Kansas City, KS-Stephanie Hubbard (Sanford, NC) became the first student-athlete from Salem to ever receive All-South Region Honors for her play this season with the soccer team. She was selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) NCAA Division III South Atlantic Third-Team. The NSCAA South Atlantic Region stretches from New Jersey to Mississippi.

Hubbard, a sophomore, has started every game as a central defender in her two years playing for the Spirits. She scored four goals all off of corner kicks this year, and she anchored the defense to only allowing 1.25 goals against this season.

The Spirits finished the season with an 11-5-2 record and a semifinal berth in the Great South Athletic Conference Tournament. Hubbard was also honored as a Great South All-Conference and All-Academic honoree for her 2011 season. 

NSCAA All-South Atlantic Teams

Kansas City, KS-The Salem College soccer team was awarded the 2011 Team Academic Award by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). To receive this honor, a soccer team must have above a 3.0 cumulative grade point average for an entire school year (2010-2011).

The soccer team finished the school year with a 3.18 GPA. The team also had 12 student-athletes earn Great South Athletic Conference All-Academic Team awards this season.

Here is the complete list of schools:

http://www.nscaa.com/news/2011/12/2011-nscaa-college-team-academic-award-winners-revealed

LaGrange, GA-The Salem College soccer team lost a heartbreaking semifinal match against Piedmont College 4-3. The Spirits went ahead twice in the first-half by 2 goals, but they could not hold on for the win. They finish the season with an 11-5-2 record, the third straight year the program has eclipsed the 10 win mark.

Anna Trakas (Tryon, NC) scored two goals in the first 9 minutes to give Salem an early 2-0 lead. Both goals were unassisted. Piedmont would score their 1st goal only a minute later to come within one goal. Salem would continue to pressure in the first-half, and MacKenzie Schmidt (Columbus, OH) capitalized on a Courtney Hedgecock (San Diego, CA) pass to give Salem a 3-1 lead in the 34th minute. Piedmont would score twice in the last 6 minutes of the half to go into the break with the game tied 3-3.

Head Coach Jay Callahan said "We executed our game plan in the first 40 minutes exactly like we wanted to and had a 2 goal lead with just a handful of minutes left in the first half. I think that we would have prevailed in the game if we could have kept that lead going into the break, but Piedmont showed a lot of resiliency to score twice at the end of the first half."

Piedmont would score the game winner in the 58th minute, which was the only goal in the 2nd half.

"Our team fought through a lot of adversity this season and they fought all the way to the end," said Callahan. "Our entire team that finished the season showed a lot of heart and we were playing our best soccer at the end of the season just like we planned."

DECATUR,Ga.- Gearing up for the Great South Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament, the GSAC is pleased to announce this year's women's soccer conference award winners. The winners will be honored during the tournament in LaGrange this weekend.

Salem had four players make the GSAC All-Conference team. Anna Trakas (Tryon, NC) and Stephanie Hubbard (Sanford, NC) each earned GSAC All-Conference honors for the 2nd year in a row. MacKenzie Schmidt (Columbus, OH) and Erica Edwards (Clayton, NC) each earned All-Conference honors for the first time. 

The Spirits were represented on the GSAC All-Freshman team by two players. Nataly Mojica (Dallas, TX) and Taylor Norman (Springfield, VA), who are the Spirits 2 holding midfielders, were both named to the all-freshman team. Salem soccer had an impressive 12 players selected to the all-academic team, which you can read below.

Winning her first Player of the Year award is Ashley Howarth of Maryville. Howarth led the GSAC in eight categories including points per game (2.24), goals (13) and assists (12). Succeeding not only on the field but also in the classroom, she was named to the All-Academic team as well. Earning freshman of the year is Anna Hernandez from Agnes Scott.

All-Conference
Ashley Howarth (Maryville), Justine Clay (Piedmont), Dilyn MacLean (Piedmont), Alex Wingo (Maryville), Laura Goodwin (Piedmont), Anna Trakas (Salem), Clara Kienzle (Agnes Scott), Jordan Chase (Maryville), Mackenzie Schmidt (Salem), Margaret Cross (Covenant), Jenny Burnash (Huntingdon), Haley Grimes (Piedmont), Kelsie Kestner (Maryville), Alexis Franco (Maryville), Hope Sims (LaGrange), Dana Streufert (Covenant), Sarah Hill (Piedmont), Stephanie Hubbard (Salem), Ginger Tyson (Huntingdon), Anna Hernandez (Agnes Scott), Shelby Stanfield (LaGrange), Marjorie Hammond (Piedmont), Lydia Fuson (Maryville), Lauren Ward (Maryville), Erica Edwards (Salem)

