 |  |
ALL-CONFERENCE: Gaither First Team, Five Bruins in All Receive All-NWC Honors
2011 All-Northwest Conference Teams
NEWBERG, Ore. – Led by First Team selection Melanie Gaither at forward, five George Fox University players have been named to the 2011 All-Northwest Conference Women's Soccer First or Second Teams or received honorable mention for the teams in recent balloting by the conference's nine coaches.
Joining Gaither as Bruins recognized by the conference are Second Team selection Corin Beaudry at defender, and three honorable mentions: midfielders Shannon Olson and Cori Jo Young and goalkeeper Alyssa Montero.
Gaither, a junior from Vancouver, Wash., was the Bruins' primary offensive weapon this fall, pacing the team in goals scored (8), assists (3), total points (19), shots (47), and shots on goal (26). In conference statistics, she was tied for fourth in goals, and ranked fifth in points, sixth in shots on goal, and seventh in total shots.
Corin Beaudry |
Gaither, who was an honorable mention All-NWC choice in 2010, scored two goals in a game twice this season, in a 2-2 tie at Chapman and in a 2-1 win vs. Whitman. She scored the Bruins' only goal in 1-1 ties at La Verne, vs. Linfield, vs. Pacific (Ore.), and at Whitman. She assisted on the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Lewis & Clark, and had an assist on the Bruins' goal in a 1-1 tie with Pacific Lutheran.
Beaudry, a junior from Wilsonville, Ore., appeared in 19 games along the back line for the Bruins, usually playing sweeper as the last defender before the keeper. She was second on the team in minutes played only to goalkeeper Montero (1,764), took three shots, all on goal, and had two assists. Her assists came on the first George Fox goals in a 2-2 tie at Chapman and a 2-1 win over Whitman.
|
|
|
Olson, a senior from San Diego, Calif., earned honorable mention status despite missing six games in the middle of the season despite a broken wrist. She scored one goal, tied for second on the team in assists (2) and points (2), and took 11 shots, five on goal. Her score came in a 4-2 loss at Evergreen State, and she assisted on the game-tying goals in a 2-2 tie at Chapman and a 1-1 deadlock vs. Pacific Lutheran. She served as one of the Bruins' co-captains this year.
Young, a senior from Ridgefield, Wash., appeared in 18 games in the middle, contributing one goal scored and two points while taking 14 shots in all, six on goal. Her goal was the Bruins' first one of the season, and gave the team an early 1-0 lead in the season opener at Northwest (Wash.), an eventual 3-1 setback.
Montero, a sophomore from Hermosa Beach, Calif., received honorable mention for the second year in a row after leading the league in saves (133) and ranking fourth in save percentage (.821). She started and played in 19 games, leading the team in minutes (1,827) and posting a 1.43 goals-against average. She had six games of double-figure saves, with a season-high 14 in a 1-1 tie at La Verne. She picked the shutout in a 1-0 win vs. Lewis & Clark.
George Fox posted a 2-12-6 record in 2011, finishing seventh in the conference at 2-10-4. Despite the final results, the Bruins were a competitive team, setting new school records for the most ties (6), the most overtime games (8), and tying the mark for most games decided by one goal or tied (15).
Stephanie Skelly of Willamette University was the 2011 NWC Offensive Player of the Year, Anisa Babar of Whitworth University was the Defensive Player of the Year, and Hillary Arthur of Willamette was named the Coach of the Year.
