The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Pair of Blazers Earn All-Conference USA Accolades
10/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 31, 2006
IRVING, Texas - A pair of UAB women's soccer players picked up All-Conference USA honors, announced the league office Tuesday afternoon. Junior Sally Palmer and freshman Rachael Axon both nabbed a spot on the All-Conference USA second team, while Axon was also named to the conference All-Freshman squad.
Palmer has had a stellar junior season for the Blazers, playing in all 17 matches and starting in 16 of those contests. She led UAB in three categories, including goals (8), points (18) and game-winning goals (4), as well as tallying two assists. She also ranked among Conference USA's best in conference game stats, including first in goals (6), game-winning goals (3) and goals per game (0.67).
Palmer has stamped her name in the UAB record books, tying for third in single-season game-winning goals (4) and career game-winners (7). She also is 10th in Blazer soccer history in career points (49).
In just her first year as a Blazer, Axon stepped in and made her presence known. She competed in all 17 games, starting the majority of them. She led UAB in assists with three and finished the regular-season fourth on the squad in total points (3).
SMU, who claimed the C-USA regular-season championship, garnered the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors as well as Coach of the Year for head coach John Cossaboon.
The conference tournament kicks off on Wednesday, November 1. UAB, who is seeded seventh, will face UCF in the 5:30 p.m. match at Westcott Field on the campus of SMU.
2006 C-USA WOMEN'S SOCCER AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year
Olivia O'Rear, SMU
Defensive Player of the Year
Ashley Gunter, SMU
Freshman of the Year
Emily Beans, Colorado College
Newcomer of the Year
Maiko Higashiyama, Memphis
Coach of the Year
John Cossaboon, SMU
All-Conference First Team
F: Shoko Mikami, Memphis
F: Olivia O'Rear, SMU
F: Roberta Pelarigo, UCF
MF: Maiko Higashiyama, Memphis
MF: Sophia Mundy, Houston
MF: Hanna Wilde, UCF
D: Beth Martin, Rice
D: Kat Norris, East Carolina
D: Carley Phillips, SMU
D: Molly Uyenishi, Colorado College
GK: Ashley Gunter, SMU
All-Conference Second Team
F: Kimber Bailey, SMU
F: Emily Beans, Colorado College
F: Sally Palmer, UAB
MF: Rachael Axon, UAB
MF: Susanne Collins, SMU
MF: Anoop Josan, UTEP
D: Laura Barber, Rice
D: Nikki Moore, UCF
D: Kate Murphy, Memphis
GK: Amber Campbell, East Carolina
GK: Jennifer Manis, UCF
All-Freshman Team
Emily Beans, F, Colorado College
Sarah Kirkley, MF, East Carolina
Molly Snead, MF/F, Marshall
Erin Scott, F, Rice
Kim Peabody, F, SMU
Megan Cash, MF, Tulsa
Rachael Axon, D/MF, UAB
Nikki Moore, D, UCF
Becca Thomas, MF, UCF
Anoop Josan, F, UTEP
Tameka Sumter, F, UTEP
