Nov. 6, 1997
Sobrero Named Big East Defensive Player of the Year
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Seton Hall's Kelly Smith was named the 1997 BIG EAST Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year
and Rookie of the Year while Notre Dame's Kate Sobrero received Defensive Player of the Year honors. Smith's mentor at
Seton Hall, Betty Ann Kempf, was named Coach of the Year.
|
|
Kate Sobrero anchored a stingy Irish defense in '97.
|
Smith, a sophomore forward from Garston Watford Herts, England, is in her first year of collegiate competition. She is the
first player to earn Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year accolades in the same season. She finished the
season with 24 goals and six assists for 54 points in 14 games. In 10 conference games, Smith compiled 18 goals and 41
points, both BIG EAST single-season records. Her season was highlighted by a nine-game scoring streak during which she
scored 16 goals and added four assists for 36 points.
Sobrero, a senior back from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., anchored a Notre Dame defense which allowed just 66 shots and
five goals in 19 regular season games. A three-time all-American, she finished the season with two goals and eight assists
for 12 points.
Kempf, in her fourth year as head coach, guided the Pirates from an eighth-place conference finish one year ago to a
third-place finish in '97. The Pirates broke school records for wins (14), shots (256), goals (45), assists (23), points (113)
and shutouts (eight) in a season. Kempf holds a 35-33-3 career record.
In addition to Smith and Sobrero, the All-BIG EAST First Team features nine other players, all from the four teams in the
BIG EAST Championship. Freshman forward Jen Carlson, junior midfielder Jennifer Tietjen and senior forward/defender
Sara Whalen represent Connecticut, while Notre Dame placed freshman forward Meotis Erikson, sophomore back Jen
Grubb, freshman midfielder Anne Makinen, senior midfielder Holly Manthei and sophomore goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene
on the squad. Villanova senior midfielder Maura McGhee rounds out the team.
1997 Big East Women's Soccer Regular Season Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Kelly Smith, So., F, Seton Hall
Defensive Player of the Year: Kate Sobrero, Sr., B, Notre Dame
Rookie of the Year: Kelly Smith, So., F, Seton Hall
Coach of the Year: Ann Kempf, Seton Hall
All-BIG EAST First Team:
LaKeysia Beene, So., GK, Notre Dame
Jen Carlson, Fr., F, Connecticut
Jennifer Tietjen, Jr., M, Connecticut
* Sara Whalen, Sr., F, Connecticut
Meotis Erikson, Fr., F, Notre Dame
Jen Grubb, So., B, Notre Dame
Anne Makinen, Fr., M, Notre Dame
Holly Manthei, Sr., M, Notre Dame
Kate Sobrero, Sr., B, Notre Dame
Kelly Smith, So., F, Seton Hall
Maura McGhee, Sr., M, Villanova
All-BIG EAST Second Team:
Courtney Schaeffer, Fr., GK, Boston College
Sarah Barnes, Sr., M, Connecticut
Liz Delgado, Fr., M, Georgetown
Shannon Boxx, Jr., M, Notre Dame
Uchenna Bright, So., M, Rutgers
Shannon Nagle, Fr., F, Rutgers
Francesca DeCristoforo, Sr., B, St. John's
Courtney Wood, Jr., M, Seton Hall
Erin O'Grady, Fr., F, Syracuse
Beth McCaffery, Sr., B, Villanova
Stacey Sollmann, So., B, West Virginia
BIG EAST All-Rookie Team:
Courtney Schaeffer, Fr., GK, Boston College
Jen Carlson, Fr., F, Connecticut
* Lauren Molinaro, Fr., M, Connecticut
Liz Delgado, Fr., M, Georgetown
Meotis Erikson, Fr., F, Notre Dame
Anne Makinen, Fr., M, Notre Dame
Shannon Nagle, Fr., F, Rutgers
Jaime Clark, Fr., M, St. John's
* Kelly Smith, So., F, Seton Hall
Erin O'Grady, Fr., F, Syracuse
Vanessa Heppeler, Fr., M, West Virginia
