Six Argonauts Earn NSCAA All-South Region Honors

January 3, 2012

Three Players Named to First Team

Monica Malavassi earned her second straigth All-South Region first team selection (Photo by Chris Nelson)

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The West Florida women’s soccer team was one of two teams to have six players earn spots on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South Region Team, it was announced by the NSCAA. UWF and Saint Leo both had six players earn all-region honors, while Rollins was close behind with five. Three Argos earned first team all-region honors, led by third team All-American Tina Murray.

Murray (Kingston, Jamaica/Meridian CC), a forward, was joined on the first team by defender Daniele Cruz Mejia (San Jose, Costa Rica/University of Costa Rica) and midfielder Monica Malavassi (San Jose, Costa Rica/Methodist HS). Defender Rachel Cutts (Pensacola, Fla./Ole Miss) and midfielder Jordan Stone (Fort Walton Beach, Fla./Fort Walton Beach HS) earned second team all-region nods, and goalkeeper Lauren Byrd (Birmingham, Ala./Oak Mountain HS) was a third team selection.

Murray led the team with 15 goals, 10 assists, 40 points and three game-winning goals in her senior season. The Jamaican forward highlighted her season with a four-assist performance at Delta State, matching the school’s single game record. Malavassi and Stone also supported the team’s attack from the midfield. Malavassi, a repeat first team selection, scored three goals and added nine assists, and Stone scored six times and notched one assist.

Cutts and Cruz Mejia were two of the team’s top defenders in 2011. The team’s back line allowed just 1.0 goals per game and 8.9 shots per match. Cutts started all 18 games and led the team with 1,668 minutes played, while Cruz Mejia saw action in 13 games as the team’s top marking back. Byrd played in 16 games as the team’s starting goalkeeper, allowing 0.89 goals per game with 31 saves and three shutouts.

UWF finished the 2011 season with a 12-3-3 record and a 6-1 mark in Gulf South Conference play. The Argos earned a GSC Tournament berth for the 15th time in school history, but they were eliminated in the semifinals in penalty kicks after a 2-2 tie against Valdosta State.

For information on all UWF Athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.

NSCAA Division II Women’s Soccer All-South Region Team