Gulf South Conference
 Soccer Tournament
 

John B. Hunt Soccer Complex
Huntsville, Alabama
November 8-9, 2003
Field #1
 

        Christian Brothers University Women win 2002 Division II National Soccer Championship
(click to read article)
 
 

MEN:

UCA WINS FIRST GSC MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

Central Arkansas 2 - West Florida 1
     Huntsville, AL- In yet another nail-biting exciting match Central Arkansas(15-1-2) defeated West Florida (13-5-1), 2-1 to win their first-ever GSC Men's Soccer Tournament. The match featured close plays, a disputed call and unbelievable saves but finally in the 89th minute of the 2nd half, UCA's Danny George scored the game-winning goal.
    George, along with teammates Brock Dickinson( MVP) and Ryan Lawrence, were named to the All-Tournament Team. West Florida's only goal came in the first minute of the first half by Mauricio Toro to take a 1-0 lead. Toro, Jonathan Sampson, Jon Hargis and Stephen Pait also made the All-Tournament team.

 2002 GSC MEN'S ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP-Brock Dickinson, UCA

Danny George, UCA
Ryan Lawrence, UCA
Jon Hargis, UWF
Jonathan Sampson, UWF
Stephen Pait, UWF
Mauricio Toro, UWF
Kevin Garney's UM
Joe Ward, UM
Sigi Flosason, CBU
Ian Ford, CBU

WOMEN:

CBU EARNS THIRD STRAIGHT GSC WOMEN’S SOCCER TITLE

Christian Brothers 5 - West Florida 1
     Huntsville, AL—On a rain soaked Sunday, No.1 seed Christian Brothers (18-1-0) defeated No.2 West Florida (15-3-1), 5-1, for their third straight Gulf South Conference Women’s Soccer Championship at the John Hunt Soccer Complex.
    CBU is the first school in GSC history to successfully win three straight Championships.
    Tournament Most Outstanding Player Missy Gregg led the Lady Bucs with two goals. For the tournament, Gregg had five goals and one assist. She and teammates Sofia Rask, Veronica Botold and Margaret Saurin also made the GSC All-Tournament team.
     West Florida's only goal came from Waynesha Bean in the 40th minute of the first half. Bean and teammates Tricia Cooper, Valeria Noppinger and Cecilia Marrero also made the All-Tournament Team.
     Both teams await an NCAA South Regional bid which will be announced next Monday November 11th.

Women's Semi-Finals

10:00 am UWF 2 -  UCA 0
1:00 pm CBU 5 - UAH 1

Women's Finals
12:00 pm CBU 5, UWF 1


Women's All-Tournament Team

Missy Gregg, CBU—MOP
Margaret Saurin, CBU
Sofia Rask, CBU
Veronica Botold, CBU
Waynesha Bean, UWF
Tricia Cooper, UWF
Valeria Noppinger, UWF
Ceilia Marrero, UWF
Lindsey Scheminar, UAH
Kara Pearson, UAH
Mandy Phisfer, UCA
Clare Koelling, UCA

Previews:

WOMEN:

      Two nationally-ranked teams, four regionally-ranked squads and some of the most talented players in the nation return to the Rocket City’s (Huntsville, AL) John B. Hunt Soccer Complex this weekend.
     The Conference Title is not the only teams have on their minds — the top three teams in the South Region earn berths to the NCAA South Region Tournament.
     Two-time defending champion Christian Brothers, No. 2 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top 25, wrapped up the top seed thanks to wins over Ouachita Baptist, 10-1, and Central Arkansas, 8-0. CBU, No. 1 in the South Region, seeks to become the first team in GSC history to capture three straight Titles.
     West Florida, No. 14 in the nation and No. 3 in the South Region, locked up the second seed, playing to a scoreless tie with Montevallo.
     No. 3 seed Central Arkansas, No. 8 in the South Region, earned its first-ever post-season berth thanks to a 2-0 shutout of Harding.
     No. 4 seed Alabama-Huntsville, tied for No. 6 in the South Region, played itself into the tournament with a 4-0 shutout versus in-state rival North Alabama.
     Individually, Christian Brothers returns the reigning NSCAA and GSC Player of the Year senior forward Missy Gregg.

