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ROCK HILL, SC – McKenzie Burman, who set a school record with 20 goals and helped lead the Catawba College women’s soccer team to the league championship, was named the 2005 South Atlantic Conference women’s soccer Player of the Year, and was one of four Lady Indians named to the All-Conference team, the league announced today.

Burman, a junior forward from Rolesville, NC, had 20 goals in 17 matches, averaging a conference-best 1.18 goals per match. She also led the SAC in points per match with 2.59.

Mars Hill College freshman Jasmine Riley, who finished second in the league in goals per match behind Burman with 20 goals in 20 games, was named Freshman of the Year.

Catawba’s John Cullen, who guided the Lady Indians to their second conference title in four years and third in school history, was selected Coach of the Year.

The Scholar Athlete Award for women’s soccer went to Megan Smith of Presbyterian College, a senior three-time First Team All-Conference player with a 3.73 GPA as a History major with a minor in Business Administration.

Joining Burman on the First Team from Catawba are goalie Catherine Ballentine, defender Lindsay Layman and midfielder Kyley Thompson.

Carson-Newman had three First Team All-Conference selections in midfielders Claire Ramsdale and Jennifer Bock and forward Rebecca Angus.

Tusculum College had five All-Conference selections. Defenders Ashley Moreira and Claudia Turner were both First Team selections, while midfielders Amber Ferchaud and Denise Fleisser and forward Becky Carreiro were named to the Second Team.

Presbyterian College and Newberry College each placed four on the All-Conference Team.

Presbyterian’s Smith was a First Team pick at forward, while defender Lindsey Leffler and forwards Claire Joyce and Ginny Wolfe were Second Team honorees.

Newberry forward Inga Woiwode was a First Team selection, while teammates Greta Hewett and Sarah Barnes at defender and goalie Danielle Beckerle were named to the Second Team.

Mars Hill, Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne each placed two on the All-Conference Team.

Mars Hill’s Riley was a First Team pick at forward, while Kristen Huppert was a Second Team midfielder choice.

Wingate defender Kelly Munchel was named to the First Team, while midfielder Lisa Service was named to the Second Team.

Lenoir-Rhyne forward Vanessa Szewczuk and defender Tara Learn were named to the Second Team.

Mars Hill College received the Fair Play Award, presented to the team that best displays the most sportsmanship as measured by the least amount of cards shown in all conference matches this year, for the second year in a row. Mars Hill received just two yellow cards in conference matches and 136 points out of a possible 140.

Smith is a three-time All-SAC pick and two-time All-Region selection. She is a member of the History Honor Society, the Presbyterian College Dean’s List and President’s List and the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll. She volunteers for many service projects in her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, including food drives and projects at the Thornwell School and Orphanage and the Presbyterian Nursing Home. She also works with youth soccer groups, volunteers for projects at Clinton Elementary School and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

COACH OF THE YEAR: John Cullen, Catawba College
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Jasmine Riley, Mars Hill College
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: McKenzie Burman, Catawba College
SAC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Megan Smith, Presbyterian College
FAIR PLAY AWARD: Mars Hill College

STATISTICAL CHAMPIONS
Goals Per Match – McKenzie Burman, Catawba, 1.18
Points Per Match – McKenzie Burman, Catawba, 2.59
Assists Per Match – Rebecca Angus, Carson-Newman, 0.69
Goals Against Average – Cathrine Balentine, Catawba, 0.63
Goalkeeper Shutouts Per Game– Kathryn Smith, Wingate, 0.38
Save Percentage – Cathrine Balentine, Catawba, .869
Team Points Per Match – Carson-Newman, 10.62
Team Goals Per Match – Carson-Newman, 3.88
Team Assists Per Match – Carson-Newman, 2.88
Team Shutouts Per Match – Catawba, 0.59
Team Goal Against Average – Catawba, 0.51
Team Winning Percentage – Catawba, .853