Women's College Soccer: Texas State’s Curry named SLC Player of the Year

Frisco — Texas State junior forward Britney Curry was named the 2009 Southland Conference Soccer Player of the Year by a vote of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors, the conference office announced Tuesday in conjunction with the release of the all-conference soccer teams.

A native of Cypress, Curry tied for the league lead in multi-point games with six and finished the regular season at or near the top of every league offensive category including first in points (38), points per game (2.00), goals (16) and game-winning goals (5). Curry, the only repeat first-team selection from 2008, became the all-time leading goal scorer for Texas State this season with 37 career goals. Additionally, Curry’s numbers rank in the top 10 in the NCAA in points per game (8th, 2.00), and goals per game (7th, 0.842).

Texas State, which claimed its second consecutive regular-season championship to earn the No. 1 seed entering this week’s Southland Conference Soccer Tournament, is tied for the league lead with six all-conference selections. Southeastern Louisiana also has six all-conference selections and a league-best five first-team members. Stephen F. Austin has four selections, while UTSA has three honorees. Northwestern State has two selections and McNeese State has one.

Joining Curry on the first team for Texas State is midfielder Kelsey Bernard. Bernard, a native of The Colony, started 17 of 19 games for the Bobcats and played more than 1,300 minutes. Bernard took 16 shots with eight of them falling on goal. She was key to Texas State’s success both offensively and defensively.

Texas State head coach Kat Conner was voted the Southland Conference Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. In her 10th year at the helm, Conner led Texas State to its fourth overall regular-season title and third No. 1 seed and has not lost a match to a conference opponent since 2007.

Texas State had three second-team selections, including freshman midfielder Taylor Person, senior goalkeeper Mandi Mawyer and sophomore forward Erica Michaud.

The 2009 Southland Soccer All-Conference teams are comprised of 11 first-and- second team members and are chosen by vote of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. The recipients are grouped by position and are placed by the number of votes received.

• Southland Conference