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College Soccer News: Triton Women Honored

The UC San Diego women’s soccer team placed a league-high seven players on the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) all-conference team that was announced on Wednesday, November 2. Seniors Kristin Armstrong, Anne Wethe, Sarah McTigue and Shelby Wong, and Junior Haley Johnson were named to the First Team, while junior Jessica Wi and sophomore Cassie Callahan received Honorable Mention nods. Cal State L.A. was second with five selections.

Cal State Dominguez Hills senior forward Jessica Murphy was honored as the CCAA’s Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year. UC San Diego senior goalkeeper Kristin Armstrong was selected Most Valuable Defensive Player of the Year, while Triton teammate Cassie Callahan was named Freshman of the Year, and Cal Poly Pomona’s Christina Carriaga was tabbed Newcomer of the Year. UC San Diego head coach Brian McManus was voted Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career.

McManus, who has led UC San Diego to a 13-1-4 overall record, including a 12-1-3 conference mark and the top seed in the CCAA Tournament, previously earned Coach of the Year honors in 2000, 2001 and 2006.

UC San Diego placed a conference-high five players on the first team. Senior goalkeeper Armstrong, senior forward McTigue, senior midfielders Wethe and Wong, and junior defender Johnson represented the Tritons on the first team. In addition to the CCAA honors, three Tritons were named to the Capital One Academic All District Team: Wethe, McTigue and Sara Spaventa. UCSD, who finished the regular season with a 13-1-4 record and earned the West Region’s No. 1 seed, now heads into the 2011 NCAA Soccer Championship field of 48 with a first-round bye.

Murphy led the CCAA with 32 points (15 goals, 2 assists), while Armstrong was the conference’s top goalkeeper with a 0.22 goals-against average, .935 save percentage and 11 shutouts.

California Collegiate Athletic Association All-Conference Team

First Team

GK – Kristin Armstrong (UC San Diego)

F – Jessica Murphy (Cal State Dominguez Hills)

F – Karenee Demery (Cal State Stanislaus)

F – Sarah McTigue (UC San Diego)

MF – Lisa Öhberg (Cal State L.A.)

MF – Anne Wethe (UC San Diego)

MF –Taylor Colacion (Sonoma State)

MF – Shelby Wong (UC San Diego)

D – Hayley Johnson (UC San Diego)

D – Jacqueline Hanna (Cal State L.A.)

D – Sara Studer (Sonoma State)

Second Team

GK – Annicia Jones (San Francisco State)

F – Lisa Webster (Chico State)

F – Justine Barclay (Cal Poly Pomona)

F – Eugenie Foote (Cal State East Bay)

F – Casey Hirsch (Cal State San Bernardino)

MF – Alexia Poon (Cal State Stanislaus)

MF – Kasey Wall (Chico State)

MF – Jennifer Rivera (Cal Poly Pomona)

MF – Kiley Williams (San Francisco State)

D – Paige Peel-Hand (Cal State Dominguez Hills)

D – Ashley Cabrera (Cal State San Bernardino)

D – Vanessa Cervantes (Cal State Stanislaus)

Honorable Mention:

GK – Jessie Walworth (Cal State L.A.

F – Jani Carmona (Cal State San Bernardino)

F – Christina Carriaga (Cal Poly Pomona)

F – Taylor Edmonds (Sonoma State)

F – Shianna Falk (Cal State East Bay)

F – Janet Mendez (Cal State L.A.)

F – Nicole Vanni (San Francisco State)

MF – Cassie Callahan (UC San Diego)

MF – Natalie Martin (Cal State L.A.)

MF – Jessica Wi (UC San Diego)

D – Molly Downtain (Chico State)

D – Angela Garcia (Cal Poly Pomona)

D – Carly Singer (Chico State).

Most Valuable Offensive Player: Jessica Murphy (Cal State Dominguez Hills)

Most Valuable Defensive Player: Kristin Armstrong (UC San Diego)

Freshman of the Year: Cassie Callahan (UC San Diego)

Newcomer of the Year: Christina Carriaga (Cal Poly Pomona)

Coach of the Year: Brian McManus (UC San Diego)

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