Judson soccer players garner several honors
Picking up her second defensive award in three weeks, sophomore Alice Phoneprasith, a Larkin graduate, was given the CCAC Defensive Player of the Week award. She helped JU to a 2-0 record this past week.
Phoneprasith recorded her second shutout of the year with a 4-0 win over Cardinal Stritch to preserve a 6-3 CCAC record. She had two saves in the win. Then, vs. Olivet Nazarene, in the CCAC quarterfinal tournament match, she stopped four shots in 96 minutes of play and had two key saves in the final 20 minutes of regulation to help move the game to overtime. The win was the first for JU in the CCAC Tournament in the history of the program.
Vestal earns honor: For the second week in a row, a Judson University soccer player has been named the NCCAA (National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association) National Player of the Week. Last week, men's soccer player Gustavo Oliveira was named the men's NCCAA National Player of the Week.
Senior women's soccer player Samantha Vestal was given this award for her performance last week in two matches. She scored the game-winning goal in OT vs. Olivet Nazarene in a CCAC quarterfinal match in 96th minute on a free kick from 25-yards out. She took two shots vs. ONU with both on goal. The win is the first-ever for Judson in CCAC Tournament. She recorded two goals and two assists in 4-0 win over Cardinal Stritch to help JU to a 6-3 record in the CCAC and a tie for fourth. With the three goals last week, she is now 2nd all-time at Judson in career goals (44) and is currently also second in assists (32), and points (120).
Three players named All-CCAC: Garnering three awards for the CCAC, Judson University had three players named to the All-CCAC teams. JU finished tied for fourth with a 6-3 record.
Sophomore Christina Thornton, a Dundee-Crown graduate, sophomore Emma Mugg and senior Amy Jenkins were all named to a CCAC team. Thornton was named to the All-CCAC first-team for the second year in a row while both Mugg and Jenkins were All-CCAC honorable mention.
Thornton, who leads the CCAC in goals per game (1.07), is also third in points (36). She has scored two or more goals in six matches and recorded three goals vs. Bethel College. She also had the game-winning goal over then No. 12 Trinity Christian College. This is the second year in a row she has been named All-CCAC first team and goes along with being the 2006 CCAC Freshman of the Year. She now sits third all-time on JU's career list for goals at 39 and fourth in points with 92.