Central Michigan University Athletics
Soccer Claims Three Postseason Awards
11/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
MOUNT PLEASANT — Three members of the regular season Mid-American Conference champion Central Michigan soccer team won postseason awards as the Chippewas led the MAC with six All-MAC and five MAC All-Freshman team selections on Thursday.
Shay Mannino was named the MAC’s first Defensive Player of the Year, Bailey Brandon became the second Chippewa to win MAC Freshman of the Year and Tom Anagnost was tabbed MAC Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
In addition to those awards, Chelsi Abbott, Mannino, Stephanie Martin, Valerie Prause and Liesel Toth were named first-team All-MAC while Brandon earned All-MAC second team honors. Brandon was also placed on the MAC All-Freshman team along with teammates Bethany Allport, Autumn Hawkins, Katie Slaughter and Laura Twidle.
“I am really proud of all the student-athletes who were recognized,” head coach Tom Anagnost said. “They were rewarded for all the hard work that they have put in this season. It is a testament of their commitment to improving themselves every day, which is the cornerstone of our program. They serve as great teachers to all our returners and newcomers that if you dedicate yourself to something, it can happen.”
Mannino led the MAC with a conference-record 14 solo shutouts and a 0.47 goals against average, seventh most among NCAA Division I goalkeepers. During CMU’s 13 consecutive shutouts this season, Mannino put together a personal shutout streak of 1134:36, the third longest ever recorded by a Division I goalkeeper. This is the first time Mannino has earned first-team All-MAC honors. She was named to the All-MAC second team in 2008.
Brandon is one of the top defenders on a CMU defense that leads the nation with 16 shutouts, two more than any other team in the country. The freshman is the first CMU player to win freshman of the year since Martin did it in 2006. In addition to her defensive play, Brandon finished tied for fifth on CMU with seven points on a goal and five assists (t-fifth in the MAC).
Anagnost has claimed MAC Coach of the Year both seasons since he began his tenure as head coach in 2008. After finishing second in the conference last year, Anagnost guided CMU to its first regular season MAC title in school history this fall. The Chippewas are 22-6-5 (.742 win percentage) and 15-2-5 (.795) in the MAC under Anagnost.
Abbott has started 12 of the 20 matches she has appeared in. The sophomore forward is second on the team with 12 points on five goals and two assists. Against MAC foes, Abbott posted 10 points (second in the conference) on four goals and two assists. She led the MAC with four game-winning goals in conference matches.
Martin is only the second player in program history to earn first-team All-MAC honors three times and the first since Rosa Rago (2004-06). Martin was slowed by injury to begin the season, but tallied five points on a goal and three assists in 14 contests. She is the Chippewas’ career scoring leader with 26 goals and 69 points.
Prause is fourth among her teammates with nine points on two goals and five assists (t-fifth in the MAC). She has also been a contributor to Central’s nation leading 16 shutouts. This is the first time that Prause has been named to the All-MAC team.
Toth is on the All-MAC first team as a sophomore after earning second-team and all-freshman honors in 2008. She is regarded as the top performer on a defense that posted 13 straight shutouts, tied for the second most in Division I history, and led the nation with 16 shutouts in 2009. Toth also contributed offensively with two goals, including one game-winner.
After missing all but three matches in 2008 due to injury, Allport has appeared in all 20 of CMU’s contests and started all but one on CMU’s MAC-leading defense. She also contributed a goal to the Chippewa attack.
Hawkins has started all 20 of the Chippewas’ contests this fall and registered four points on a goal and two assists (t-fifth on the team). She has fired 21 shots, eight of which have been on goal.
Slaughter has been a key contributor off the bench to CMU’s defense. She has played in all 20 matches and made one start. She has also tallied three points on a goal and an assist.
Twidle led the Chippewas with 16 points (t-third in the MAC) on seven goals (t-second) and two assists. She also tallied three game-winning goals (t-third).
