FRISCO – UTSA freshman midfielder Chelsea Zimmerman was named the 2006 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference the league office announced on Wednesday. Freshman defender Ezinne Okpo also received all-conference accolades.
Zimmerman led UTSA, in its first-year of soccer competition, to an 8-8-2 overall record and 5-1-2 mark in league play, as the Roadrunners placed second in the standings. She led the team with nine goals and 22 points, while also posting four assists on the season. Zimmerman finished second in the league in goals, third in points and tied for ninth in assists.
Okpo, who started all 18 games, earned second-team all-conference honors at the defender position. She helped the Roadrunners defense post five shutouts this season. The Denton native was tabbed SLC Defender of the Week on Oct. 3.
Meanwhile, freshmen Veronica Najera and Kari Weiland were honorable mention selections. Najera was second on the team with six goals and 13 points and led the team with 36 shots. Weiland’s seven assists ranked first in the conference.
The Southland Conference Soccer Tournament begins Thursday, Nov. 2, at the Bobcat Soccer Complex in San Marcos. Game one of the tournament features No. 4 seed Northwestern State against tournament host and No. 5 seed Texas State at 4 p.m., while No. 3 seed Stephen F. Austin and No. 6 seed McNeese State play the evening game at 6:30 p.m. The winner of game one will meet top seed Southeastern Louisiana at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, while No. 2 seed UTSA awaits the winner of game two (7 p.m.). The championship game is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
2006 All-Southland Conference Soccer Teams
First Team
Amanda Alders, F, Stephen F. Austin
Rena Carrillo, MF, Southeastern Louisiana
Kristy Collison, D, Texas State
Lauren Fricks, MF, Stephen F. Austin
Lindsay Garito, D, Southeastern Louisiana
Erin Hebert, F, Northwestern State
Marliese Latiolais, D, Northwestern State
Danielle Shank, F, Southeastern Louisiana
Crista Wood, GK, Southeastern Louisiana
Kari Yost, D, Southeastern Louisiana
Chelsea Zimmerman, MF, UTSA
Second Team
Amanda Bishop, D, Central Arkansas
Ashley Bock, D, Nicholls State
Tofi Chavez, MF, Sam Houston State
Krystle Donaldson, GK, Northwestern State
Kamryn Koch, MF, McNeese State
Ezinne Okpo, D, UTSA
Shahin Pabani, F, Stephen F. Austin
Kim Phillips, F, Texas State
Ja’Nae Powell, F, McNeese State
Cynthia Torres, MF, McNeese State
Candice Wallace, MF, Southeastern Louisiana
Honorable Mention
Yoanna Garcia, SHSU; Raquel Bueno, SHSU; Lauren King, UCA; Julie Zavala, NWLa.; Veronica Najera, UTSA; Kari Weiland, UTSA; Delayna Spivey, TXST; Hannah Casey, NWLa.; Jacy Bjelland UCA; Mya Walsh, NWLa.; Kelli Wilson, SFA; Heather Joye, UCA; Jessica Huggins, SFA; Brandie Smith, UCA; Jenna Turner, SFA.
Player of the Year: Kari Yost, D, Southeastern Louisiana
Newcomer of the Year: Lauren Fricks, MF, Stephen F. Austin
Freshman of the Year: Chelsea Zimmerman, MF, UTSA
Coach of the Year: Blake Hornbuckle, Southeastern Louisiana