WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- WASHINGTON's junior forward
Tina Frimpong and UCLA's senior defender
Nandi Pryce were named Pac-10 Players of the Year, USC's
Rosa Anna Tantillo was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and UCLA head coach
Jillian Ellis was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today.
PAC-10 CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR --
TINA FRIMPONG, WASHINGTON AND NANDI PRYCE, UCLA
Frimpong, a junior forward from Vancouver, Wash., leads the Pac-10 with 13 goals, the second-highest single-season total in Washington history, and ranks second in the league with 30 points. She has helped guide the No. 25 Huskies to an overall record of 11-6-3, a fifth-place finish in the Pac-10 (4-4-1) and UW's third NCAA Championship berth in the last four seasons. Frimpong also leads the league in goals per game (0.65) and ranks second in game-winning goals (4) and points per game (1.50). She serves as the main threat on a Washington offense that has scored a Pac-10 second-best 106 points this season and netted 37 goals, third in the league. Frimpong was named Pac-10 Player of the Week twice this year, on Sept. 1 and Sept. 23. She is tied for second among all-time Huskies with 27 career goals. She is just the second Washington player to receive Pac-10 Player of the Year honors, the other being Hope Solo in 2001.
Pryce, a senior defender from Casselberry, Fla., anchors a UCLA defense that paces the Pac-10 in shutouts (11) and goals against average (0.76), and is tied for first in goals allowed (16). The Bruins rank 17th nationally in shutout percentage (0.61) and 25th in goals against average. Recently named a finalist for the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy, Pryce helped lead the Bruins (18-1-3, 8-0-1 Pac-10) to their fourth Pacific-10 Conference women's soccer title and a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Championship. The Soccer America Preseason All-American has started 19 of UCLA's 20 games this season, tallying three points, all on assists. Pryce is the third Bruin ever to receive Pac-10 Player of the Year honors, following Traci Arkenberg in 1997 and Tracey Millburn in 2000.
PAC-10 FRESHMAN/NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR -- ROSA ANNA TANTILLO, USC
Tantillo, a freshman midfielder/forward from San Diego, Calif., has helped lead the Women of Troy to a 9-7-4 overall record, a tie for third place (5-3-1) in the Pac-10 and their sixth straight NCAA Championship appearance. Tantillo paces USC in goals (7) and points (16), while her team-high three game-winning goals is tied for third-most in the Conference. She also rank's in the Pac-10's top-10
statistical categories in shots (t6th, 53), shots per game (t9th, 2.65) and goals (t9th). Tantillo earned Pac-10 Player of the Week honors on Sept. 30, after scoring two goals and adding in assist in the Trojans' 3-0 upset of then-No. 13 Santa Clara.
PAC-10 COACH OF THE YEAR -- JILLIAN ELLIS, UCLA
In her fifth season at the helm of the UCLA program, Ellis has guided the Bruins to their fourth Pac-10 title -- the second during her tenure -- and a fifth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance. She led second-ranked UCLA to an undefeated record in Pac-10 play this season (8-0-1) and a 16-1-3 overall mark. The Bruins are the No. 4 seed in the 2003 NCAA Championship and are hosting first and second rounds Friday and Sunday, Nov. 14 and 16. Her 2003 UCLA squad paces the Pac-10 in every offensive category, including points (142), goals (48) and assists (46). UCLA also leads the league in goals against average (0.76) and shutouts (11) and is the co-leader in goals allowed (0.80). Under her watch, the Bruins have finished the regular season undefeated at home for four consecutive seasons, posting a 7-0-1 record in 2003. Since Ellis arrived in Westwood, UCLA is 26-3-1 in regular-season home contests, while the Bruins' overall home record, including postseason play, is 35-5-1 over the last five years. Ellis owns an overall record of 88-17-5 (.823) at UCLA, while her overall coaching record stands at 107-35-5 (.745).
2003 PAC-10 ALL-CONFERENCE WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
Name Pos. Yr. School
Tina Frimpong F Jr. WASH
Allyson Marquand** MF Sr. STAN
Nandi Pryce** D Sr. UCLA
Iris Mora* F So. UCLA
Amy LePeilbet** D Sr. ASU
Kim Yokers** MF Sr. CAL
Candice Wilks F Jr. ARIZ
Whitney Jones* MF Sr. UCLA
Sarah-Gayle Swanson** F Sr. UCLA
Megan Abbamonto** MF Sr. USC
Nicole Barnhart* GK Jr. STAN
SECOND TEAM
Name Pos. Yr. School
Nicole Garbin MF So. ORE
Manya Makoski* MF So. ASU
Melissa Bennett* F Sr. UW
Tessa Baker F So. OSU
Natalie Spilger D Sr. STAN
Jill Oakes* MF So. UCLA
Stephanie Ebner D So. ASU
Lindsey Peeples D Jr. ARIZ
Brittany Cooper MF So. ASU
Ashley Valenzuela MF Sr. CAL
Julie Peterson GK Jr. USC
*two-time All-Pac-10 honoree **three-time All-Pac-10 honoree
HONORABLE MENTION
Rosa Anna Tantillo (USC, Fr., F); Mariette Boyce (WSU, Sr., D); Stacey Mescher (OSU, So., F); Hayley Hunt (STAN, So., D); Nadia Al-Lami (CAL, Fr., D); Mallory Miller (ARIZ, So., MF); Liz Bogus* (ASU, So., F); Alisan Pabon (STAN, Sr., D); Kim Taylor* (UW, So., F); Nikki Goza (USC, Jr., D); Katie Hultin (WSU, So., GK).