The Chippewas host the semifinals and finals of the MAC Tournament this weekend. Central hosts Toledo in the semifinals on Friday at 11 a.m.
Shay Mannino was named the MAC’s first Defensive Player of the Year, Bailey Brandon became the second Chippewa to win MAC Freshman of the Year and Tom Anagnost was tabbed MAC Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
In addition to those awards, Chelsi Abbott, Mannino, Stephanie Martin, Valerie Prause and Liesel Toth were named first-team All-MAC while Brandon earned All-MAC second team honors. Brandon was also placed on the MAC All-Freshman team along with teammates Bethany Allport, Autumn Hawkins, Katie Slaughter and Laura Twidle.
“I am really proud of all the student-athletes who were recognized,” head coach Tom Anagnost said. “They were rewarded for all the hard work that they have put in this season. It is a testament of their commitment to improving themselves every day, which is the cornerstone of our program. They serve as great teachers to all our returners and newcomers that if you dedicate yourself to something, it can happen.”
Mannino led the MAC with a conference-record 14 solo shutouts and a 0.47 goals against average, seventh most among NCAA Division I goalkeepers. During CMU’s 13 consecutive shutouts this season, Mannino put together a personal shutout streak of 1134:36, the third longest ever recorded by a Division I goalkeeper. This is the first time Mannino has earned first-team All-MAC honors. She was named to the All-MAC second team in 2008.
Brandon is one of the top defenders on a CMU defense that leads the nation with 16 shutouts, two more than any other team in the country. The freshman is the first CMU player to win freshman of the year since Martin did it in 2006. In addition to her defensive play, Brandon finished tied for fifth on CMU with seven points on a goal and five assists (t-fifth in the MAC).
Anagnost has claimed MAC Coach of the Year both seasons since he began his tenure as head coach in 2008. After finishing second in the conference last year, Anagnost guided CMU to its first regular season MAC title in school history this fall. The Chippewas are 22-6-5 (.742 win percentage) and 15-2-5 (.795) in the MAC under Anagnost.
Abbott has started 12 of the 20 matches she has appeared in. The sophomore forward is second on the team with 12 points on five goals and two assists. Against MAC foes, Abbott posted 10 points (second in the conference) on four goals and two assists. She led the MAC with four game-winning goals in conference matches.
Martin is only the second player in program history to earn first-team All-MAC honors three times and the first since Rosa Rago (2004-06). Martin was slowed by injury to begin the season, but tallied five points on a goal and three assists in 14 contests. She is the Chippewas’ career scoring leader with 26 goals and 69 points.
Prause is fourth among her teammates with nine points on two goals and five assists (t-fifth in the MAC). She has also been a contributor to Central’s nation leading 16 shutouts. This is the first time that Prause has been named to the All-MAC team.
Toth is on the All-MAC first team as a sophomore after earning second-team and all-freshman honors in 2008. She is regarded as the top performer on a defense that posted 13 straight shutouts, tied for the second most in Division I history, and led the nation with 16 shutouts in 2009. Toth also contributed offensively with two goals, including one game-winner.
After missing all but three matches in 2008 due to injury, Allport has appeared in all 20 of CMU’s contests and started all but one on CMU’s MAC-leading defense. She also contributed a goal to the Chippewa attack.
Hawkins has started all 20 of the Chippewas’ contests this fall and registered four points on a goal and two assists (t-fifth on the team). She has fired 21 shots, eight of which have been on goal.
Slaughter has been a key contributor off the bench to CMU’s defense. She has played in all 20 matches and made one start. She has also tallied three points on a goal and an assist.
Twidle led the Chippewas with 16 points (t-third in the MAC) on seven goals (t-second) and two assists. She also tallied three game-winning goals (t-third).
The Chippewas host the semifinals and finals of the MAC Tournament this weekend. Central hosts Toledo in the semifinals on Friday at 11 a.m.
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