All-Freshman
Teagon Wood (Covenant), Lydia Fuson (Maryville), Elise Hopson (LaGrange), Nataly Mojica (Salem), Anna Hernandez (Agnes Scott), Jessica Salinas (Huntingdon), Taylor Norman (Salem), Kelsey Schaffernoth (Piedmont), Shayna Rogers (Piedmont), Helene Somda (Agnes Scott), Amber Ortiz (Maryville), Taylor Hockley (Piedmont), Hannah Bales (Covenant)

All-Academic
Agnes Scott: Clara Kienzle, Claire Cusack, Dana Smith, Natalia Castells-Esquivel
Covenant: Dana Streufert, Hannah Brown, Christina Klukow, Jane Brandon, Erica Vaughn, Hannah Weichbrodt, Rachel Cohen, Sheri Koenig, Meagan De Groot, Amy Dykstra, Tatum Daniel, Kathryn Allison, Katelyn Newsome, Rachel Carleton, Katie Abeln, Molly Peele, Mary Buys, Beth Wilkening
Huntingdon: Molly Crossno, Kate Garrigan, Bethany Martin, Savannah Rivers Barber, Jaden Rountree, Ginger Tyson
LaGrange: Rachael Stevenson,Chelsea Totaro,Mary Robertson,Taylor Baldwin, Angie Forero, Brittany Gray ,Kristin Bird, Mendi Kellam, Hope Sims
Maryville: Jordan Chase, Abby Davis, Taylor Emerson, Lauren Evans, Ashley Howarth, Kelsie Kestner, Phoebe Leo, Kelsie Payne, Caitlin Ramsey, Hannah Rector, Mandy Seiler, Windsor Wall
Piedmont: Justine Clay, Kristen Murri, Elizabeth Farmer, Laura Goodwin, Cydney Goodwin, Haley Grimes, Meghan Heim, Morgan Hall, Sarah Hill, Rebecca Johnson, Hayleah Waters,Dakota Free
Salem :Amy Allison,Paige Hamilton,Courtney Hedgecock,Samantha Hubbard, Stephanie Hubbard,Bethany Kent,Michelle Lawler, Amanda Orsino, MacKenzie Schmidt, Sabrina Thiel,Anna Trakas, Kellie Younger
Spelman: Lydia Ruffner, Teri White, Ashleigh Forte, Brittnee Gillespie, Monica Johnson, Rebekah Rogers
Wesleyan: Azea Mustafa, She-Marie Steadman, Anna Jones, Stephanie Rarick, Charly Harris

2011 Women's Soccer Conference Awards

Player of the Year: Ashley Howarth, Maryville
Freshman of the Year: Anna Hernandez, Agnes Scott
Coach of the Year, Joe Bergin, ASC and Stephen Andrew, Piedmont

Winston-Salem, NC-The Salem College soccer team defeated Huntingdon College today 1-0 to advance to the Great South Athletic Conference semifinals on Friday. Stephanie Hubbard (Sanford, NC) scored in the 20th minute to secure the win. Salem improves to 11-4-2 overall with the victory.

The Spirits got off to a quick start and were finally able to score when Hubbard headed home a direct kick by Anna Trakas (Tryon, NC). Salem would continue to control the game for the final 70 minutes.

Salem out shot the Hawks 25-3. Jenny Burnash made several key saves to keep Huntingdon in the game. Taylor Barcom (Anchorage, AK) got the shutout for the Spirits and made 3 saves. The Spirits also had a 6-0 corner kick advantage.

The Great South semifinals and championship game will be hosted by LaGrange College in Georgia. Salem will play in the 2nd semifinal on Friday at 1:45 pm against Piedmont College. The soccer team has now reached the semifinals in each of their 3 years in the Great South, but they have not reached the championship game.

Winston-Salem, NC-The Salem College soccer team earned their 10th win of the season in a 2-1 victory against Spelman College. The Spirits have now reached at least 10 wins for 3 straight seasons. Salem celebrated their 3 senior captains in the win. They improve to 10-4-2 with the win, and finish their Great South regular season play with a 5-2-1 conference record.

Salem celebrated Amy Allison (Geneva, OH), Lauren Hansen (Jacksonville, NC) and Samantha Hubbard (Sanford, NC) at halftime of the game. All 3 players are captains and they all started and played a large portion of today's game. 

Stephanie Hubbard (Sanford, NC) got the scoring started early off of a corner kick by Anna Trakas (Tryon, NC) in the 6th minute. Spelman would score on their own corner kick only 4 minutes later. Courtney Hedgecock (San Diego, CA) would score the game winning goal in the 17th minute off of a set piece by Trakas.

Salem held an 18-6 shot advantage, and a 3-2 corner kick advantage. Jessi Carter (Tampa, FL) and Taylor Barcom (Anchorage, AK) split time in goal for the Spirits.

