HOST OF SOCCER SKYHAWKS HEADLINE POSTSEASON ACCOLADES
11/1/2018 8:00:00 PM | Soccer
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team has garnered a total of 10 Ohio Valley Conference postseason accolades as Amy McGivern claimed Offensive Player of the Year, Kaci Mitchell took home Defensive Player of the Year and Phil McNamara was awarded the Coach of the Year honor. McGivern, Mitchell, Danae Kaldaridou and Erica Myers were named to the All-OVC first team, Skylor Keane was named to the All-OVC second team and All-OVC Newcomer team while Sam Kelly was named to the All-OVC Newcomer team.
This season's 10 postseason awards marks the most in program history as the 2012 season saw nine Skyhawks (including McNamara) claim awards. This also marks the first time in school history that the team has claimed Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Coach of the Year awards in the same season while the four first team selections ties the 2012 squad for the most in a single season.
"What a night for UT Martin soccer," McNamara said. "We have six different players being recognized for their quality and consistency over the course of the season. Our staff is thankful and delighted for these individual players. We have enjoyed top level performances from many players this season and thankful our coaching peers in the OVC acknowledge that quality by selecting so many of our players for conference honors."
A Drumaness, Northern Ireland native, McGivern was outstanding throughout the OVC as she paced the league in points (27), goals (13) and game-winning goals (five). In conference play alone, she led the way in shots (47), points (25), goals (12) and game-winning goals (four). The senior midfielder garnered a pair of OVC Offensive Player of the Week honors as well as a Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women's Soccer Player of the Week award after she netted a total of five goals between the matches against Belmont and Austin Peay.
"I am so excited for Amy being named Offensive Player of the Year," McNamara said. "To score 13 goals from the center midfield position is simply outstanding. The range of goals Amy has scored this season including headers, late runs into the box, 1-on-1's and one touch finishes is absolutely first class. Amy has been a powerhouse this season and a great leader and captain for our team."
A defender out of Oak Ridge, Tenn., Mitchell has provided a great wealth of experience on the UT Martin back line. She has been a key piece of a Skyhawk defense that has allowed a mere 0.76 goals per contest and just 7.1 shots per match. She has played a total of 1,286 minutes on the pitch while also garnering an OVC Defensive Player of the Week award after the Skyhawks produced a 3-0 shutout over SIUE and forced a 0-0 draw against Eastern Illinois.
"We are delighted for Kaci, a fifth-year senior who has worked and played through some difficult major injuries during her UT Martin career," McNamara said. "Kaci has been fantastic this season and extremely well deserving of her OVC Defensive Player of the Year honor."
McNamara is in his ninth year as the head coach of the Skyhawks and has earned his second Coach of the Year honor (previously winning the award in 2012). He has led the program to its most victories in a regular season (14) while matching his 2011 team that won a total of 14 matches (postseason included). He has notched a total of 89 wins over his tenure at UT Martin and oversaw a 2018 Skyhawk squad that shot up in the national polls by ranking eighth in the South Region of the United Soccer Coaches Poll and 65th in the nation based off of the team's RPI.
Myers proved to be the league's most efficient goalkeeper as she posted a conference-best 0.64 goals against average. She also made a total of 29 saves in over 1,129 minutes played in goal while also racking up nine victories and six shutouts on the season.
Kaldaridou also made her case for the first team nod as she ranked in the top-10 in the OVC in shots (45), points (15) and assists (three). She was also a force in the UT Martin midfielder corps that held opposing offenses at bay.
Making a splash in her first year of collegiate soccer, Keane broke into the top-10 in the OVC in several categories including points (18), goals (seven), assists (four) and game-winning goals (three). She proved to be a difference-maker for UT Martin as she was a pivotal piece to the Skyhawks' comeback victory over Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 19, scoring twice in just 55 seconds to help UT Martin clinch the regular season OVC Championship.
Kelly ranked eighth in the OVC in assists (three) while also tallying a trio of goals. She also chipped in three goals and a pair of game-winning goals on the year to add strength at the forward position, netting game-winners against Jackson State (Aug. 26) and at OVC rival Southeast Missouri (Sept. 16).
"I believe we could have selected several additional players for honors due to the balance, work ethic and quality of the squad this season," McNamara said. "It really has been such a team effort and certainly one of the main aspects for our success on the season. As happy as we are for these six players, it is time to look forward to the main event of the season and getting ready for our matchup with Eastern Kentucky tomorrow evening in the OVC Soccer Championship semifinal. Tomorrow a new season begins and we hope for additional honors not only for these six players but for our other players who have been every bit as important to our success from our squad."
