Oct. 13, 2006
INDIANAOPOLIS, Ind. - Former Santa Clara University and current U.S. National Team women's soccer standout Aly Wagner was honored Thursday with a spot on the NCAA's Division I Women's Soccer 25th Anniversary Team. The 2001 Honda Award Winner and three-time All-American was an instrumental figure on Santa Clara's 2001 National Championship squad as well as the 2002 team which also reached the title match. Wagner's 2001 season was one for the school record books, as the San Jose native tallied 17 goals and 20 assists for 54 total points, third-most all-time in a single-season at SCU. She capped the season in grand fashion, being named the College Cup's Most Outstanding Player after netting the national title-winning goal at the 40:44 mark in Santa Clara's 1-0 victory over North Carolina in Dallas, Texas.
In her SCU career, Wagner scored 39 goals to go along with 49 assists (third-most all-time among SCU players), and was honored as an All-WCC performer in all four of her years on the Mission Campus. She made her debut for the U.S. Women's National Team in 1998, and since then has gone on to become currently one of the team's stalwarts in the Starting XI, alongside fellow Bronco Leslie Osborne.
The NCAA announced the Division I Women's Soccer 25th Anniversary Team, which recognizes 11 former student-athletes and one coach, for their outstanding achievements while participating in NCAA competition. In 1981, the NCAA began sponsoring women's championships, which opened the door to increased athletic and academic opportunities for female athletes. Today, the NCAA sponsors 44 women's championships in 20 sports, providing more than 150,000 women with an opportunity to compete for national titles each year.
The Division I Women's Soccer 25th Anniversary Team is as follows in alphabetical order:
Danielle Garrett (Fotopoulos), Southern Methodist/Florida, Forward
• All-Tournament Team (1995, 1998)
• Most Outstanding Player Offense (1998)
• National Player of the Year Runner-up (MAC and Hermann 1998)
• National Championship (1998 with Florida)
Lisa Gmitter, George Mason, Forward
• All-Tournament Team (1983, 1985, 1986)
• Most Outstanding Player Offense (1983)
• Three-time first team All American (1983, 1985, 1986)
• National Championship (1985)
Mia Hamm, North Carolina, Forward
• All-Tournament Team (1989, 1990, 1992, 1993)
• Most Outstanding Player Offense (1992, 1993)
• National Female Athlete of the Year (Honda Broderick Cup 1994)
• National Championship (1989, 1990, 1992, 1993)
April Heinrichs, North Carolina, Forward
• All-Tournament Team (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986)
• Most Outstanding Player Offense (1985, 1986)
• Most Outstanding Player Overall (1984)
• National Championship (1983, 1984, 1986)
Kristine Lilly, North Carolina, Forward
• All-Tournament Team (1989, 1990, 1992)
• Most Outstanding Player Offense (1989, 1990)
• National Player of the Year (Hermann, MAC and Honda in 1991)
• National Championship (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992)
Cat Reddick, North Carolina, Defender
• All-Tournament Team (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
• Most Outstanding Player Defense (2000, 2003)
• Three-time first team All-American (2001, 2002, 2003)
• National Player of the Year (Hermann and Honda in 2003)
• National Championship (2000, 2003)
Jen Renola, Notre Dame, Goalkeeper
• All-Tournament Team (1994, 1995, 1996)
• Three-time All American (1994, 1995, 1996)
• NCAA Today's Top VIII Selection (1996)
• National Championship (1995)
Christine Sinclair, Portland, Forward
• All-Tournament Team (2002, 2005)
• Most Outstanding Player Offense (2002, 2005)
• National Female Athlete of the Year (Honda Broderick Cup 2006)
• Academic All-American of the Year (2005)
• National Championship (2002, 2005)
Tisha Venturini, North Carolina, Midfielder
• All-Tournament Team (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994)
• Most Outstanding Player Offense (1994)
• Most Outstanding Player Defense (1991)
• National Player of the Year (Hermann, MAC and Honda in 1994)
• National Championship (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994)
Aly Wagner, Santa Clara, Midfielder
• All-Tournament Team (2001, 2002)
• Most Outstanding Player Offense (2001)
• National Player of the Year (MAC, Hermann 2002)
• National Championship (2001)
Carla Werden (Overbeck), North Carolina, Defender
• All-Tournament Team (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989)
• Most Outstanding Player Defense (1988)
• 89-0-6 during her career at North Carolina
• National Championship (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989)
Anson Dorrance, North Carolina, Head Coach
• National Championship (1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003)
• 13 Recognized National Players of the Year
• Women's National Coach of the Year (1982, 1986, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003)
An expert panel affiliated with soccer selected the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer 25th Anniversary Team. The panel, which consisted of soccer historians and athletics administrators, used historical data and results from online public voting at www.ncaasports.com to make its decision.
The NCAA Division I Women's Soccer 25th Anniversary Celebration event will be held, Thursday, November 30 at 7 p.m. at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. The 25th anniversary celebration is a free event which will commemorate the history of the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship and showcase former and current collegiate women's soccer student-athletes, coaches and key moments throughout the evening.
The 2006 championship will be held December 1 and 3 at the SAS Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. Members of the 25th Anniversary team will be honored at the tournament on Friday December 1. North Carolina State University, the Town of Cary, and the Capital Area Soccer League will serve as hosts.