Landmark Women's Soccer Players Earn Six All-Region Nods

MADISON, N.J. - Six members of Landmark Conference women's soccer teams have been honored for their play this past fall with selection to the 2011 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division III All-Mid-Atlantic Team.

Three Landmark teams were represented on the All-Region team, which consists of three 11-player teams. The Landmark had one first-team representative in Samantha Russo of The University of Scranton. Two of her teammates Amanda Kresge and Sarah Gibbons, were joined on the second team by Christine Meconi of Drew university, and Erin Saia of The Catholic University of America. Catholic's Caitlin Brett rounded out the selections with her third-team honor.

Russo is recognized by the NSCAA for the second straight season after earning second-team honors a year ago. This past year, she led the Royals in assists (5) and total points (21) and tied for the team-lead in goals and match-winning goals (3). For her efforts, she was voted first-team all-Landmark Conference for the second consecutive year in a ballot conducted among the league's head coaches. In two seasons, Russo is already 20th on the Royals' all-time scoring list with 49 total points (17 goals, 15 assists). She has also recorded eight match-winning goals in her career.

Meconi was the Rangers top offensive threat in 2012 and made her third- straight all-conference team last month. The first-team selection led the Landmark with 25 points and was fourth in the league in goals with nine. She also led the Landmark with four game-winning goals, two of them coming against conference opponents.

Kresge, the Landmark Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team selection, anchored a Royal defensive unit that posted 10 shutouts and allowed only 13 goals this past season, which was the fourth fewest goals allowed in school history.  In three seasons, she has appeared in 57 matches, started 45 times, and has been a key member of a defensive unit that has shutout 33 opponents.  

Gibbons tied Russo for the team lead in goals (8) and match-winning goals (3) and finished second on the team in total points (18).  She joined Russo and Kresge as first-team all-Landmark Conference selections this past year.  She has played in 54 games in her career, has started 31 times, and has 10 goals and four assists for 24 total points.

Saia anchored the CUA defense this season, helping the Cardinals hold teams to 1.21 goals per game and post nine shutouts. CUA ranked second in the Landmark Conference in goals allowed, goals against average and shutouts. Saia also handed out an assist in CUA's conference tournament semifinal victory. Saia, who was named a First Team All-Landmark Conference honoree, finished her time in the red and black having appeared in 75 matches with four assists.

Brett was CUA's third leading scorer this season with five goals and 13 points. The senior captain handed out three assists in a win over Hood, netted the game-winning goal at Goucher and scored once in CUA's semifinal victory vs. Susquehanna in the Landmark Conference Tournament. Brett finished her CUA career with 15 goals and 39 points. She was an All-Landmark Conference selection each of the past two seasons, both on the first team.

It marks the third time in five seasons six Landmark women's soccer players have earned NSCAA All-Region honors, and the conference has never placed fewer than five performers on the All-Region team. Three of the six All-Region selections will return for the 2012 season.

Story provided by Catholic, Drew & Scranton Sports Information