Dec. 16, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina junior forward Casey Nogueira, who led the Tar Heels to their 19th NCAA title and topped the nation in scoring, has been named the national Women's Player of the Year by Soccer America.

Nogueira led the nation with 25 goals and 58 points, including the tying and winning goals in a 2-1 win over Notre Dame in the Women's College Cup final. A finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, Nogueira was voted Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year and earned MVP honors in the ACC Championship.

Nogueira is joined on the Soccer America MVP first team by Virginia senior Nikki Kzysik, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and Florida State sophomore forward Sanna Talonen.

The ACC is also well-represented on the MVP second team by North Carolina senior midfielder Yael Averbuch and junior midfielder Tobin Heath, Florida State sophomore midfielder Amanda DaCosta and Duke junior forward Elisabeth Redmond. In all, seven ACC players are among the 22 named to the first and second teams.