Seven Lady Eagles Named to Preseason All-SAC Teams

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Carson-Newman women's soccer team led the conference with seven players selected to the preseason All-South Atlantic Conference teams, league officials announced Monday.

Junior defender Melissa Morris (Sweetwater, Tenn.), sophomore defender Katie Hunter (Mississauga, Ontario) and sophomore goalkeeper Lauren MacKenzie were first team selections, while junior forward Morgan Gruenenfelder (Sweetwater, Tenn.), sophomore forward Trenna Howell (Oak Ridge, Tenn.), senior forward Nikki Brennan (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) and senior defender Jessie Stephens (Knoxville, Tenn.) were named to the second team.

Morris, a first team All-SAC and first team Daktronics All-Southeast Region performer in 2008, started 16 matches last season and anchored a C-N defense that produced seven shutouts, which was third best in the conference. She also scored two goals.

Hunter started 17 matches last season, dished out one assist and earned second team All-SAC honors for her efforts on a stellar Lady Eagle defense.

MacKenzie was a stalwart in goal for the Lady Eagles in 2008 as she garnered first team All-SAC and SAC Freshman of the Year honors. She was second in the conference in shutouts (six) and save percentage (.810) and third in the SAC in saves (81) and goals against average (1.15). MacKenzie recorded a season-high 13 saves at Lee University on Oct. 24.

Gruenenfelder was named to the second team All-SAC in 2008 after tallying eight goals, including three match-winning goals, and dishing out three assists. A two-time All-SAC performer, Gruenenfelder scored a season-high two goals in a 3-1 win over Chowan on Aug. 31.

Howell started 15 matches and led the Lady Eagles and was fourth in the conference in goals scored (13) and points (29). She scored three goals against King College (Sept. 17), Mars Hill (Nov. 4) and Lenoir-Rhyne (Nov. 7). Howell was named Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament for scoring seven goals in three matches.

Brennan, who sat out last season with an injury, was a second team All-SAC performer in 2007. She led the Lady Eagles with 11 goals, including four game-winning goals.

Stephens scored one goal in 17 starts in 2008 and played a pivotal role on the Lady Eagles defense, which produced seven shutouts on the season.

The Lady Eagles won both the SAC regular season and SAC Tournament titles in 2008. C-N finished the year 16-6-1 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16.

2009 WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON ALL-SAC
FIRST TEAM
Forward - Kelly Adams, Wingate
Forward - Laura Linehan, Lenoir-Rhyne
Forward - Kerstin Williams, Wingate
Forward - Abby Martin, Mars Hill
Midfielder - Amberly Fowler, Newberry
Midfielder - Becky Thompson, Lincoln Memorial
Midfielder - Misha Price, Mars Hill
Midfielder - Courtney Turner, Tusculum
Defender - Melissa Morris, Carson-Newman
Defender - Catherine Hauck, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defender - Katie Hunter, Carson-Newman
Defender - Madi Welch, Wingate
Goalkeeper - Lauren MacKenzie, Carson-Newman

SECOND TEAM
Forward - Morgan Gruenfelder, Carson-Newman
Forward - Trenna Howell, Carson-Newman
Forward - Nikki Brennan, Carson-Newman
Forward - Rebecca Lin, Lenoir-Rhyne
Midfielder - Nikki Blackwelder, Catawba
Midfielder - Audrey Moore, Lenoir-Rhyne
Midfielder - Caity Murnahan, Mars Hill
Midfielder - Allie Johns, Newberry
Midfielder - Michele Meade, Tusculum
Defender - Jessie Stephens, Carson-Newman
Defender - Samantha Baldwin, Wingate
Defender - Sara Geisman, Newberry
Defender - Brittany Downs, Mars Hill
Goalkeeper - Lindsay Webster, Catawba