MEN:

      It's anybody's guess who will win the 2002 GSC Men's Soccer Tournament. The number one seed Central Arkansas clinched its first ever GSC regular season title but  No. 2 seed West Florida, Christian Brothers (third) and Montevallo (fourth)   will not make UCA's title run an easy one.   All three have been to and won the GSC Championship in the last three years.
     Last year, defending champion West Florida dashed the title hopes for Montevallo, 5-2 and in the Finals defeated UCA, 2-1.  UCA ended 2000 champion CBU dreams of a repeat, upsetting the Buccaneers, 1-0.   Will West Florida repeat as champion? Or will some familiar faces take the crown?   One thing is certain, this will be an exciting Men's Tournament.
     The 2002 GSC Men's and Women's Soccer tournament will take place Nov. 2-3 at the John B. Hunt Soccer Complex in Huntsville, AL.  Saturday's competition will feature a quadruple-header starting with the Women's soccer matches at 10am and 1pm.  The Men's matches will be at 4:30pm and 7:30pm.
 

TICKET PRICES:
  • All-Sessions Passes: $12 adults, $6 students.
  • Single-day passes: $8/adults and $4/students.
  • Youth soccer players in uniform: $1.
  • Children five and younger will be admitted free with their parent or guardian.
  • All tickets are cash only - credit cards and checks will not be accepted.

 Youth Soccer Player  -  $1 Promotion

 

             All U6 - U18 soccer players in the North Alabama area are welcome to attend the Gulf South Conference Soccer Tournament for $1.  There will be four games on Saturday and two on Sunday.  To get in for $1 all the player has to do is wear his or her team uniform.  Parents and other family members will have to purchase a ticket.  This is quality college soccer.  Two of the women's teams are ranked regionally.
 
 

Game Day Match-Ups
 

WOMEN'S  SEMI-FINALS:
 

No. 2 WEST FLORIDA vs. No. 3 CENTRAL ARKANSAS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 10:00 AM

    A post-season veteran meets a post-season newcomer in the opening match of the Tournament.
    West Florida (14-2-1, 6-1-1) has never lost to Central Arkansas (10-8-0, 5-3-0), boasting a 5-0 record including a 5-0 road victory this season.
    The deck may be stacked in UWF’s favor. The Argonauts have captured the Conference crown three times, including back-to-back Titles in 1998-99. They have a 9-3 overall Tournament record and have made it to all six Championship matches. West Florida fell to Christian Brothers, 4-1, in last year’s final. UWF has a 2-1 record versus the Tournament field including a 2-1 at Alabama-Huntsville.
    A UCA victory would be icing on the cake in what has already been a landmark season. The Bears have set school records for wins in a season (10) and their five Conference victories this year are two more than they have totaled since their inaugural 1998 campaign. They are 1-2 versus the Tournament field, including a 3-2 win at UAH.
    KEY MATCH-UPS: West Florida is second in the GSC in points (10.82), goals (3.88) and assists (3.06). They boast the Conference’s second-ranked defense, giving up 1.00 goals per match behind seven shutouts. Central Arkansas ranks fourth in the league in goals per game (2.11), sixth in points (5.28) and seventh in assists (1.06).
    Senior midfielder/forward Tricia Cooper leads the Argonauts’ offense, placing second in the league in assists per match (1.00) and fourth points (1.94). Sophomore forward Mauricia Nicholson is fifth in goals (0.75) and sixth in points (1.75), while junior Waynesha Bean is eighth in goals (0.57). Goalkeeper Sharon Kerby is third in goals against average (1.26) and ninth in saves (1.19).
    UCA forward Mandy Pfister is one of the top freshmen in the GSC, 10th in points (1.31) and goals (0.50). Keeper Whitney Johnson is sixth in goals against average (2.02) and saves (3.24).

No. 1 CHRISTIAN BROTHERS vs. No. 4 ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1:00 PM


    Christian Brothers (17-1-0, 8-0-0) has history on its side when it faces Alabama-Huntsville (10-8-0, 4-4-0).
    CBU is 8-0-1 all-time versus UAH, including a 2-0 win this season. The Lady Buccaneers earned a 4-1 victory in the teams only Tournament meeting in 2000.
    Christian Brothers enters as the tournament favorite, seeking to become the first-ever team to win three consecutive league titles. They have a 4-3 GSC Tournament record in five appearances. The Conference crown would be just another stepping stone to a return trip to the NCAA Championship match which they lost last season (2-0 to UC-San Diego). They also earned wins over West Florida, 6-1, Central Arkansas, 8-0, this season.
    Alabama-Huntsville enters its third consecutive post-season tournament still searching for its first-ever victory.
    KEY MATCH-UPS: Christian Brothers leads the league in points (14.06), goals (5.44) and assists per match (3.17). They posted 10 shutouts this season and are first in goals allowed (0.50). Senior forward Missy Gregg is tops in the GSC in points (6.11) and goals (2.94). Senior forward Margaret Saurin ranks first in assists (1.56) and is second in points (3.44) and goals (0.94). Senior forward Tina Froberg (0.44) and junior midfielder Anna Rask (0.33) are fourth and 10th, respectively, in assists. Senior goalkeeper Jennifer Simon is tops in goals against average (0.63) and eighth in saves (1.67).
    UAH is third in the Conference in points (7.00), goals (2.35) and assists (2.29). They have the third-best defense, allowing 1.41 goals per match while posting five shutouts this year. Freshman forward Lindsey Schemenaur ranks third in points (2.06) and goals (0.82) and is fifth in assists (0.41). Freshman forward Katrina Smith is ninth in assists (0.35). Goalkeeper junior Kristina Freeman is second in goals against average (1.21) and seventh in saves (2.46).
 
