Savage SBC Freshman of the Year

MIAMI - Goalkeeper Kaitlyn Savage was named the Sun Belt Women's Soccer Freshman of the Year, and for the second consecutive season, head coach Thomas Chestnutt was named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year, the league announced Tuesday. In addition, the Golden Panthers earned four All-Conference First and Second Team selections.

Sophomore defender Katrina Rose earned First Team distinction, improving upon her Second Team status in 2008. Senior midfielder Amy Jackson, junior forward Thaisa Moreno and Savage were all named to the Second Team.

Savage brought home FIU's first Freshman of the Year award ever after compiling five shutouts en route to a 10-3-2 record. The Fox Island, Wash., native holds a .826 save percentage in 18 games with 13 starts and ranks first in the league for goals against average (.47) in conference play. 

Of her five shutouts, four came against conference foes. She posted a season-high seven saves, including three in the final five minutes of regulation in an overtime victory at WKU. The following game, Savage froze out Denver, who had received votes in the national poll and ranked among the top 50 in the nation for goals per game average at the time.

Chestnutt claims the Coach of the Year accolade for the second year in a row after sharing the honor with Denver's Jeff Hooker in 2008. Under Chestnutt's direction, FIU became the first program since the inception of the Sun Belt to jump from sixth to first in consecutive seasons.

Chestnutt led FIU to its first conference regular season championship since 2000 and has helped the squad break school records for longest winning streak (currently at seven) and most wins in a conference season (currently at nine).

Rose becomes FIU's first member on the First Team since 2002. The sophomore defender ranks second on the team in points (13) with five goals and three assists.

Rose has started in 17 of 19 games and played an instrumental role in all six of FIU's shutouts. She was also named Player of the Week for the first time of her career this season after helping FIU blank Denver as centerback of the defense. She then became the first conference player to score on North Texas this year and dished her first career assist in the contest, kicking off a four-game streak of tallying at least one point.

Jackson, who was selected as this week's SBC Player of the Week, earns her first career nod to the Second Team.  Her two goals this season are both game-winners, which includes her goal that clinched the SBC regular season title on Senior Night last Friday.

The Australia native is considered the team's most valuable player. She assisted the game-winning goal versus North Florida on Sept. 13 and netted the game-winning goal in overtime at Troy on Oct. 18 to keep FIU's unbeaten streak alive.

Moreno is a newcomer to the team this year and secured a spot on the Second Team as FIU's leader in goals (seven), game-winners (three) and points (16). The Brazilian forward ranks first for game-winners, second for goals and fourth for points among Sun Belt leaders during conference play. Her game-winning goal off a penalty kick against UALR on Oct. 23 helped FIU break the school record for most wins in a conference season.

The Golden Panthers kick off the conference tournament on Wednesday at 10 a.m. against No. 8 seed UALR in Boca Raton, Fla.