The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Palmer, Porto Receive All-Region Awards
12/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Dec. 28, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB women's soccer seniors Sally Palmer and Jill Porto have racked up a trio of all-region honors between them.
Palmer was named to the third team All-Southeast Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), while Porto pulled in two awards by being listed on the NSCAA's second team all-region and third team All-Southeast Region by SoccerBuzz.
Palmer was a four-year starter at forward for the Blazers and tallied a team-high eight goals, four assists and 20 points in 2007. In Conference USA games, Palmer led the league in game-winning goals (4) and was second in goals (6) and points (15).
Palmer, who was also named a team captain as a senior, etched her named in the UAB career record books in multiple categories, including tying for first in game-winning goals (11) and ranking third in goals (28) and fourth in both points (71) and shots (160).
A first-team All-Conference USA pick in 2007, this marks Palmer's second consecutive all-region honor from the NSCAA.
Porto was another four-year starter for the Blazers, racking up four goals, two assists and 10 points, while leading C-USA in shots per game with 3.68 as a senior in 2007. All four of her goals, and nine of her 10 points, came against league opponents this past year.
Porto has also put her name in the Blazer record books by setting a new school record for shots with 260 career shots taken. She also tied for fourth in both goals (25) and game-winning goals (7) and ranks ninth in points (60).
Also a first-team All-C-USA selection as a senior, this is Porto's second all-region honor from both the NSCAA and SoccerBuzz.
Palmer and Porto were two of just five Conference USA players to earn a spot on the NSCAA All-Southeast Region teams, while Porto was one of four C-USA players to make it on SoccerBuzz's all-region teams.
"Jill and Sally have had a tremendously positive impact on our program over the last four years," said UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "In addition to being excellent players, they are both wonderful people as well.
"While we know how important they have been to us, it's great to see them both recognized by opposing coaches as being among some of the best players in the country."
There have been seven UAB women's soccer players that have made their way onto the NSCAA all-region teams in the program's 12-year history. Those players include Nasra Abdullah (2005), Tara Kidwell (2002-04), Briana McCarty (2003-04), Sally Palmer (2006-07), Jill Porto (2005, 2007), Jenny Rynders (2004) and Vanessa Woodward (1997-99).
In addition, seven Blazers have been elected to SoccerBuzz's all-region squads in the past, including Tara Kidwell (2002-04), Briana McCarty (2001, 2003-04), Denise Peters (2001), Sally Palmer (2006), Jill Porto (2004, 2007), Jenny Rynders (2004) and Vanessa Woodward (1996-99).
