Nov. 3, 2004

PLANO, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team wrapped up their first Southland Conference title since 1998 earlier this month and now the individual honors have started rolling in. Nine Ladyjacks received All-Southland Conference recognition, announced league officials Wednesday afternoon, including four first-team selections, two second-team selections and three honorable mention honorees. SFA head coach Nicole Nelson was named the SLC Coach of the Year for the second-straight season.

The Ladyjacks led all SLC schools with four first-team selections. Junior Kim Gray was selected to the first team for a second consecutive year after leading one of the best defenses in school history. Despite being a defender, Gray was still among the team leaders in goals. Gray was joined on the first team by sophomore Shahin Pabani, junior Natascia Michalezki and senior Christie Mestayer. Pabani led the league in scoring and finished third in the conference with her 14 goals. For a third straight season, Michalezki has been one of the region's top goalkeepers. Michalezki finished the season with five shutout victories and was among the league leaders in saves and goals against average. Mestayer was one of the most consistent players in the SLC, she was the only player in the conference to finish the season with double-figure goals and assists as she earned her third all-conference honor.

Senior Sophia Pantazis and sophomore Andrea Ramirez were both named to the All-SLC second team. Pantazis recorded the best season of her career finishing third on the team with 24 points (11 goals and two assists). Ramirez was a key figure in a Ladyjack defense that recorded five shutouts and held six other opponents to only one goal.

Senior Lauren Matkin, junior Jaime Ronca and freshman Caitlin O'Brien each received honorable mention All-Southland Conference honors.

The Ladyjacks return to action Friday in the semifinals of the Southland Conference Championship tournament. SFA received a first-round bye in the tournament after capturing the SLC regular-season title. The Ladyjacks' semifinal game is slated to begin at 2 p.m.

-SFA-