Aug. 11, 2009

Memphis -

Memphis junior midfielder Vendula Strnadova was named preseason Conference USA offensive player of the year as announced Tuesday by C-USA. Sophomore forward Lizzy Simonin and junior defender Kelsey Bakker join Strnadova on the preseason C-USA team.

Strnadova, the 2008 C-USA Offensive Player and Midfielder of the Year, is poised to have another great year for the back-to-back C-USA champions. Strnadova was second on the 2008 team in goals (8), assists (4), shots (57), and SOG (27).

“I think Vendula has proven herself in her first two years here and is deserving of this preseason award,” head coach Brooks Monaghan said. “We are hoping she can take her game to the next level this season and help us win another championship.”

Simonin paced the Lady Tigers in points scored (22), goals (9), shots (56) and SOG (31). Simonin took home C-USA Freshman of the Year honors in 2008, the second straight Lady Tiger to do so after Vendula Strnadova in 2007.

Bakker was a key fixture on defense for the 2008 team that tied for the C-USA regular Season championship and won the C-USA tournament championship. Bakker was named Defensive MVP of the C-USA Tournament. The defensive attack, led by Bakker, allowed 21 goals on the 2008 season, tied for second-least in a season in school history.

“It’s a great honor for these kids to be named to the preseason teams. At the same time I don’t want our kids to get caught up in the preseason awards,” Monaghan said. “The awards might be premature and I think the kids know that this is the preseason and it’s the games that matter.”

“The girls have proven that they deserve these accolades in the past and it’s up to them to use their great talents and prove that they are deserving of the award at the end of the season.”

The Lady Tigers will face Samford in an exhibition match at Echles Field, located at the corner of Spottswood and Goodman on the campus of the University of Memphis, on Saturday at 1 pm. The regular season begins August 21 as the Lady Tigers will travel to Baton Rouge to take on 2008 NCAA Tournament qualifier LSU. The Lady Tigers will return home to Mike Rose Soccer Complex to face Arkansas-Little Rock on August 28.

2009 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM

Kelsey Bakker, Jr., D, Memphis (Kennewick, Wash.)
Lizzy Simonin, So., F, Memphis (Lee’s Summit, Mo.)
Vendula Strnadova, Jr., MF, Memphis (Las Cruces, N.M.) – PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shelley Wong, Sr., MF, Rice (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Kim Peabody, Sr., D, SMU (St. Louis, Mo.)
Tiffini Turpin, So., F, UAB (Birmingham, Ala.)
Yvonne George, Sr., F, UCF (Winter Springs, Fla.)
Nikki Moore, Sr., D, UCF (Virginia Beach, Va.) – PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aline Reis, So., GK, UCF (Campinas, Brazil)
Becca Thomas, Sr., MF, UCF (Burlington, Wash.)