Women's Soccer Duo Earns All-Region Honors
12/8/2010 4:22:00 PM | Women's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. - The Creighton women's soccer team continues to bring in postseason awards, as sophomore Brittney Neumann was named to the All-Great Lakes Region first team, while senior defender Claire Zach earned second team honors. Both are from Omaha, Neb., and were also named to the MVC first team last month.
Neumann, named the 2010 MVC Player of the Year, placed her name amongst the best in The Valley for the second straight season (she was named the 2009 MVC Freshman of the Year.) Neumann became the first Bluejay to win both awards in back to back seasons, being named to the first team both seasons. The forward finished the regular season leading the MVC with 59 shots, 23 points and a 1.28 points per game average. After being sidelined by injury following the MVC Tournament Championship, in which she scored the winning goal, Neumann was forced to cheer on her team mates as they played in postseason. She finished the season tied for first on the team in goals with nine and in second points with 23 and shots with 59. She currently has 16 career goals, just seven away from cracking the Creighton top five career charts.
Zach ended her collegiate campaign on a high note, becoming one of the toughest and most feared defenders in The Valley. Zach was also named to the 2010 MVC first team, MVC All-Tournament team, CoSIDA Academic All-District VII and MVC scholar athlete first team this season. Zach started all 21 matches and lead the team in minutes played with 1,838 (out of a possible 1,947.) She scored the match winning goal in the MVC semifinal victory over Evansville, just her second goal of the season. Zach contributed to the stellar defensive performance this season by the Jays, giving up just 18 total goals and recording 10 shutouts, just one short of the school record they set last year (11). The defense led The Valley in most statistical categories all season, finishing first in shutouts (10), tied for second in goals allowed (18), and second in goals against average (.83) and saves (107).
Creighton finished the season 15-4-2, setting a school record with 15 wins. They won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title for the first time since 2002 and the MVC tournament for the first time since 2007. The Jays qualified for their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last nine seasons, all which have come under head coach Bruce Erickson. Creighton fell 4-2 to Minnesota in the first round.