The Spirits will host a Great South Quarterfinal match against Huntingdon College on Tuesday, November 1st at 3:30. 

October 26, 2011

DECATUR, Ga.- Closing out the final week of competition before conference championships, the Great South Athletic Conference announces the final Player of the Week awards for the fall season. Jessie Jakes from Covenant College for volleyball, Anna Trakas of Salem College for women's soccer, Sidney Smith of Piedmont College for men's soccer and Holli Abernathy of Piedmont College for women's cross country rounds out this week's award winners.

Helping to secure a spot for her squad in the GSAC postseason, Trakas proved to be vital to the Salem women's soccer team this week. She had one goal and three assists this week to propel Salem to a 2-0-1 week. The Spirits played three conference matches, and Trakas was involved on the score sheet in all three matches. She scored Salem's lone goal from 30 yards out in a 1-1 tie with Covenant. She had two assists in a 3-0 victory at LaGrange, and she had the first assist in a 4-1 victory at Agnes Scott.

Several other Salem soccer players had big weeks for the Spirits including Amanda Orsino (Sauqouit, NY) who had two goals and two assists; MacKenzie Schmidt (Columbus, OH) with two goals and an assist; Bethany Kent (Manassas, VA) with a goal and an assist; and Courtney Hedgecock (San Diego, CA) and Stephanie Hubbard (Sanford, NC) each with a goal.

The Salem soccer team completes their regular season at home with a game against Spelman College on October 29th at 2:00.

Decatur, GA-The Salem College Spirits wrapped up a Georgia road trip with a 4-1 conference win at Agnes Scott. The win secures Salem as the #3 seed in the upcoming Great South Athletic Conference Tournament (GSAC). Amanda Orsino (Sauquoit, NY) scored two goals and added an assist in the victory. The Spirits improve to 9-4-2 overall and to 4-2-1 in the GSAC.

Stephanie Hubbard (Sanford, NC) got the scoring started in the 21st minute on a corner kick from Anna Trakas (Tryon, NC). Orsino scored her first goal only 2 minutes later on a ball from Bethany Kent (Manassas, VA). Orsino would score again in the 40th minute on a pass by Meghan Millspaugh (Somersworth, NH) to give the Spirits a 3-0 lead at the break.

Agnes Scott would score early in the second half, but Kent would put the game away late in the second half on a pass from Orsino. Salem out shot Agnes Scott 21-7 in the game. Taylor Barcom (Anchorage, AK) and Jessi Carter (Tampa, FL) each had 1 save in goal.

Salem plays their senior match and final regular season match on October 29th, when they host conference rival Spelman at 2:00. The Spirits will wait to see who they will host in the conference tournament quarterfinals depending on a game between Agnes Scott and Huntingdon. The quarterfinal match will be on November 4th at Salem.

LaGrange, GA-The Salem College soccer team scored early and often to earn an important Great South victory tonight 3-0 at LaGrange. Mackenzie Schmidt (Columbus, OH) scored two goals and had an assist all in the first half of the match. Salem improves to 8-4-2 overall and to 3-2-1 in the Great South.

Schmidt scored her first goal in the 16th minute off of an assist by Anna Trakas (Tryon, NC). Trakas would assist Schmidt only 3 minutes later to give the Spirits a 2-0 advantage. Courtney Hedgecock (San Diego, CA) finished off the scoring in the 26th minute from a pass by Schmidt. 

Taylor Barcom (Anchorage, AK) and Jessi Carter (Tampa, FL) each recorded one save and combined for the shutout for the Spirits. Salem out shot LaGrange 15-7, and they had a 2-1 corner kick advantage.

The Spirits will play another important Great South match on Sunday at Agnes Scott.

October 18, 2011

Winston-Salem, NC-The Salem College soccer team snapped Covenant’s 5 game win streak with a 1-1 draw. Anna Trakas (Tryon, NC) scored the goal for the Spirits in the second-half. Salem’s record is now 7-4-2, while Covenant is 6-6-2.

Trakas scored in the 84^th minute with a long-range shot off of an assist by Amanda Orsino (Sauquoit, NY). Covenant would tie the score less than one minute later. The game went through two overtimes where Salem had several opportunities turned away by Covenant’s goalie. Salem out shot the Scots 19-18 and had the better chances to finish off the game.

MacKenzie Schmidt (Columbus, OH) finished with 7 shots for the Spirits, including a couple break away chances in overtime that Covenant’s goalie saved. Orsino had a shot with less than 5 seconds left in the match that was deflected just wide by the Covenant goalie.

Taylor Barcom (Anchorage, AK) recorded 15 saves for the Spirits. Covenant had a 2-1 corner kick advantage.

Salem returns to the road on Friday to take on LaGrange at 7:00 in an important Great South match.