William and Mary Senior Mallory Schaffer Repeats as CAA Player of the Year

Courtesy TribeAthletics.com

Thu, November 01, 2012

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - For the second year in a row, William and Mary senior co-captain Mallory Schaffer was honored as the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year on Thursday night at the league's annual awards banquet.  The Allison Park, Pa., native joins former W&M standouts Missy Wycinski '99 and Claire Zimmeck '08 as the only individuals to repeat as the conference player of the year.  Additionally, Schaffer is the sixth student-athlete from the College to earn player of the year distinction.  In all, nine members of the Tribe were honored as All-CAA selections.

Joining Schaffer on the All CAA First-Team were seniors Cortlyn Bristol and Kiersten Harpe.  Junior Dani Rutter and sophomore Emily Fredrikson took home second-team accolades, while freshmen Nicole Baxter, Leci Irvin, Caroline Casey, and Barbara Platenberg garnered all-rookie team honors.

Despite consistently drawing the oppositions' best efforts defensively, Schaffer shined in 2012 as she ranked third in the CAA in points (23) and goals (10).  Her finest moment of the season occurred in the Green and Gold's pivotal match against Hofstra on Oct. 21.  Down 2-1 with less than three minutes remaining and with the league regular season title on the line, Schaffer netted the equalizer, and sent the contest into overtime en route to helping the College defeat Hofstra, 3-2.

Off the pitch, the awards and accolades accumulated for the All-American.  Before the start of the season, Schaffer was named to the 2012 MAC Hermann Trophy Award Watch List for the second consecutive year.  Additionally, she was named one of 10 national finalists for the 2012 Senior Class Award.  On Sept. 3, she was named the league player of the week and earned a spot on Soccer America's Team of the Week after scoring two goals and registering an assist against Richmond and Auburn.  

A three-time All-CAA First-Team honoree, Schaffer has netted 41 goals and 96 points during her career, which rank sixth and seventh, respectively, most in school history.

Bristol earned a spot on the league's first team for the second year in row.  In arguably her most accomplished season in a Green and Gold uniform, the Chantilly, Va., native has tallied a nation-leading 13 assists to go along with five goals scored in 2012.  Against UNCW on Oct. 4, the preseason All-CAA selection tallied a career-high three assists in the College's decisive victory over the Seahawks.  

After scoring the game-winning goals and netting an assist in consecutive matches against George Mason and Towson, Bristol was named the CAA Player of the Week and earned a spot on TopDrawerSoccer.com's National Team of the Week.  Additionally, Bristol's 13 assists this season are tied with Ann Cook '97 for W&M's fifth-best single-season total, while her 28 career helpers are tied with Natalie Neaton '95 for fourth most in program history.

Harpe garners All-CAA First-Team distinctions for the first time in her career.  For the year, the Lake Mary, Fla., native has tallied two assists from her defensive position and was named to the Villanova All-Tournament team after an outstanding weekend on the pitch in Philadelphia, Pa.  The anchor of the Tribe's backline, Harpe has made 64 career starts in 70 appearances for the Green and Gold.    

Rutter, who ranks third on the team with 17 points coming on seven goals and three assists, headlined the College's second-team honorees.  On two occasions this season, the York, Pa., native scored a pair of goals in the College's victories over Old Dominion and UNCW.  For her efforts against the Monarchs, Rutter was named the CAA Player of the Week on Oct. 29.  This year's all-league accolade is the first of her career.  

For the second straight year, Fredrikson was named to the conference's second team after another impressive season on the College's line of defense.  Furthermore, Fredrikson tallied an assist in the Green and Gold's, 3-2, overtime win over Hofstra on Oct. 21.  For the season, the Ashburn, Va., native has started every match for the Tribe, which has only allowed 14 goals this season and ranks second in the CAA. 