 

MEN'S  SEMI-FINALS:
 

NO. 2 WEST FLORIDA VS NO. 3 CHRISTIAN BROTHERS
 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 4:30 PM


   The first semi-final match features second seeded and defending GSC tournament Champion West Florida(12-4-1,6-1) versus No. 3 seed Christian Brothers (7-8-2,4-2-1), the winner facing the winner of the Montevallo/Central Arkansas match for the GSC tournament title Sunday at 3:00pm.  UWF wrapped up the No. 2 seed via a 3-2 double overtime victory over Montevallo.   As of October 28th, UWF is ranked fourth in the South Region just behind Central Arkansas who is tied for second.

    Christian Brothers makes it fifth straight post-season appearance.  If they are to reach the NCAA Regional in 2002, they must make an impressive run in the tournament.  CBU came into last year's tournament as the number one seed only to lose a tough 1-0 semi-final match to UCA.   Last year's loss could be the motivation the Buccaneers need to carry them all the way to the GSC title.

KEY MATCHUPS: Can CBU stop the UWF offense? The Argonauts offense is ranked number one  the GSC in goals scored (2.19gpg.). The Buccaneers are second in the GSC in saves with 108 (7.71spg).    It will be junior goalkeeper Beau Lotz's (first in the GSC in saves, 94 and second in shutouts, 3) job to keep UWF junior forward Stephen Simmons (fourth in the GSC in goals, 7) and his teammates in check.  UCA and UWF face off in the first semi-final match beginning at 4:30pm at the John B. Hunt Soccer Complex.

   NO. 1 CENTRAL ARKANSAS VS NO. 4 MONTEVALLO
 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 7:30 PM


    Central Arkansas (13-1-2,7-0) and Montevallo (7-8-1,4-3-0)  are in a familiar place.   Both made the GSC tournament last year and both seek to avenge last year's disappointing losses.  This is UCA's first regular season title and number one seed.   UCA locked up the number one seed by defeating CBU, 3-0.

    Experience may be on Montevallo's side.  UM claimed the title in 1999 and seven players remain from that championship team.  UM is 5-4 all-time in the tournament(sixth over-all appreance) and has made the Finals three times.

KEY MATCHUPS: Defensively, UCA leads the GSC in three categories: shutouts(6), goals allowed (10, 0.71avg.)  and goals against average.  Junior goalkeepers Barrett Geist (0.55) and Adam Woznicki (0.75) are one and two in the GSC in goals against average.  They face a tough task in stopping UM sophomore defender Kevin Garneys, number one in points per match (1.57) and second in goals scored per match with eight (0.57 avg.).  UM and UCA kick off the second half of the men's soccer doubleheader at 7:30pm.
 

CBU’S GREGG AND UAH’S FREEMAN NAMED GSC PLAYER AND DEFENDER OF THE WEEK.

Christian Brothers forward Missy Gregg (5-11, SR, Centerville, OH) is the Gulf South Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Week, while Alabama-Huntsville goalkeeper Kristin Freeman (5-6, JR, Longwood, FL) is the Defender of the Week, respectively, for the period ending October 27.

Gregg collects her fifth award of the season, second in a row, after leading CBU to a 2-0 week and the top seed in the GSC Tournament. The senior scored seven goals and added two assists for a total of 16 points. Gregg netted three goals and dished-out two assists in a 10-1 victory over Ouachita Baptist. She capped off the week with a four-goal performance in an 8-0 win over Central Arkansas. The victories clinched the Lady Bucs third straight regular season crown.

Freeman is the second different UAH goalkeeper to earn honors this season. The junior notched five saves in a pair of shutout outings. She began the week stopping a shot in a 2-0 win over Martin Methodist. Freeman saved her best for last, posting four saves in a 4-0 shutout of in-state foe North Alabama. The UNA win gave the Chargers the number four seed in the GSC Tournament.

West Florida - Men's 2001 Champions
Christian Brothers - Women's 2001 Champions

www.gulfsouthconference.org