Boies, Andreassen, Samora Headline All-Big Sky Soccer Selections

BIG SKY RELEASE (PDF)

OGDEN, Utah – Junior defender Kristi Andreassen and midfielder Brenna Boies and sophomore forward Jenna Samora have been named to the All-Big Sky Soccer First Team, leading eight Northern Arizona soccer players to be named to the All-Conference team. Junior defender Tori Howe was named to the second team, while senior forward Sarah Neatherton, sophomore forward Corie McGuire, junior midfielder Sam Monahan and junior midfielder Brandy Carr earned honorable mention.

Both Andreassen and Boies were named to the All-Big Sky First Team for the second-consecutive year, while Samora followed her Newcomer of the Year honor in 2008 with her initial First Team Selection. Howe was named to the Second Team for the second-consecutive year, while Neatherton and Monahan both earned honorable mention for the second time. Portland State forward Dolly Enneking and goalkeeper Cris Lewis received Offensive and Defensive MVP honors, respectively, while Idaho State forward Ashley Jones was named Newcomer of the Year.

Samora led NAU with six goals and two assists for 14 points during the regular season, including four goals and two assists in conference play. Andreassen leads the team in shots, shots on goal and minutes played while contributing four goals and two assists. She is the only Lumberjack to start every game this season. Boies leads the Big Sky with eight assists in 2009 and has added one goal while starting 16 of 18 games at midfield.

Howe was nominated for defensive player of the year, anchoring the NAU backline while starting 17 games. Neatherton is tied for second on the team with four goals and two assists for 10 points, while McGuire has started 11 games and contributed three goals and one assist.

After missing the first half of the season, Monahan has started eight of nine games at midfield for the Lumberjacks and contributed one goal and one assist on 21 shots. Carr has started 13 games at midfield and forward while appearing in all 18 games and recording one assist.

Northern Arizona begins defense of it’s 2008 conference title on Friday at the Big Sky Championship at Portland State, facing the host Vikings in the semifinal round at 5 p.m. Arizona time.