1/29/2009 - WOMEN'S SOCCER Women's Soccer players continue to earn awards

MACON, Ga. - The honors continued to roll in for A-Sun women's soccer players as Soccer Buzz and NSCAA/adidas released their regional teams. Regular season champions, the Mercer Bears earned two honors and Tournament Champion, Belmont, reeled in a postseason honor, Kennesaw State also picked up some postseason honors.

Mercer co-captain Heather Manting continues to receive plaudits for her outstanding 2008 season both on and off the field, as the Lilburn, Ga. native was named to the NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-South Region Third Team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Manting earned a 3.66 GPA in her accounting and math major. She earned the Atlantic Sun Defender of the Year honor after leading the Bears’ defense up to sixth in the nation for the lowest goals against average.

Annie Musacchio was named to the NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-South Region Team for athletic and academic excellence during her career. She is the first in Belmont history receive the honor. Kennesaw State's Beth Meadors was named to the Third Team while Jessica Kalonji and Bridget Gaughan were named Honorable Mention in a statement released by the NSCAA/adidas. All in all, 113 athletes received the honor.

Meadors, who just finished her senior season with the Owls, is an exercise and health science major who earned a 3.76 grade point average for the fall semester. An accounting major, Kalonji posted a 3.3 GPA while Gaughan, who is studying exercise and health science, received a 3.32 GPA.

The honors continued to roll in for Mercer's historic 2008 women's soccer season, as senior midfielder Meghan Castaldo earned a spot on the Soccer Buzz All Southeast Third Team.

Castaldo spearheaded the Mercer attack this season, pulling the strings behind a trio of forwards from her central attacking midfielder role. It was no coincidence that the team produced its best soccer as the season progressed, as Castaldo begin to find her top form. The Atlanta native would finish the season with two goals, including a crucial game-winner against Belmont, and a career-high seven assists.

Belmont's Jessica Rix earned a spot on SoccerBuzz's All Central Third team after leading the Bruins to their first A-Sun tournament title and first NCAA appearance. The defender was named First Team All-Atlantic Sun in 2008 and earned a spot on the A-Sun All-Tournament Team.

Owls' senior forward Rachel Baer was recognized in the soccer world, earning 2008 NSCAA/Adidas NCAA Division I All-Mid-Atlantic Region Third Team accolades.

While Baer is the only player in all of the Atlantic Sun Conference to receive this recognition, she is the first KSU player since Laura Tucker in 2006 to receive the honor.