Headlining the Tribe's representation on the all-rookie team was Baxter, who netted 10 points on four goals and two assists.  Joining the Pennington, N.J., native on the all-rookie squad was freshman keeper Caroline Casey.  Starting all 19 matches between the posts for the College, Casey's exceptional season has seen the Chesapeake, Va., native earn Tennessee and Villanova All-Tournament team honors.  In the CAA, she ranks second in goals against average (0.76) and save percentage (.837), while her six shutouts stand in third.

Also making impressive debuts this season were Irvin and Platenberg, who landed spots on the all-rookie team.  A starter since the season opener, Irvin has cemented herself as one of the Tribe's most consistent performers as the Charlottesville, Va., native tallied two assists in 19 contests.  Meanwhile, Platenberg demonstrated her skills early in the season en route to registering five points on two goals and an assist.  On Oct. 8., the Fairfax Station, Va., native was named the CAA Rookie of the Week after she scored a pair of goals in W&M's win over Georgia State. 

The Tribe will begin its quest for the program's 11th conference championship when it takes on Hofstra in Friday's second semifinal match.  The contest is scheduled to kick-off at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field at 7:30 p.m.  Fans can follow the action online at TribeAthletics.com with live stats.  Additionally, CAASports.com will provide a video stream free of charge of Friday's semifinals and Sunday's championship match.

Tribe Men's Ryan Flesch named CAA Rookie of the Week

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - William and Mary men's soccer freshman midfielder Ryan Flesch was named the CAA Rookie of the Week on Monday.  The Manassas, Va., native connected on the game-winning goal in the 87th minute of the College's upset victory at No. 8-ranked Old Dominion last week. 

Tribe Freshman Ryan Flesch (courtesy of TribeAthletics.com)

For the year, Flesch has seen action in every match and has earned the start on five occasions.  In his 15 appearances, Flesch has tallied four points on two goals.  His first collegiate goal came in the 57th minute of the College's 4-1 route over Drake on Sept. 14.

In its lone match last week, W&M upended No. 8 Old Dominion, 2-1 last Wednesday night in Norfolk, Va.  After the Monarchs netted the night's initial goal, the Tribe responded with two unanswered scores courtesy of sophomore Marcus Luster and Flesch.  In dramatic fashion, Flesch netted the clincher in the 87th minute when his shot from the left side of box sailed into the top right corner of goal.  The victory was the Tribe's first over a top-10 opponent since defeating No. 5 SMU, 3-2, in the 2011 season opener.    

Tribe soccer returns to action on Wednesday night when it travels to James Madison for a match slated to begin at 7 p.m.

2012 CAA Women's Soccer Pre-Season Coaches Poll Released

Defending CAA Women's Champion, William & Mary, have been selected to repeat as Champions in a recently released coaches poll. 

2012 CAA Women's Soccer Pre-Season Coaches Poll
1. William & Mary (10 first-place votes) - 100
2. James Madison - 81
3. Hofstra - 79
4. Northeastern (1 first-place vote) - 76
5. Delaware - 64
6. George Mason - 60
7. Drexel - 35
8. Old Dominion - 34
9. UNCW - 28
10. Georgia State - 25
11. Towson - 23

Courtesy TribeAthletics.com

W&M Picked To Win WSOC Title

First round draft pick; JMU standount C.J. Sapong, signs with Sporting Kansas City

WIBW.com reported that Sporting Kansas City has officially signed C.J. Sapong.

Sporting Kansas City selected Sapong with the 10th overall selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft in January. The 22-year-old goal scorer comes to Kansas City after finishing his college career at James Madison University with 37 goals and 21 assists in four seasons from 2007-2010. He was awarded First Team All-Conference and team Offensive MVP honors all four years, a first in program history, and was the CAA Player of the Year as a senior co-captain in 2010. Sapong was a two-time NSCAA First Team All-South Atlantic Region selection and as a freshman, he was named the CAA and VaSID Rookie of the Year.


