Nov. 8, 2007

Greenville, S.C. -- Furman senior Anna Betton was named 2007 Southern Conference Player-of-the-Year and seven Lady Paladins garnered All-SoCon honors, it was announced on Thursday evening at the league's women's soccer banquet in Davidson, N.C.

Betton leads the league in every major offensive category with 13 goals, 10 assist and 36 total points through 20 matches. The Greensboro, N.C., native, who ranks sixth on Furman's career goals list with 32 and seventh on the career points list with 83, has netted three game-winning goals this season. She becomes the fifth Lady Paladin to earn player-of-the-year honors and first since Andre'a Morrison in 2003.

Betton was joined on the first team by Lady Paladin midfielder Rachel Fry. The junior finished third in the league with 11 goals and six assists while ranking second behind Betton with 28 total points. The Gambrills, Md., product led the SoCon during league games with seven goals and registered four game-winners on the season.

Senior midfielders Katie Tucker and Gena Villari earned second team honors. Tucker, a Charlotte, N.C., native ranks seventh in the league with eight goals. A Raleigh, N.C., product, Villari is second in the SoCon with nine assists this season.

The Lady Paladins' entire backline joined Tucker and Villari on the second team. Junior defender Kate Myatt and freshman Ashley Creavalle made their first All-SoCon squad while senior Mickey Palanza earned her second all-league honor. The trio have held opponents to just one goal in Furman's last four matches.

UNC Greensboro, the SoCon regular season champions and tournament's number one seed, equalled Furman with seven All-SoCon picks. The Spartans' Kristin Player was named SoCon Freshman-of-the-Year while UNCG's Eddie Radwanski was named coach-of-the-year.

Third-seeded Furman, 14-5-1 on the season, faces second-seeded Davidson in the SoCon semifinals at 7 p.m. on Friday. The winner will advance to face either UNC Greensboro or College of Charleston in Sunday's league title match.

All-Southern Conference

First Team

F Kyri Bye-Nagel, Davidson

F Anna Betton, Furman

F Kelly Attayek, UNC Greensboro

F Kristin Player, UNC Greensboro

MF Rachel Fry, Furman

MF Karla Davis, UNC Greensboro

MF Jen Bronson, UNC Greensboro

D Danielle Jordan, College of Charleston

D Nancy Haskell, Davidson

D Jamie Corti, UNC Greensboro

GK Katherine Ryan, UNC Greensboro

Second Team

F Casey Cleary, Appalachian State

F Suzanne Sittko, Davidson

F Ashley Toussaint, Georgia Southern

MF Jaclyn Hoffman, Appalachian State

MF Katie Tucker, Furman

MF Gena Villari, Furman

D Ashley Creavalle, Furman

D Kate Myatt, Furman

D Mickey Palanza, Furman

D Lauren Lopez, UNC Greensboro

GK Bevin English, Davidson

 

Player of the Year: Anna Betton, Furman

Freshman of the Year: Kristin Player, UNC Greensboro

Coach of the Year: Eddie Radwanski, UNC Greensboro