Dec. 17, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Seniors Sabrina D’Angelo and Taylor Leach became just the second pair of Gamecocks to earn spots on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar All-America Teams in the same year when the organization announced its 2014 teams today. D’Angelo was named to the first team for the second-straight season, while Leach garnered a second-team nod. The pair notched spots on the NSCAA Scholar All-South Region First Team as well.
D’Angelo and Leach join the 2009 tandem of Blakely Mattern (first team) and Mollie Patton (third team) as the only student-athletes in program history to earn NSCAA Scholar All-America honors.
Last season, D’Angelo became the second athlete in program history (Blakely Mattern) to earn spots on both the NSCAA All-America and Scholar All-America first teams in the same season. Earlier this month, D’Angelo became the first two-time First-Team All-American in Gamecock history and has now duplicated the double honor in 2014.
A mainstay on the SEC Academic Honor Roll, D’Angelo was a Senior CLASS Award finalist and earned a spot on the Capital One Academic All-America First Team. D’Angelo is second in South Carolina history in goals-against average (0.76), shutouts (29) and saves (241). This season, the Welland, Ontario, native notched 10 shutouts and allowed just 0.58 goals a game. D’Angelo surrendered more than one goal just twice in 2014 (3-2 W vs. No. 5 Florida, 2-2 T at No. 6 Texas A&M). In all, just 13 goals were scored on the netminder this year, a total that topped the SEC. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, D’Angelo notched a shutout vs. rival Clemson and made two pivotal saves in the penalty kick shootout to advance the Gamecocks to the second round. The unforgettable performance would be her last in the Garnet and Black as injury prevented the four-time All-SEC honoree from playing in South Carolina’s final three NCAA contests.
Named a Senior CLASS Award candidate in the preseason, Leach also earned a spot on the Capital One Academic All-America Third Team. She has combined with D’Angelo to anchor top the defense in the SEC. The Gamecocks led the league in nearly every statistical average in the regular season, including goals allowed (11), goals against average (0.58), shots on goal allowed (60) and points allowed (31). The defense was fierce during the team’s run to the NCAA quarterfinals, shutting out No. 22 Clemson in the opening round, Seattle, who boasted the No. 3 offense in the country, in the second round and No. 6 North Carolina on its home field in the Round of 16, despite losing D’Angelo to injury after the Clemson contest. The Maumee, Ohio, native also netted a pair of goals in the season opener at ECU to earn a spot on TopDrawerSoccer’s Team of the Week. Last month, Leach earned First-Team All-SEC recognition for the second-straight season.
South Carolina advanced to the program’s first NCAA Quarterfinal after shutting out No. 6 North Carolina, 1-0, in the Gamecock’s second-ever Round of 16 appearance. South Carolina posted a 14-6-5 mark this season and was No. 9 in the NSCAA final poll, matching the 2009 season as the best-ever final ranking.
National Soccer Coaches Association of America
2014 Scholar All-America Team – Women’s University Division
First Team
GK Sabrina D’Angelo, Sr., South Carolina
D Jackie Hall, Jr., Buffalo
D Meghan Streight, Sr., Texas A&M
M Dagny Brynjarsdottir, Sr., Florida St.
M Danielle Colaprico, Sr., Virginia
M Rita Craven, Jr., Valparaiso
M Shea Groom, Sr., Texas A&M
M Sarah Killon, Sr., UCLA
M Samantha Mewis, Sr., UCLA
F Kelsey Haycook, Sr., La Salle
F Rachel Tejada, Sr., Illinois St
F Stephanie Verdoia, Sr., Seattle
Second Team
GK Paige Burnett, Sr., Northeastern
GK Emma Newins, Sr., Georgetown
D Annie Amos, Sr. BYU
D Bianca Calderone, Sr., Northeastern
D Taylor Leach, Sr., South Carolina D Caroline Van Slambrouck, Sr., Kansas
M Kylie Davis, Sr., Memphis
M Kelsey Dinges, Sr., Miami (Ohio)
M Riley Houle, Sr., Connecticut
M Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno, Jr., Penn State
F Rachel Daly, Jr., St. John’s
F Cali Farquharson, Jr., Arizona State
Third Team
GK Abby Smith, Jr., Texas
D Kerri Aiken, Sr., La Salle
D Gabby Charno, Sr., Connecticut
D Jennifer Fassbinder, Jr., Valporaiso
D Kala Faulkner, Jr., Auburn
D Samantha Jones, Sr., SIU-Edwardsville
D Katie Naughton, Jr., Notre Dame
D Rachel Pitman, Sr., DePaul
M Cari Roccaro, Jr., Notre Dame
F Jaclyn Softli, Sr., Washington
F Elise Wyatt, Jr., DePaul
