Jefferson Palm Beach Atlantic University
M Nicola Brown North Alabama, University of
M Brittan Spence University Of Tampa
M Samantha Kay University Of Tampa
F Malin Broberg Nova Southeastern
F Emma Karp Barry
F Beth Wendl Ouachita Baptist
F Cady Reisman University of Alabama-Huntsville