Dec. 8, 2009

Memphis-Tenn. - University of Memphis women’s soccer junior forward Ashley Berra was named second-team All-American as announced by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

“I think Ashley being named All-American speaks volumes about this program and the direction this program is moving,” head coach Brooks Monaghan said. “If you look at the list of the athletes that were named All-Americans, it is something special for Ashley because most of those athletes were in the final four. For so many people to vote for her shows how special of a player she is.”

Berra posted a career-high 15 goals in the 2009 season to increase her career goal total to a fourth-place position in the school record book with 26 goals. With eight assists to go along with her 15 goals, Berra totaled 38 points on the season to finish with the third-most points in a single-season in program history.

The Cordova, Tenn. native is the first Lady Tiger soccer player to receive second-team All-America status in the program’s history. Berra was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in points and goals scored and tied for second in assists.

“Ashley came up huge for us this year and the sky is the limit for her,” Monaghan said. “When she puts her mind to it, she plays at a different level. Hopefully she will be back on the All-American list next season. I am extremely proud of her for receiving this well-deserved award.”

“Everybody has missed chances and she knows that as well as I do,” Monaghan said. “Who knows, if she would have finished some of the chances, she may have been on the first team. Hopefully she carries the momentum into next season. She will have a target on her back, but she will be fine with that because she is such a special athlete. I am confident this will give her extra confidence and hopefully the 15 goals will turn into 20 or more next season. I want to emphasize how proud I am of her and this team as a whole.”

For more information on the NSCAA and a complete list of the NSCAA Women's Soccer awards visit the NSCAA website by clicking here.

2009 NSCAA Women's NCAA Division I All-America Team
First Team
Pos., Player, Class, School, Hometown
K, Kristin Olsen, Sr., Southern California, Orange, Calif.
D, Becky Edwards, Sr., Florida State, Tallahassee, Fla.
D, Whitney Engen, Sr., North Carolina, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.
D, Blakely Mattern, Sr., South Carolina, Simpsonville, S.C.
M, Mandi Back, Sr., Dayton, North Olmstead, Ohio
M, Courtney Barg, So., Notre Dame, Plano, Texas
M, Tobin Heath, Sr., North Carolina, Basking Ridge, N.J.
M, Sophie Schmidt, Sr., Portland, Abbotsford, B.C.
F, Lauren Cheney, Sr., UCLA, Indianapolis, Ind.
F, Michelle Enyeart, Sr., Portland, Hemet, Calif.
F, Tiffany McCarty, So., Florida State, Tallahassee, Fla.
F, Kelley O'Hara, Sr., Stanford, Fayetteville, Ga.

Second Team
K, Kelsey Davis, Sr., Portland, Thousand Oaks, Calif.
K, Jill Mastroianni, So., Boston College, Durham, Conn.
D, Jennifer Anzivino, Sr., Rutgers, Middletown, N.J.
D, Kelly Henderson, Sr., Boston College, Baldwin, N.Y.
D, Lauren Hyde, Sr., Florida, Carmel, Ind.
M, Carolyn Blank, Sr., West Virginia, Toms River, N.J.
M, Sinead Farrelly, Jr., Virginia, Havertown, Pa.
F, Ashley Berra, Jr., Memphis, Cordova, Tenn.
F, Vicki DiMartino, Fr., Boston College, Massapequa, N.Y.
F, Danielle Foxhoven, So., Portland, Littleton, Colo.
F, Devin Petta, Fr., Northeastern, Whitman, Mass.
F, Christen Press, Sr., Stanford, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.

Third Team
K, Alyssa Naeher, Sr., Penn State , Seymour, Conn.
D, Casey Brown, Sr., Boston University, Natick, Mass.
D, Ali Riley, Sr., Stanford, Pacific Palisades, Calif.
D, Brittany Taylor, Sr., Connecticut, Campbell Hall, N.Y.
D, Andrea Willis, Sr., Brigham Young, Riverside, Calif.
M, Ashley Bowyer, Sr., Ohio State , Aliso Viejo, Calif.
M, Mariah Nogueira, Fr., Stanford, Westminster, Calif.
M, Rebecca Thomas, Sr., Central Florida, Burlington, Wash.
F, Kaley Fountain, Sr., Wake Forest, Austin, Texas
F, Lauren Fowlkes, Jr., Notre Dame, Lee's Summit, Mo.
F, Laura Heyboer, So., Michigan State, Hudsonville, Mich.
F, Sydney Leroux, So., UCLA, Vancouver, B.C.
F, Katie Schoepfer, Sr., Penn State , Waterford, Conn.