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University of Massachusets Athletics
Seven Soccer Players Honored By Conference Head Coaches
July 23, 2001 | Men's Soccer
July 23, 2001
AMHERST, Mass. - Five University of Massachusetts women's soccer and two men's soccer players were honored by the Atlantic 10 Conference head coaches, garnering either preseason all-conference or all-rookie team honors.
On the women's side, senior defender Sarah Cook (Cincinnati, Ohio) and goalkeeper Julie Podhrasky (Dallas, Texas) were joined by junior midfielder Martha Conover (Liverpool, N.Y.) on the all-conference team, while incoming freshmen forwards Stephanie Santos (Ludlow, Mass.) and Erica Wideberg (Randolph, N.J.) were selected to the All-Rookie Team.
Cook, a 2000 first team all-conference selection, led a Minutewomen defense that allowed a mere 20 goals in 19 games last season. Podhrasky, the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2000, posted a 7-7 mark with a .795 save percentage and 1.31 goals against average in her first season in the Marron & White. Conover, a second team all-conference selection last season, had a career-high three goals and nine points to finish sixth in team scoring.
Santos, a four-time all-Western Massachusetts and two time all-New England and state player, had 28 goals and 26 assists to lead the Ludlow Lions to the Massachusetts State Championship in 2000. Wideberg, a two-time all-state and four-time all-area and county player, also led her high school to the state championship title, scoring a career-high 25 goals with 15 assists last year.
On the men's side, senior defender J.R. Pouncey (Houston, Texas), an All-Atlantic 10 selection last season, was the lone Minuteman to be named to the preseason squad. A three-year co-captain, Pouncey was named the team's most valuable player in 2000, as he led a UMass defense which allowed a conference-low 19 goals.
Incoming freshman midfielder Travis Cooke (Castleton, N.Y.) was selected to the A-10 All-Rookie team by the conference coaches. A recent graduate of Maple Hill High School, Cooke was a three-year member of the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program.
- UMASS -