Wagner, Hawkins Named Preseason All-Americans

Aug. 27, 2002

BERKELEY, Calif. - West Coast Conference powers Santa Clara and Portland, and perennial Big Ten champion Penn State each placed two players on Soccer America magazine's College Women's Preseason All-America Team.

U.S. national team starting midfielder Aly Wagner, Soccer America's Player of the Year after guiding Santa Clara to the NCAA Division I title, and teammate Devvyn Hawkins, who is on the cusp of the national team, are among four players from the powerful WCC on the 11-woman squad.

The Broncos' WCC rival Portland also placed two players on the team: defender Lauren Orlandos and Canadian national team and U19 striker Christine Sinclair.

Penn State is represented by forward Christie Welsh, who won the Hermann Trophy and MAC Award last year, and midfielder Johanna Lohman, who is coming off a spectacular summer with the U.S. U21 team.

Five players selected last season as a Soccer America MVP-Wagner, Sinclair, Welsh, BYU midfielder Aleisha Cramer-Rose and North Carolina defender Cat Reddick-are on the team. Sinclair also was Soccer America's Freshman of the Year, and Texas forward Kelly Wilson-currently leading the U.S. attack at the FIFA U19 Women's World Championship in Canada-also was a Soccer America Freshman All-American.

Also chosen were Washington goalkeeper Hope Solo and UCLA defender Nandi Pryce, who have been called into the U.S. national team for its game Sept. 8 against Scotland in Columbus, Ohio.

The Preseason All-America Team and Soccer America's Preseason Top 25 are profiled in the Sept. 9 College Preview edition of Soccer America magazine.

The defending NCAA champions kick off the season this Friday when Stanford visits Buck Shaw Stadium. Kick off is at 7:30 p.m. while the gates open at 6:30.

The season home opener is also "Santa Clara Community Day." The evening, sponsored by Bank of Santa Clara and the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce and Convention-Visitors Bureau, will offer tickets to Santa Clara residents for half price, only $3.50 with a valid proof of residency, whether that be in the form of a driver's license or utility bill.

In addition to watching some of the top collegiate soccer in the country, there will also feature a pregame community fair and fan festival featuring local businesses and community organizations, the ceremonial raising of the 2001 NCAA Championship banner, and a post-match autograph session for all fans with the Bronco women's soccer team.

Soccer America 2002 Preseason All-Americans