The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Turpin, Polcari Earn All-Conference Accolades
11/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 4, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB women's soccer team had two players earn All-Conference USA accolades, the league office announced Tuesday. Freshman forward Tiffini Turpin racked up a trio of awards, including Co-Freshman of the Year, first-team All-C-USA and All-Freshman team. Freshman midfielder Carolyn Polcari joined Turpin as a member of the All-Freshman squad.
"We are excited to see this kind of recognition for both Tiffini and Carolyn," said UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "We have a young, but talented team this year. Our emphasis is on the overall team. Our success comes from everyone working so well together and Tiffini and Carolyn are a large part of that."
A native of Birmingham, Ala., Turpin has been a force for the Blazers all season, leading the team in goals with seven, while also adding two assists for a total of 16 points. She has really come on during C-USA play, tying for the league lead in goals (6) in conference games.
Turpin had two multi-goal outings during the season, scoring two goals against both Rice and Houston. Her two goals and an assist in UAB's 5-2 win over Rice on Oct. 10 earned her C-USA Offensive Player of the Week honors, as well as a spot on the SoccerBuzz Elite Team of the Week.
"We're glad that Tiffini was honored with these awards," said Harbin. "She is a good representative of what our team is about. She is, without a doubt, one of the best players in the conference."
Polcari, a Richardson, Texas native, is either first or tied for first in C-USA in five categories during league play, including points (16), points per game (1.45), goals (6), goals per game (0.55) and game-winning goals (4). Her four game-winning goals also ties her for third in the UAB single-season record books in that category.
Coming off the bench for UAB, Polcari scored all of her points during conference games, helping the Blazers to a 4-1-2 record in the final seven games of the year to clinch their spot in the C-USA tournament.
"Carolyn has done a tremendous job this season," said Harbin. "She was willing to come off the bench and play that impact role for us. She does what it takes to help this team do well and it is good to see her recognized for that."
Memphis, which shared the regular-season title with East Carolina, picked up three individual awards, including Vendula Strnadova as Offensive Player of the Year and Midfielder of the Year. The Tigers' Lizzy Simonin joined Turpin as Co-Freshman of the Year.
East Carolina's Amber Campbell was selected as the league's Defensive Player of the Year. Rob Donnenwirth was honored as C-USA's Coach of the Year after leading the ECU to a share of the regular-season championship and a No. 1 seed in the upcoming league tournament.
The seventh-seeded Blazers will begin their play at the Conference USA Tournament on Wednesday when they play No. 2 Memphis. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT at the Rice Soccer Stadium in Houston, Texas. The match can be followed live on Gametracker by logging on to www.uabsports.com.
2008 C-USA WOMEN'S SOCCER AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year
Vendula Strnadova, Memphis
Defensive Player of the Year
Amber Campbell, East Carolina
Midfielder of the Year
Vendula Strnadova, Memphis
Co-Freshmen of the Year
Lizzy Simonin, Memphis
Tiffini Turpin, UAB
Coach of the Year
Rob Donnenwirth, East Carolina
All-Conference First Team
F: Erin Scott, Rice
F: Tameka Sumter, UTEP
F: Tiffini Turpin, UAB
MF: Vendula Strnadova, Memphis
MF: Becca Thomas, UCF
MF: Shelley Wong, Rice
D: Madison Keller, East Carolina
D: Nikki Moore, UCF
D: Kim Peabody, SMU
D: Molly Uyenishi, Colorado College
GK: Amber Campbell, East Carolina
All-Conference Second Team
F: Yvonne George, UCF
F: Kelly LaVoie, Colorado College
F: Sarah McFadden, Southern Miss
F: Lizzy Simonin, Memphis
MF: Kate Edwards, Rice
MF: Emiko Schwab, Memphis
MF: Chelsea Winbush, UTEP
D: Kelsey Bakker, Memphis
D: Alexa Coralli, Rice
D: Jessica Rathweg, Houston
D: Savanna Russo, East Carolina
GK: Aline Reis, UCF
All-Freshman Team
Kelsey Wise, MF, Colorado College
Caitlin Hulyo, GK, Colorado College
Amanda Malkiewicz, F, East Carolina
Stephanie Derieg, D, Houston
Angela DeSumma, F/MF, Marshall
*Lizzy Simonin, F, Memphis
Lizzy Hildebrandt, MF, Memphis
Hope Ward, F, Rice
Logan May, F, SMU
Carolyn Polcari, MF, UAB
*Tiffini Turpin, F, UAB
Stacie Hubbard, MF, UCF
Aline Reis, GK, UCF
*unanimous selection
