Oct. 31, 2006
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - For the second straight year the UNLV women's soccer team placed a total of four players on the All-Mountain West Conference teams, as the league announced its year-end awards at the pre-conference tournament banquet on Tuesday night in Salt Lake City. Briana Kuhne was a first-team selection, while Erica Jensen, Armani Rice, and Tanya Roberts were all named to the all-conference second team. It was the first all-conference honor for Jensen, Kuhne and Rice.
Kuhne, a sophomore defender from San Diego, Calif., was one of three Rebels to appear in all 19 games, and was one of the top defenders on the team, helping the Rebels give up just 23 goals and post a 1.17 team GAA, while also recording seven team shutouts on the season. Kuhne also scored her first career goal in the Rebels' second game of the year, coming with just one second left in the second half to give UNLV a 1-1 double-overtime tie with Oregon State.
Jensen, a junior midfielder and Las Vegas native, was key to the Rebels defensive play in the midfield, and was named Blue Jay Classic Tournament MVP earlier this season after helping UNLV to back-to-back 1-0 wins over North Dakota State and Creighton.
Rice, a junior forward from Parker, Colo., is currently leading the Rebels in scoring with 11 points off a team-high five goals and one assist. She also has four game-winning goals this season, including two in league play over New Mexico and TCU, which earned her Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week honors, as well as MWC Player of the Week honors.
A senior from Fremont, Calif., Roberts is tied for third on UNLV in scoring this year with nine points (three goals, three assists). She scored the biggest goal of the season against Pepperdine, the lone goal of the game in overtime to give UNLV its' first-ever win over a ranked opponent. She was also named MWC Player of the Week for that performance.
Sophomore forward Adele Letro of Utah garnered Offensive Player of the Year honors, while Ute senior goalkeeper Ashley Mason earned the Defensive Player of the Year award. Andrea Willis of BYU and Kelly Isleib of Utah shared the Freshman of the Year award, while Rich Manning was named MWC Coach of the Year.
UNLV, 8-10-1 on the year and 3-4 in MWC action, opens play in the 2006 MWC Tournament on Wednesday at 3:30 pm (PST) against sixth-seeded WYoming in Salt Lake City at Ute Field.
2006 All-Mountain West Conference Women's Soccer Team
First TeamAdele Letro, So., Forward, UtahKatie Larkin, So., Forward, BYUAshley Mason, Sr., Goalkeeper, UtahAmanda Feigt, Sr., Forward, UtahJen Mello, So., F, San Diego StateMelissa Wayman, Sr., Defender, UtahAshley Lowery, Sr., Defender, New MexicoJessica Harmon, So., Defender, BYUBrie Kuhne, R-So., Defender, UNLVErika Woodbury, Jr., Goalkeeper, BYUNatalie Nate, Jr., Midfielder, BYU
Second TeamEmily Layton, Fr., Midfielder, WyomingBridgette Sanchez, Sr., Forward, New MexicoAndrea Willis, Fr., Defender, BYUTanya Roberts, Sr., Midfielder, UNLVKelly Isleib, Fr., Midfielder, UtahArmani Rice, Jr., Midfielder, UNLVKiley Jones, Jr., Midfielder, UtahErika Sutton, So., Forward, San Diego StateShannon Adragna, So., Goalkeeper, New MexicoErica Jensen, Jr., Midfielder, UNLVRachel Emory, So., Midfielder, Air Force
Offensive Player of the Year: Adele Letro, UtahDefensive Player of the Year: Ashley Mason, UtahCo-Freshmen of the Year: Andrea Willis, D, BYU,Kelly Isleib, MF, UtahCoach of the Year: Rich Manning, Utah
