2012-13 Peach Belt Conference Yearbook | Page 12

23rd minute as a header by Shea Wilby was saved by Pirate keeper Morgan Luckie. Armstrong went into halftime holding a 6-3 edge in shots.

In the second half, the Pirates generated early scoring chances as senior Morgan Mitchell and juniorAndye Dawson each forced saves by Mancin in the first 13 minutes after intermission, but Columbus State also generated scoring chances as Luckie turned away a clear shot by Ashley Miller in the 61st minute.

The Pirates put the match away in the 82nd minute on a corner kick by Danielle Fey that sailed across the goal face, over Mancin and onto the foot of freshman defender Taylor Russell, who volleyed it off the crossbar and into the goal for the 2-0 lead.

Columbus State found only one more shot the rest of the way as the Pirates claimed the victory and their third PBC Tournament Championship in school history, with their other wins coming in 2009 and 2011.

“ This team has dealt with a target on its back all season,” Armstrong head coach Eric Faulconer said.“ To go through the Peach Belt regular season undefeated and to win the tournament is a credit to this wonderful group of ladies. We are excited to be back in the NCAA tournament and look forward to the challenges ahead.”

Armstrong enjoyed a 15-11 edge in shots on the match and also had four corner kicks, compared to three for the Cougars. Mancin made nine saves in net for the Cougars, while Luckie made five saves in the shutout win.

The Pirates were whistled for 10 fouls, compared to two for the Cougars, and Armstrong was whistled for the only offsides of the match. Senior midfielder Courtney Cawley was named the PBC Tournament MVP.

Armstrong, Columbus State and North Georgia to Play in NCAA Women’ s Soccer Tournament

INDIANAPOLIS, IND – Armstrong Atlantic State, Columbus State and North Georgia learned on Monday night that they are among the 48 teams selected to play in the 2012 NCAA women’ s soccer tournament. The three teams make up half of the Southeast Regional tournament, which begins this Thursday, Nov. 8. Armstrong is the top seed in the regional while Columbus State is the # 2, both school serving as hosts for first- and second-round action.

This is the third straight year that the Pirates have hosted a regional as Armstrong earns its sixth NCAA Championships berth in the eightyear history of the program. It is also the second straight year that the Pirates have been the No. 1 seed in the regional. Armstrong is currently the # 1-ranked team in the nation and became only the second Peach Belt women’ s soccer team to reach the NCAA Final Four last season.

CSU has received a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the seventh straight season as they currently boast a 17-3-1 record. The Lady Cougars finished in a tie for second in the Peach Belt Conference during the regular season and fell this past Sunday to No. 1 and top-seeded Armstrong in the PBC Tournament final. Earlier in the season, Columbus State defeated Lenoir-Rhyne 2-1 and Belmont Abbey 2-0.

First Team

Forwards Morgan Mitchell, Armstrong Kristina Pascutti, Armstrong Jamie Shaw, Lander Ashley Veilleux, Georgia College Midfielders Stephanie Lowery, Columbus State Kelly Penston, North Georgia Alicia Robinson, Clayton State Nadima Skeff, Armstrong Defenders Kansas Bayly, Columbus State Kayla Brown, Columbus State Emily Cattanach, Armstrong Fanny Forsman, UNC Pembroke Goalkeeper Mary Mancin, Columbus State

Second Team Forwards Amalia Arvidsson, UNC Pembroke Rae-Shawna Campbell, UNC Pembroke Jade Pennock, Montevallo Natalia Valentine, Clayton State Lindsay Zullo, Flagler Midfielders Courtney Cawley, Armstrong Andye Dawson, Armstrong Catherine Lovin, Columbus State Cicely Taliaferro, North Georgia Defenders Hilary Ferguson, Lander Shelby Rolling, Columbus State Taylor Russell, Armstrong Danielle Shaw, Lander Goalkeeper Laoise O’ Driscoll, Clayton State

Player of the Year Morgan Mitchell, Armstrong Co-Freshman of the Year Rae-Shawna Campbell, UNC Pembroke Jade Pennock, Montevallo Co-Coaches of the Year Chris Ayer, Lander Eric Faulconer, Armstrong

The Saints enter the NCAA Tournament with a record of 14-4-2 for the season having won four of their last five games. They have gone 6-2-2 through their last 10 games having out-scored their opposition 70-22 this season for an average of 3.5 goals per game. Last season, the fourth-seeded Saints defeated the fifth-seeded Bulldogs 3-1 in Savannah for their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. The win marked the 16th win of the 2011 season, setting a program record for most wins in a season.

