BATESVILLE, Ark. (11/12) -- The TranSouth Women's Soccer All-Conference team was announced Friday and the undefeated, regular-season conference-champion Martin Methodist RedHawks led the way with six players, all first-team selections.
Forward Mor Efraim (Sophomore/Nevatim, Israel) represented MMC as a First Team All-Conference honoree, her first of her career. Named as TranSouth Offensive Player of the Week once this season, Efraim led the RedHawks in scoring and assists, with nine total goals and seven helpers. Starting all 17 games, her five game-winners led the league, while she ranks in the top five in all statistical categories in the TranSouth.
Midfielder Simone Souza (Senior/Sao Paulo, Brazil), a 2009 All-America honorable mention and TSAC First Team All-Conference selection, earned her second straight recognition as a first teamer. Souza led the midfield as one of two players remaining from the 2007 National Champion squads, helping the RedHawks to a 11-3-3 overall record. The senior was a part of her fourth consecutive regular season conference championship as a RedHawk, scoring one goal this season.
Midfielders Daniel Sofer (Sophomore/Hadera, Israel) and Anna Becerra (Freshman/Richland Hills, Texas) both earned first team honors, as MMC took three of four midfield spots on the first team. The honor represents Sofer's second at Martin Methodist, as she scored three goals and was credited with five assists in 16 starts. Becerra, MMC's only freshman to earn an All-Conference nod, was a 13-game starter in 15 appearances, and scored one goal in her first season of collegiate competition, complimenting the efforts of Sofer and Souza.
2009 Freshman of the Year, Yalu Borbolla (Sophomore/Mexico City, Mexico), returned to the TranSouth All-Conference first team for the second season in a row. An everyday starter for MMC, Borbolla scored two goals and two assists, and was the only defender selected All-Conference for the RedHawks.
Goalkeeper Hanit Schwarz (Junior/Beer-Sheva, Israel) also made her second appearance among the conference ranks, this time on the first team after earning a second team selection last season. Schwarz was named TSAC Defensive Player of the Week this season, and has made 36 total saves in almost 1,603 minutes of play. She has allowed just eight goals this season, ranking sixth among NAIA keepers.
Conference regular-season runner-up Lyon College was tied for second with five players on the all-conference team, including three first-team honorees. Union University also had five players on the team, all second-team nods. Cumberland and Freed-Hardeman had four each on the team, while Bethel picked up three and Trevecca had one.
The TranSouth Conference Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year awards will be announced following the finals of the 2010 TranSouth Conference Women's Soccer Championship between the RedHawks and Lyon College.
The two teams meet for the second time at East Campus this season, as MMC edged the Scots 1-0 in their regular season matchup. Lyon, the number two seed, again travels to Pulaski for tonight's final, with kickoff slated for 5pm.
In addition to All-Conference honors, five RedHawks were named as TSAC Scholar Athletes including, Sofer, Efraim, Shir Levo (Sophomore/Timrat, Israel), Hannah Martin (Junior/Shelbyville, Tenn.), and Lauren Atchley (Senior/Ardmore, Ala.).
