Dec. 17, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Eight Atlantic Coast Conference student-athletes have been named to the 2009 Soccer America MVP team, including three first-team selections.

The ACC's first-team contingent includes North Carolina senior midfielder Tobin Heath and senior defender Whitney Engen, and Florida State sophomore forward Tiffany McCarty.

Heath, a MAC Herman Trophy finalist, was a versatile performer who scored five goals and had 10 assists in helping North Carolina capture its third national championship in the past four seasons. Engen was a backline anchor on a Tar Heel defense that allowed just 12 goals all season. McCarty helped the Seminoles to a share of the ACC regular-season title while leading the conference in goals scored with 17. McCarty was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year, while Engen was Defensive Player of the Year in the conference.

Five ACC student-athletes - each of whom helped their teams reach at least the third round of the NCAA Tournament - were named to the Soccer America MVP second team: Boston College sophomore goalkeeper Jillian Mastroianni, Florida State senior defender Becky Edwards, Wake Forest senior forward Kaley Fountain, North Carolina senior forward Casey Nogueira and Maryland sophomore forward Jasmyne Spencer.

Listed below is the complete 2009 Soccer America MVP Team:

SOCCER AMERICA MVPS FIRST TEAM
G Kristin Olsen, USC, Sr.
F Lauren Cheney, UCLA, Sr.
D Whitney Engen, North Carolina, Sr.
F Michelle Enyeart, Portland, Sr.
M Tobin Heath, North Carolina, Sr.
F Melissa Henderson, Notre Dame, Soph.
D Blakely Mattern, South Carolina, Sr.
F Tiffany McCarty, Florida State, Soph.
F Kelley O'Hara, Stanford, Sr.
F Christen Press, Stanford, Jr.
M Sophie Schmidt, Portland, Jr.

SOCCER AMERICA MVPS SECOND TEAM
G Jillian Mastroianni, Boston College, Soph.
D Jordan Angeli, Santa Clara, Sr.
M Mandi Back, Dayton, Sr.
D Becky Edwards, Florida State, Sr.
F Kaley Fountain, Wake Forest, Sr.
F Danielle Foxhoven, Portland, Soph.
F Sydney Leroux, UCLA, Soph.
F Casey Nogueira, North Carolina, Sr.
D Ali Riley, Stanford, Sr.
F Jasmyne Spencer, Maryland, Soph.
D Brittany Taylor, Connecticut, Sr.