Dec. 7, 2008
2008 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division I Women's All-Central Region Team
All-NSCAA Central Region First Team - So., MF, Vendula Strnadova
All-NSCAA Central Region Second Team - So., D, Kelsey Bakker
All-NSCAA Central Region Third Team - Fr., F, Lizzy Simonin
MEMPHIS, TENN. - The University of Memphis Women's Soccer Team had three of its players honored on Friday as voted on by coaches of the NSCAA Central Region. Sophomore midfielder Vendula Strnadova, sophomore defender Kelsey Bakker, and freshman forward Lizzy Simonin were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas Division I All-Central Region Team.
The honored trio was a major part of the Lady Tigers' 2008 back to back C-USA Championship campaign. The Lady Tigers finished the 2008 season with a 15-5-2 overall record and an 8-2-1 C-USA regular season record earning them a share of the 2008 C-USA regular season title for the second season in a row. As a No. 2 seed in the C-USA Championship, the Lady Tigers beat UAB, UCF, and East Carolina to earn the 2008 C-USA Championship title. The win earned Memphis its second C-USA Tournament championship in a row and an automatic bid to the first round of the 2008 NCAA Championship.
The Las Cruces, N.M. native, Strnadova received NSCAA All-Central Region first team honors. She registered eight goals and four assists totaling 20 points scored. She played in 21 of Memphis' 22 games in 2008 making 20 appearances in the starting lineup.
Strnadova tied for eighth in points scored and sixth in goals scored in C-USA. The sophomore also earned C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, C-USA Midfielder of the year, All-C-USA first team, and C-USA All-Tournament Team honors in 2008. Strnadova is the second Lady Tiger to be named to the NSCAA All-Central Region first team since Shoko Mikami was honored in 2005.
The Kennewick Wash. native, Bakker earned NSCAA All-Central Region second team honors. She headlined a Lady Tiger defense that allowed 0.95 goals per game, which was second in C-USA. She also helped Memphis to C-USA leading nine shutouts. Bakker scored one goal and played in 19 games including 15 starts for the Lady Tigers in 2008.
The sophomore also earned All-C-USA second team honors, C-USA Tournament Defensive MVP, and C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 13. in 2008.
The Lee's Summit, Mo. native, Simonin earned NSCAA All-Central Region third team honors. As a freshman, she was Memphis' leading scorer netting nine goals and registering four assists for 22 points while playing in all 22 games making 18 starts for the Lady Tigers in 2008.
Simonin tied for second in both goals and points scored in C-USA. The freshman also earned All-C-USA second team honors, C-USA All-Freshman Team honors, C-USA co-Freshman of the Year, and C-USA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 27.