The 2012 NCAA Tournament will begin on Friday, Nov. 9 at both Armstrong and Columbus. In Savannah, North Georgia will meet Wingate at 1:00 Friday, the winner taking on Armstrong on Sunday at 1:00. At 5:00 on Friday, Lenoir-Rhyne and Belmont Abbey will meet in Columbus, the winner meeting the Cougars on Sunday at 1:00.

The two teams left standing will travel to the site of the highest remaining seed in the South Region. There, they will play to determine the Southeast Champion, that team moving on to face the South Champion in the national quarterfinals.

The winner of that national quarterfinal game will advance to the NCAA Final Four which is being hosted by the Peach Belt Conference Nov. 29 and Dec. 1 at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga.

Six PBC Women’ s Soccer Players Named Academic All-Americans

TOWSON, MD – A record six Peach Belt Conference women’ s soccer players have been named Capitol One Academic All-Americans. Columbus State’ s Kayla Brown was named to the first team while teammate Catherine Lovin was named second team. Armstrong Atlantic State’ s Emily Cattanach and Kristina Pascutti were named second team while Andye Dawson was named third team. North Georgia’ s Taylor Lee was also named second team. The PBC has never had more than three players named Academic All-Americans, widely regarded as the highest honor a student-athlete can receive.

This is the first time that CSU has had two Capital One Academic All-Americans in one season.

After being named to the third team in 2011, Brown received first team honors this year. The senior started all 23 games for the Lady Cougars and helped lead a defense that allowed just 13 goals and posted 13 shutouts. In addition to her defensive contributions, Brown led CSU with eight assists and scored the game-winning goal against Georgia Southwestern. For her play on the field, she earned Daktronics first team All-Southeast region and first team All-Peach Belt Conference honors. The Lawrenceville native is a Communications major and currently carries a 3.93 grade point average.

This is the first Academic All-American honor for Lovin after being selected Academic All-District in 2011. Lovin has played a vital role in the midfield for the Lady Cougars during her four year career. Her contributions controlling play both offensively and defensively have been key to Columbus State’ s success. So far this season, the senior has been named second team All-PBC and to the Daktronics All-Southeast region second team. The Griffin native also received the PBC Elite 15 Award given to the player in each sport with the highest GPA. Lovin sports a perfect 4.0 GPA and is majoring in History / Secondary Education.

The three Academic All-Americans are the most for the Pirates in one season in program history.

Senior forward Kristina Pascutti repeats as a second-team Capital One / CoSIDA Academic All-American honoree from last season. The Lilburn, Ga., native carries a 3.78 GPA in biology and ranked second on the Pirates this season with nine goals, ranking among the Top 10 in the

Elite 15 Award Catherine Lovin, Columbus state

Honorable Mention:: Taylor Adkins, Flagler; Ashley Anticil, UNC Pembroke; Anna Barrow, Georgia College; Kelsey Battle, Young Harris; Britney Bennett, UNC Pembroke; Kim Beyer, USC Aiken; Melissa Bode, Montevallo; Brittaney Borror, Georgia College; Jaci Carithers, Columbus State; Taylor Cornelius, Georgia College; Kayla Croom, North Georgia; Abby Dalton, Georgia College; Alli Edens, USC Aiken; Silvia Espelt, Clayton State; Julie Fisher, UNC Pembroke; Fanny Forsman, UNC Pembroke; Elke Groothuis, UNC Pembroke; Dempsey Hall, Flagler; Michelle Hernandez, UNC Pembroke; Olivia Holden, Georgia College; Kathy Hutto, Montevallo; Jessica Jagielski, Flagler; Stephanie James, Armstrong; Taylor Kerr, Montevallo; Erica Lowery, Young Harris; Kyle Maguire, USC Aiken; Kelsey Martin, North Georgia; Kessler Matheson, Georgia College; Lara Middlebrook, Lander; Megan Morrow, North Georgia; Lorna O’ Connell, Clayton State; K. C. Pagnotta, Young Harris; Haley Powers, Flagler; Paige Scott, Montevallo; Leanne South, North Georgia; Annie Stephens, Georgia College; Nicola Stolworthy, Montevallo; Hayden Verner, Young Harris; Samantha Vickers, Lander; Tara Whitaker, Flagler

Peach Belt Conference. She finished her Armstrong career with 36 career goals, third-most in Pirate history, and she is only the second multiple Academic All-American honoree in Armstrong women’ s soccer history, joining Kristin Burton( 2007, 2008).

Senior defender Emily Cattanach earns her first Academic All-American honor in 2012, earning a spot on the second team by carrying a 3.76 GPA in rehabilitation sciences. A first-team All-Peach Belt Conference defender this year, Cattanach led the Pirates and ranked third in the Peach Belt Conference in assists with 10. The Fort Myers, Fla, native has

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