Read full article: Sporting Kansas City Signs Three

2010 CAA Women's Soccer Championship Preview

 

  

RICHMOND, Va. (November 3, 2010) - The 2010 CAA Women’s Soccer Championship kicks off on Friday afternoon at Hofstra Soccer Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y. with four teams battling for the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship.

Second-seeded James Madison (13-6, 9-2 in CAA) takes on #3 George Mason (11-7-1, 7-4 in CAA) at 4:30 p.m., followed by #1 Hofstra (17-1, 11-0 in CAA) against #4 Georgia State (12-6-2, 6-4-1 in CAA) at 7 p.m. The two winners will advance to Sunday’s 1 p.m. championship game.

Showing the conference’s depth from top to bottom, seven different teams have been crowned CAA champions over the past eight years. Hofstra (2005, 2007) is the only school to have won the tournament twice during that span. Other champions over that time include: James Madison (2002), William & Mary (2003), VCU (2004), Old Dominion (2006), Northeastern (2008) and UNC Wilmington (2009).

Hofstra, which is currently ranked #17 in the nation by Soccer America, enters the tournament riding the nation’s longest winning streak at 17 games. The Pride became the first CAA team since 1998 to go unbeaten and untied in conference play, but went to overtime against semifinal opponent Georgia State on Oct. 22 before pulling out a 3-2 victory. Hofstra is led offensively by senior midfielder Tiffany Yovino, who leads the CAA with 11 goals and has scored at least one goal in her last eight contests. Senior forward Salma Tarik has scored 10 goals and senior defender Dana Bergstrom has 10 assists. The Pride defense has allowed only eight goals in 11 conference matches.

James Madison also comes into the tournament on a hot streak, having won six in a row and nine of its last 10. The Dukes, who are the only team to have earned a berth in all 16 CAA Tournaments, won the conference title in 1995 and 2002 and reached the championship game a year ago. JMU is paced offensively by senior midfielder Teresa Rynier, who has eight goals and 10 assists this season and is the school’s all-time leader in assists with 50. Freshman forward Lauren Wilson has scored seven goals and senior forward Cate Tisinger has four goals and four assists. Senior goalkeeper Diane Wszalek owns a 1.05 GAA and has recorded seven shutouts.

George Mason is making its first CAA Tournament appearance since 2007 and is in the semifinals for the first time since 2003. The Patriots feature the league’s leading scorer in senior forward Omolyn Davis, who has nine goals and nine assists this season and scored both goals in the Patriots’ 2-0 triumph at Towson last Friday that clinched a tournament berth. Sophomore forward Tiana Kallenberger is second on the team with five goals and five assists. Goalkeeper Alex Bodenschatz sports a 1.31 GAA and has made 78 saves this season.

Georgia State clinched its first-ever berth in the CAA Tournament in dramatic fashion, defeating defending conference champ UNC Wilmington, 1-0, last Saturday. Sophomore forward Sarah Bennett, who netted the game-winner against UNCW with 9:18 to go in regulation, tops the Panthers and ranks second in the CAA with 10 goals. She is joined up front by freshman Jewel Evans, who leads all CAA rookies with eight goals and eight assists. Junior goalkeeper Kellianne Collins stepped into the starting lineup at mid-season and has posted a 1.07 GAA with 81 saves.

Admission to the championship is $6 for adults and $4 for youth. Students from the participating CAA schools will be admitted free with a valid college ID.

Live stats will be available at www.caasports.com and www.gohofstra.com. Game s involving Hofstra will be broadcast by WRHU (www.wrhu.org). Verizon FiOs 1 will also be televising the games, which will be shown on a tape-delayed basis.
 
2010 CAA Women’s Soccer Championship
Hofstra Soccer Stadium – Hempstead, N.Y.

November 5 – Semifinals
#2 James Madison vs. #3 George Mason – 4:30 p.m.
#4 Georgia State at #1 Hofstra – 7:00 p.m.

November 7 - Finals
CAA Championship Game – 1:00 p.m.