Dec. 14, 2006

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina defender Blakely Mattern has been named to the Soccer Buzz second team Freshman All-America squad. Mattern, who was also a second team All-SEC selection and a third team All-Region member, is the first Carolina player to earn Freshman All-America honors since Lydia Bienias and Melinda Carter earned third team honors in 1998.

“It’s nice any time our program is honored,” said USC head coach Shelley Smith. It’s great for the individual and great for the team. Blakely had a tremendous year and it’s nice for her to get the recognition. We knew she did a great job and for other teams and other people to respect what she did against them, says a lot. From the very beginning when she stepped on campus, she really has come in and done everything we would hope she would do and then some. She played beyond her years and not like a freshman. We could rely on her in the back and really stepped up her defense.”

Mattern started all 22 games in the back four defense for Carolina and combined with her teammates to limit opponents to just 16 goals on the year, the lowest total in school history. Mattern also provided a boost of offense from the back with three goals and three assists on the year.

“She’s a competitor and excels not just on the field but in the classroom,” said Smith. “She wants to do her best and works hard to get there. She takes care of things, has her priorities and knows what she needs to do to achieve her goals. We’re excited for the future. She has a lot more potential in her as a player. With a year of experience, we expect her to be even better and I would anticipate more accolades coming her way.”