ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Three Tusculum College Women's soccer players were named to the 2007 All-South Atlantic Conference First Team, including Nicole Ferris who was also tabbed the SAC Scholar Athlete, announced league officials Thursday. Joining Ferris on the All-SAC Team are forward Danielle Tanner and midfielder Courtney Turner.

Tanner, a junior from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, leads the Pioneers in goals (20) and points (45). Both are second in the league and the third most in a Tusculum single-season. Tanner has also tallied eight match-winners, which are the second most in school history.

Turner, a freshman from Cocoa Beach, Fla., has started in all 19 matches in her rookie campaign where she has tallied four goals and five assists for her 13 total points. Two of her goals have been match-winners.

Ferris, a junior defender from Lebanon, Ohio earns her first All-Conference honor and becomes the second Tusculum player in the program's history to be named SAC Scholar Athlete. She has posted a 3.85 cumulative grade point average as a Sports Management major. She was the 2006 Tusculum Academic Freshman of the Year and is a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society as well as the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll and SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll. She is a team captain and has scored one goal and shares the team-lead with five assists. She is a two-time member of the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV College Division team, including this year where she was selected to the First Team. In the community, Ferris is a tutor at Tusculum and participates with Nettie Day service projects. She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is president of the Physical Education & Sport Studies club and is a volunteer coach for a YMCA youth soccer team.

Tusculum (14-5) is ranked No. 18 in NCAA Division II and has advanced to the semifinal round of the Food Lion SAC Tournament. The Pioneers will face top-seeded Lincoln Memorial University on Friday. The winner of that match will advance to Sunday's championship match.


- SAC -

2007 All-South Atlantic Conference Women's Soccer Team

FIRST TEAM
F - Alex Beshk, Catawba
F - Heloisa de Oliveira, Lincoln Memorial
F - Abby Martin, Mars Hill
F - Inga Woiwode, Newberry F - Danielle Tanner, Tusculum
MF - Zarmena Kasparites, Carson-Newman
MF - Lainey Nichols, Catawba
MF - Becky Thompson, Lincoln Memorial
MF - Courtney Turner, Tusculum
D - Julie Nelson, Carson Newman
D - Alyssa Schoenberg, Catawba
D - Amber Holt, Lenoir-Rhyne
D - Nicole Ferris, Tusculum
GK - Claudia Cala, Mars Hill

SECOND TEAM
F - Nikki Brennen, Carson Newman
F - Rebbecca Lin, Lenoir-Rhyne
F - Kerstin Williams, Wingate
MF - Morgan Gruendenfelder, Carson-Newman
MF - Michelle Garcia, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF - Juliana Povoa, Lincoln Memorial
MF - Caity Murnahan, Mars Hill
MF - Julie Zielinski, Wingate
D - Nikki Blackwelder, Catawba
D - Lea Cattaggio, Lincoln Memorial
D - Sarah Barnes, Newberry
D - Elizabeth Jones, Newberry
GK - Danielle Beckerle, Newberry

SAC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year: John Cullen, Catawba
SAC Freshman of the Year: Abby Martin, Mars Hill
SAC Coach of the Year: Heloisa de Oliveira, Lincoln Memorial
SAC Scholar Athlete: Nicole Ferris, Tusculum
SAC Fair Play Award: Catawba College