Hawkins Named to the Second Team All-Conference USA
11/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Nov. 2, 2004
Senior midfielder Nikki Hawkins, who wrapped up her collegiate year at Houston as the program's all-time leader in goals, game-winning goals and points, was named to the Second Team All-Conference USA Team, it was announced today, Nov. 2, one day before the start of the 10th-annual C-USA Tournament. The awards are selected by the league's head women's soccer coaches.
Hawkins claims the honor for the third consecutive year. She was named to the Second Team All-C-USA in 2002, and to the First Team last year. She earned C-USA Offensive Player of the Week honors earlier this season for the week of Sept. 13 after tallying a total of 11 shots, including a career-high eight against the Bearkats.
In addition, her 26 points on the 2004 campaign are a career high, ranking her second among C-USA leaders and are the most by a Cougar player ever in school history. She has recorded 63 points during her four-year career and is the program's all-time leader. Hawkins'11 goals on the year are the most recorded in a single season by a Cougar since the 2000 campaign, and the second-most in program history.
Coming off their first regular season title since 1999, the top-seeded and tournament host Saint Louis Billikens were well represented in the individual awards. Head Coach Tim Champion earned Coach of the Year honors after guiding his squad to a 9-1 record in league play, while Billiken defender Courtney Hulcer was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Midfielder Dee Guempel and goalkeeper Amanda Martin joined Hulcer on the All C-USA First Team.
UAB forward Tara Kidwell is the first Blazer in school history to be named the league's Offensive Player of the Year. The senior leads C-USA in goals (13) and points (31) entering the tournament. Kidwell was also the top goal scorer in league games this season with nine. Kidwell was joined by teammate Brianna McCarty on the All C-USA First Team.
Charlotte midfielder Lindsey Beam garners the league's Freshman of the Year honor after leading the 49ers in goals (5), assists (5) and points (15) this season. She is third 49er rookie to earn the top freshman accolade (Courtney Crandell, 2002; and Jill Currie, 1997). Beam also earned spots on the second-team All C-USA squad and All-Freshman team.
Joining Hulcer, Guempel, Morris, Kidwell and McCarty on the league's first team are Louisville forward Jamie Craft, East Carolina forward Meghan McCallion, DePaul midfielder Julianne Sitch, Marquette midfielder Julie Thompson, and defenders Gina Lower of Louisville and Leanne McGee of Memphis.
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McCallion and Sitch, who was the conference's Offensive Player of the Year in 2003, both earned first team all-league honors a season ago. Craft was the league's Freshman of the Year in 2003.
Saint Louis had the most All-Conference selections with five and was the only team to place three players on the all-league first team. Marquette, UAB and USF each had four all-conference picks, with UAB putting two players on the first team squad.
2004 CONFERENCE USA WOMEN'S SOCCER AWARDS
All C-USA First Team
F, Jamie Craft, Louisville
F, Tara Kidwell, UAB
F, Meghan McCallion, East Carolina
MF, Dee Guempel, Saint Louis
MF, Julianne Sitch, DePaul
MF, Julie Thompson, Marquette
D, Courtney Hulcer, Saint Louis
D, Gina Lower, Louisville
D, Leanne McGee, Memphis
D, Brianna McCarty, UAB
GK, Amanda Martin, Saint Louis
All C-USA Second Team
F, Jamie Perry, Saint Louis
F, Jessie Moore, TCU
MF, Lindsey Beam, Charlotte
MF, Jenny Rynders, UAB
MF, Katie Reed, USF
MF, Kelly Ferguson, Saint Louis
MF, Nikki Hawkins, Houston
D, Renee Balconi, USF
D, Ashley George, Marquette
D, Jill Leeder, Charlotte
GK, Katie Bissen, Marquette
All C-USA Third Team
F, Meghan Connelly, Marquette
F, Lauren Prewitt, Southern Miss
F, Carla Scanniello, Memphis
MF, Jackie Obert, Tulane
MF, Erin Walter, DePaul
MF, Stacci Sastre, USF
MF, Melissa Savage, Memphis
D, Rachel Cabecerias, East Carolina
D, Pam Cooney, UAB
D, Amy Seng, Louisville
GK, Breck Bankester, USF
All-Freshman Team
Jen Avila, Louisville
Lindsey Beam, Charlotte
Jennifer Dyer, DePaul
Monique Gjini, Louisville
Natalie Haerens, Memphis
Maureen Kole, Marquette
Sally Palmer, UAB
Jill Porto, UAB
Erica Robinson, Louisville
Carla Scanniello, Memphis
Cassi Winchell, Saint Louis
Shannon VanMatre, Saint Louis
Coach of the Year
Tim Champion, Saint Louis
Offensive Player of the Year
Tara Kidwell, UAB
Defensive Player of the Year
Courtney Hulcer, Saint Louis
Freshman of the Year
Lindsey Beam, Charlotte
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