UT Martin has claimed the 2018 OVC regular season championship and is set to host Eastern Kentucky in the conference tournament semifinals on Friday, Nov. 2 with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. at Skyhawk Field.
This season's 10 postseason awards marks the most in program history as the 2012 season saw nine Skyhawks (including McNamara) claim awards. This also marks the first time in school history that the team has claimed Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Coach of the Year awards in the same season while the four first team selections ties the 2012 squad for the most in a single season.
"What a night for UT Martin soccer," McNamara said. "We have six different players being recognized for their quality and consistency over the course of the season. Our staff is thankful and delighted for these individual players. We have enjoyed top level performances from many players this season and thankful our coaching peers in the OVC acknowledge that quality by selecting so many of our players for conference honors."
A Drumaness, Northern Ireland native, McGivern was outstanding throughout the OVC as she paced the league in points (27), goals (13) and game-winning goals (five). In conference play alone, she led the way in shots (47), points (25), goals (12) and game-winning goals (four). The senior midfielder garnered a pair of OVC Offensive Player of the Week honors as well as a Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women's Soccer Player of the Week award after she netted a total of five goals between the matches against Belmont and Austin Peay.
"I am so excited for Amy being named Offensive Player of the Year," McNamara said. "To score 13 goals from the center midfield position is simply outstanding. The range of goals Amy has scored this season including headers, late runs into the box, 1-on-1's and one touch finishes is absolutely first class. Amy has been a powerhouse this season and a great leader and captain for our team."
A defender out of Oak Ridge, Tenn., Mitchell has provided a great wealth of experience on the UT Martin back line. She has been a key piece of a Skyhawk defense that has allowed a mere 0.76 goals per contest and just 7.1 shots per match. She has played a total of 1,286 minutes on the pitch while also garnering an OVC Defensive Player of the Week award after the Skyhawks produced a 3-0 shutout over SIUE and forced a 0-0 draw against Eastern Illinois.
"We are delighted for Kaci, a fifth-year senior who has worked and played through some difficult major injuries during her UT Martin career," McNamara said. "Kaci has been fantastic this season and extremely well deserving of her OVC Defensive Player of the Year honor."
McNamara is in his ninth year as the head coach of the Skyhawks and has earned his second Coach of the Year honor (previously winning the award in 2012). He has led the program to its most victories in a regular season (14) while matching his 2011 team that won a total of 14 matches (postseason included). He has notched a total of 89 wins over his tenure at UT Martin and oversaw a 2018 Skyhawk squad that shot up in the national polls by ranking eighth in the South Region of the United Soccer Coaches Poll and 65th in the nation based off of the team's RPI.
Myers proved to be the league's most efficient goalkeeper as she posted a conference-best 0.64 goals against average. She also made a total of 29 saves in over 1,129 minutes played in goal while also racking up nine victories and six shutouts on the season.
Kaldaridou also made her case for the first team nod as she ranked in the top-10 in the OVC in shots (45), points (15) and assists (three). She was also a force in the UT Martin midfielder corps that held opposing offenses at bay.
Making a splash in her first year of collegiate soccer, Keane broke into the top-10 in the OVC in several categories including points (18), goals (seven), assists (four) and game-winning goals (three). She proved to be a difference-maker for UT Martin as she was a pivotal piece to the Skyhawks' comeback victory over Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 19, scoring twice in just 55 seconds to help UT Martin clinch the regular season OVC Championship.
Kelly ranked eighth in the OVC in assists (three) while also tallying a trio of goals. She also chipped in three goals and a pair of game-winning goals on the year to add strength at the forward position, netting game-winners against Jackson State (Aug. 26) and at OVC rival Southeast Missouri (Sept. 16).
"I believe we could have selected several additional players for honors due to the balance, work ethic and quality of the squad this season," McNamara said. "It really has been such a team effort and certainly one of the main aspects for our success on the season. As happy as we are for these six players, it is time to look forward to the main event of the season and getting ready for our matchup with Eastern Kentucky tomorrow evening in the OVC Soccer Championship semifinal. Tomorrow a new season begins and we hope for additional honors not only for these six players but for our other players who have been every bit as important to our success from our squad."
UT Martin has claimed the 2018 OVC regular season championship and is set to host Eastern Kentucky in the conference tournament semifinals on Friday, Nov. 2 with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. at Skyhawk Field.
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