Brantley Collects Two Postseason Awards

ORLANDO, Fla. (Women’s Soccer) – Florida Tech’s Teresa Brantley was rewarded for her phenomenal regular season on Thursday as she was named the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year, announced by the league office.  Also, Brantley, DeeDee Newland and Melissa Pyles earned a spot on the All-SSC First Team, and Ann-Marie Helgestad, Sara Lewis and Brittany Rainbow garnered second team honors.

The postseason awards and the All-SSC teams were selected by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. 

Brantley, who leads the team in goals (14) and points (32), is the program’s first-ever conference player and offensive player of the year.  Currently, she is tied for first in the league in goals and ranks second in points.  She has made her presence known in SSC play as she leads the conference in both goals (8) and points (17). 

Midfielders Newland and Lewis have helped the Panthers possess a well-balanced team.  Newland is tied for third on the team with five goals and tied for first with five assists.  Her 15 points are the second-most on the squad.  Lewis heads into the postseason with one goal and one assist.  Her physical play and strong mentality have proved invaluable to the Panthers. 

Pyles has been solid in goal this season for the Panthers.  The native of Port Orange, Fla. possesses a 13-2-1 overall record between the pipes for head coach Fidgi Haig & Co.  She has also recorded eight shutouts, a miniscule 0.65 goals against average and an impressive .853 save percentage.  Her goals against average and save percentage lead the conference and her win total is tied for first. 

A big reason why Tech has shutout 10 opponents this season is its impressive defense.  Helgestad and Rainbow have limited the opposition to only 12 goals on the year.  They have also minimized the opposition’s shots to an average of 9.8 a game. 

Meagan Thomas from Rollins took home the conference’s defensive player of the year award.  Rollins head coach Tony Amato was named coach of the year.  Melissa Madrid of Barry won freshman of the year honors.

A total of twenty-five student-athletes were named to the All-SSC Team.  Both Tech and Rollins placed a league-high six players on the team.

2009 ALL-SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM

FIRST TEAM
F - Hannah Beard, Saint Leo, Senior
F - Teresa Brantley, Florida Tech, Senior
F - Melissa Ortiz, Lynn, Sophomore
M - Alexis Hernandez, Nova Southeastern, Junior
M - Rachel Jakubowski, Rollins, Senior
M - Sara Macko, Saint Leo, Senior
D - Leah Hirsch, Rollins, Junior
D - Charlotte Murrell, Rollins, Sophomore
D - Meagan Thomas, Rollins, Junior
GK - Melissa Pyles, Florida Tech, Senior
At-Large - DeeDee Newland, Florida Tech, Junior

Player of the Year - Teresa Brantley, Florida Tech
Offensive Player of the Year - Teresa Brantley, Florida Tech
Defensive Player of the Year - Meagan Thomas, Rollins
Coach of the Year - Tony Amato, Rollins
Freshman of the Year - Melissa Madrid, Barry

SECOND TEAM
F - Chelsea Brady, Rollins, Junior
F - Princess Haley, Florida Southern, Junior
F - Melissa Madrid, Barry, Freshman
M - Jackie Bachteler, Florida Southern, Junior
M - Alex Hoover, Florida Southern, Sophomore
M - Sara Lewis, Florida Tech, Junior
D - Mindy DeCara, Lynn, Senior
D - Ann-Marie Helgestad, Florida Tech, Sophomore
D - Francesca Williams, Saint Leo, Sophomore
GK - Michelle Dillingham, Rollins, Sophomore
At-Large - Dari Alcantara, Saint Leo, Junior
At-Large - Brittany Rainbow, Florida Tech, Sophomore

HONORABLE MENTION
F - Pia Soesemann, Saint Leo, Sophomore
M - Brittany Evernden, Lynn, Junior