Rice Soccer Award Winners Announced
12/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Dec. 7, 2008
HOUSTON -- Eight members of the Rice soccer team earned awards at the team's annual postseason banquet Sunday (Dec. 7), including junior midfielder Shelley Wong as the 2008 Player of the Year, announced the Owls' head coach Chris Huston.
Wong was honored along with teammates Amy Beger, Stephanie Crain, Meghan Erkel, Jordan Holloway, Christine Petric, Jessica Ross and Hope Ward. All the honorees were determined by a player vote, but there was also recognition to team's individual statistical leaders and team captain.
Wong, a junior from Virginia Beach, Va., won a total of three awards at the banquet including Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and as the Leading Goals Scorer. The quick midfielder scored a team-best nine goals to rank among the Conference USA statistical leaders. Wong scored two more goals in a game three times and registered game-winning goals against Tulsa and Marshall. Wong maintained a .487 shots-on-goal percentage for the entire season and .545 percentage against the league. In addition to playing 93.6 percent of the team's C-USA minutes, she earned two C-USA Player of the Week awards and was named to the Academic All-District team.
Defensive Player of the Year honors went to sophomore Stephanie Crain. The Round Rock, Tex., native bounced back from a season-ending injury in 2007 to play in 18 games with 16 starts on defense. Crain helped the Owls' backline limit opponents to just 14.8 shots per C-USA game. Her defensive work-rate and leadership were critical as Rice has had three starting defenders injured and out of the lineup since mid-September. Crain played more than 105 minutes twice, including a career-long 109 minutes in the double-overtime win against C-USA foe Tulsa. Overall she played 90 minutes (or more) nine different times.
The Owls' Rookie of the Year went to freshman Amy Beger, a versatile player from Saint Charles, Missouri. Beger finished a solid first collegiate season starting at both forward and defender. The dynamic true freshman was fourth on the team shots (39) and maintained a .487 shots-on-goal percentage. She registered assists against SMU, Tulsa and Marshall and averaged 81.2 minutes per C-USA game.
Goalkeeper Meghan Erkel earned the Warrior Award, given annually to the Owl who unselfishly plays with the most heart and desire in both practices and games. The standout from Granite Bay, Calif., started 18 games in goal where she maintained a 1.38 goals-against average. She recorded 87 saves on the year with a .791 saves-percentage. Erkel notched a complete game shutout at Oklahoma and helped the Owls post the program's sixth-straight winning record (10-9).
Sophomore Jordan Holloway was the recipient of the annual Who's Hoo Award as the player who sparks the team or makes the most immediate impact when entering the game. Holloway played in 17 games, but the defender from Carrollton, Tex., also worked her way into the starting lineup three times.
The Iron Owl Award is presented by the Rice Strength & Conditioning staff to the team's top performer in the weight room. Junior Jessica Ross won the 2007 award as one of the strongest female student-athletes on campus and her status did not change in 2008. Ross sets a great example for the soccer team in the weight room and she powered her way for a C-USA road goal at UAB.
Freshman Hope Ward was recognized as the team's statistical assists leader. The newcomer from Kingwood tallied seven assists to finish among the C-USA league leaders. It was the most assists by a Rice freshman since the C-USA championship season of 2005.
Senior Christine Petric earned special distinction from her teammates and coaches for her service as the Owls' lone team captain. Not only was Petric one of just three players to start every game, the midfield standout from Colleyville, Tex., played in more than 84 percent of the team's total minutes.
In its eighth season as a varsity sport, Rice soccer has become one of the top teams in the conference and respected by programs throughout the region. The Owls had the honor of serving as the host of the 2008 C-USA Tournament at the end of the regular season. The soccer team's full list of award winners is below.
2008 Rice Owls Soccer Award Winners
Player of the Year: Shelley Wong
Offensive MVP: Shelley Wong
Defensive MVP: Stephanie Crain
Rookie of the Year: Amy Beger
Who's Hoo: Jordan Holloway
Iron Owl: Jessica Ross
Warrior Award: Meghan Erkel
Leading Goal Scorer: Shelley Wong
Leader in Assists: Hope Ward
