Auburn Soccer Earns Honors At SEC Banquet

Carly Thomas Named to Good Works Team  l  Photo Gallery

Nov. 5, 2003

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. -- Four Auburn players were recognized here Wednesday night at the SEC Soccer Banquet and the team was awarded its SEC Western Division Champions trophy for the third consecutive season.

"Tonight's awards are a good reflection on a lot of hard work from our players and the team's success in having another record-breaking season," head coach Karen Hoppa said.

Junior forward Sarah Steinmann, a Lilburn, Ga., native and senior defender Sandy Carnes of Spring, Texas, were named to the All-SEC First Team. The award is the second for Steinmann and the first for Carnes as she was on the second team in 2002.

On the season, Steinmann has scored 11 goals and five assists and Carnes has been an integral part of the Auburn defense that has broken every Auburn defensive record in 2003 including shutouts with 11.

"Sarah has done a great job this year in improving on her award-winning season from 2002 and becoming a dominant goal-scorer in this league.

"I was very excited for Sandy to be selected to the first team. She has had an outstanding season and has led our defense to a record 11 shutouts in 2003."

Junior goalkeeper Megan Rivera is also a key part of the Auburn defense as the Miami, Fla., native was named to the All-SEC Second Team. Rivera is now third in the SEC in career shutouts with 25, has the most shutouts in the conference in 2003 and has the lowest goals against average at 0.59. Rivera is also one of the best goalkeepers in the nation ranking in the top 10 in shutouts and goals against average.

"Megan has been solid as a rock all year behind our defense and has shown year in and year out that she is not only the best goalkeeper in the conference, but she is one of the best in the country."

Freshman Ronda Brooks was named to the All-SEC Freshman team for her outstanding play at the midfield this season. Brooks, a Marietta, Ga., native, is second on the team in goals with seven.

"Ronda has played as a veteran all year as a freshman in a new position. She has certainly proven herself deserving of the All-Freshman team."
       
The Tigers will face Georgia in the first round of the tournament at 5 p.m. CDT on Thursday at the Orange Beach Soccer Complex. Auburn is the No. 2 seed in the tournament and the Bulldogs enter the tournament as the No. 7 seed.