With the 2011-12 season right around the corner, we wanted to take a look back at the past year. We will countdown our Top 10 moments from 2010-11 in the world of Bulldog Athletics. Follow along with us over the next two weeks through Friday, Aug. 26 on CitadelSports.com!
Winch, Garcia Collect Top SoCon Women's Soccer Honors
November 3, 2010
Spartanburg, S.C. - As announced by the Southern Conference on Wednesday, The Citadel Soccer's Head Coach Bob Winch and freshman midfielder Mariana Garcia swept the SoCon Women's Soccer individual awards capturing Coach of the Year, as well as Player and Freshman
of the Year awards. Freshmen Nicole Levermann and Vanessa Aponte also earned All-Conference team selections.
In his fifth season at the helm, Winch has guided the Bulldogs to another monumental season in The Citadel program history with a 12-7-1 overall record, while completing the conference slate with a 7-4-0 record to finish the regular season. Selected to finish 10th out of 12 teams in the 2010 preseason poll, the Bulldogs have captured the program's most wins in a season, as well as in the league. The Cadets earned first-ever conference wins against Appalachian State, Davidson, Elon, Western
Carolina, and Wofford, while picking up their third consecutive win over Georgia Southern and second versus Chattanooga.
Winch has guided a squad that has featured a starting lineup of at least six freshmen since the season-ending injury of junior forward Amy Loughran, the 2009 leading scorer for the Bulldogs. Winch coached the Cadets to a program-best five-match win streak and a first time berth into the SoCon Women's Soccer Championship. The Citadel finished the season earning the No. 3 seed for the tournament.
A native of Bogota, Colombia, Garcia was the lone Bulldog named to the all-conference first team and became the second freshman to claim both major awards in as many years. Garcia has started in all 20 matches in her collegiate debut season, leading the Bulldogs' offense with nine goals scored, 52 shots, 31 on goal, one assist, 19 points and five game-winning goals. Gliding into the record books, she is currently in fourth place for the most points and shots in a season and third for the most goals. Garcia scored the game winning goal for The Citadel's first-ever win against Appalachian State, as well as against Elon and Wofford. She piloted the Bulldogs to a tie against the Air Force Academy and scored two goals in the team's win over Georgia Southern.
"Mariana being named Player of Year is a very significant achievement for her being only a freshmen here at The Citadel," said Winch. "The circumstances surrounding her daily routine make this award that much more outstanding and speaks volumes about her as a student-athlete and person."
Earning second team recognition, Levermann is second on the team with six goals scored, three assists, 47 shots, 19 on goal, two-game winning goals and 15 points. Having played in 18 matches this season, the New Braunfels, Texas, native has started in 16 matches, maintaining the starting nod since playing South Carolina State. Against the Bulldogs, Levermann scored two of The Citadel's four goals. She scored the game-winning shot against Chattanooga and her best performance came against Davidson, when she propelled the Cadets to a 3-1 victory over the Wildcats with a hat trick, the Bulldogs' third of the season.
Aponte joined Garcia and Levermann to the all-freshman squad. Aponte leads the Bulldogs with five assists and is tied for fourth on the team in goals with four. The Orlando, Fla., native is tied for second on the team in shots with 47, 16 on goal and 13 points. Aponte shot the game-winning goal in the Bulldogs' first-time win over Western Carolina, while assisting in the game-winning shots against SC State and Appalachian State. In her most impressive performance to-date, Aponte converted the game winning shot against Furman to advance the Bulldogs to the semifinals of the SoCon tournament. For her golden goal, she was honored as one of CollegeSoccer360.com's Primetime Performers for Week 11.
"I am so happy for Mariana, Nicole and Vanessa for being named to the All-Conference Teams," added Winch. "Being a freshman here at The Citadel is a very challenging experience. Being able to handle the demands of the day as well as perform as an athlete at a high level is an outstanding accomplishment."
2010 Accomplishments
- Program-first wins against Maine and Charleston Southern
- Program-first Southern Conference wins against Appalachian State, Davidson, Elon, Furman, Western Carolina and Wofford
- Air Force Academy Fall Classic All-Tournament Team
Mariana Garcia and Shanna Couch
- Bulldog Sleep Inn Classic All-Tournament Team
Jaslene Thiara and Amy Loughran
- SoCon Player of the Week
Amy Loughran
Nicole Levermann
- CollegeSoccer360.com Week-11 Primetime Performer of the Week
Vanessa Aponte
- CoSIDA ESPN Academic All-District 3 Team
Shanna Couch - third team
- TopDrawerSoccer.com
Mariana Garcia
*Women's College Soccer Freshmen Top 100 Players to Watch at No. 100
*Top 20 ranking among the Southern Conference at No. 2
- Southern Conference All Conference
Bob Winch - Coach of the Year
Mariana Garcia - Player and Freshman of the Year, First Team All-Conference, All-Freshmen
Vanessa Aponte - All-Freshmen Team
Nicole Levermann - All-Freshmen Team
- Southern Conference All-Tournament Team
Vanessa Aponte and Nicole Martinoli
- NSCAA/Performance Subaru NCAA Division I Women All-Southeast Region
Mariana Garcia - second team
Top 10 Moments from 2010-11 in Citadel Sports
#10. Cortez Allen selected by Pittsburgh Steelers in 4th Round of NFL Draft — April 30, 2011
# 9. Basketball's Rally Stuns Cats in Cullowhee – February 24, 2011
# 8. Soccer's Surprising Record-Breaking Season – November 3, 2010
# 7. Coming Thursday, August 18, 2011
# 6. Coming Friday, August 19, 2011
# 5. Coming Monday, August 22, 2011
# 4. Coming Tuesday, August 23, 2011
# 3. Coming Wednesday, August 24, 2011
# 2. Coming Thursday, August 25, 2011
# 1. Coming Friday, August 26, 2011
