Nov. 3, 2004

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina senior defender Sarah Lentz and freshman midfielder Ashley Kirk were both honored by the SEC on Wednesday evening as the 2004 SEC Soccer Awards were announced. Lentz earned first team All-SEC accolades with Kirk being named SEC Freshman of the Year.

Lentz, who was named to the second team last year, was a dominant force for Carolina on both the offensive and defensive side this season. Co-captain for the USC women’s soccer squad in 2004, Lentz tallied six goals on the year including three game-winners, one of which came in USC’s 2-0 win over Clemson. The win over Clemson was USC’s first over a ranked opponent since the 1998 season. Lentz started and played in all 20 matches this year for Carolina.

Kirk was consistent in the midfield in her first season wearing the garnet & black as she also played in all 20 matches. She totaled one goal and four assists as a freshman with her one goal a game-winner for the Gamecocks in a 1-0 victory at Arkansas. Kirk shared the accolade along with Tennessee freshman Genna Gorman. Both were also members of the All-Freshman Team.

2004 SEC Women’s Soccer Awards

COACH OF THE YEAR
Angela Kelly, Tennessee

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Stephanie Freeman, Florida

SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Ashley Lindley, Georgia
Chelsea Agar, LSU

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Keeley Dowling, Tennessee

FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR
Ashley Kirk, South Carolina
Genna Gorman, Tennessee

FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC
Chrissy Culver Sr. F Auburn
Artie Brown Sr. F LSU
Lyndsey Patterson Sr. F Tennessee
Stephanie Freeman Sr. MF Florida
Kayla Lockaby Sr. MF Tennessee
Ali Christoph So. MF Tennessee
Ronda Brooks So. D Auburn
Sarah Lentz Sr. D South Carolina
Keeley Dowling Sr. D Tennessee
Megan Rivera Sr. GK Auburn
Tyler Griffin So. GK Vanderbilt

SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
Libby Probst Jr. F Alabama
Sarah Steinmann Sr. F Auburn
Elisabeth Jones So. F Kentucky
Brittney Potts So. F Ole Miss
Stacey Bishop So. MF LSU
Kristal Menard Sr. MF Ole Miss
Meghan Habig Jr. MF Vanderbilt
Jenn Walters Sr. D Auburn
Melanie Booth So. D Florida
Lyndsey Williams So. D Ole Miss
Vanessa Phillips-Bosshart Jr. GK Tennessee

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Jordan O’Banion F Alabama
Emily Redberg F Tennessee
Genna Gorman F Tennessee
Sarah Dennis F Vanderbilt
Jasmine Johnson MF Florida
Ashley Kirk MF South Carolina
Meredith Kohn MF Vanderbilt
Chelsea Stang D Alabama
Lauren Stewart D Auburn
Susan Weber D Georgia
Ann Shelton GK Ole Miss