Claire Zimmeck Repeats as CAA Player of the Year

11/08/07 9:30PM

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - William and Mary junior forward Claire Zimmeck has been selected as the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year for the second consecutive season in voting by the league’s head coaches. Junior midfielder Danielle Collins and freshman defender Kaitlin O’Connor also garnered first-team all-conference accolades, while junior goalkeeper Meghan Walker was tabbed to the second team. Junior defender Abby Lauer was named to the all-conference third team, while O’Connor and freshman defender Katy Winsper were chosen to the All-Rookie Team. The awards were presented Thursday night on the eve of the semifinals of the CAA Women’s Soccer Championship in Virginia Beach.

Zimmeck becomes just the third two-time CAA women’s soccer Player of the Year after leading the league in goals (16), points (32) and game-winning goals (9) for the second straight season. Additionally, the recognition marks the 10th time a Tribe player has earned the league’s top honor. One of the nation’s top players, the Fairfax, Va., native ranks eighth in the country with 0.842 goals per game. Zimmeck scored at least one goal in 10 of W&M’s 19 matches and recorded five multi-goal matches. Highlighting her impressive season was a three-match span in late October when she tallied seven goals in wins against Towson, George Mason and Georgia State. With 41 career goals, Zimmeck ranks fifth on the program’s all-time list.

Collins also earned first-team all-conference honors for the second consecutive season after another great year. Despite playing in just 12 contests, she ranked tied for third on the team with nine points on four goals and one assist. One of her four scores was the game-winner against Delaware, while she also found the back of the net against Oklahoma, Drexel and Old Dominion. Early in the season, the Cream Ridge, N.J., native was honored for her outstanding play with selections to the all-tournament teams at the VCU Invite and the Tribe Invite.

Joining Zimmeck and Collins on the all-conference first team was O’Connor, who played a significant role in the Tribe’s success. The Chantilly, Va., native started all 19 matches as a freshman and totaled six points on two goals and a pair of assists. O’Connor was also a key member of the Tribe defensive unit that recorded 12 shutouts and allowed just 0.46 goals per game, a figure that ranks fourth nationally. She was selected as the CAA Co-Rookie of the Week on Oct. 29 after scoring her first career goal in the 1-0 triumph at UNC Wilmington.

After another outstanding season, Walker was named to the all-conference second team for the second straight year. The Wallingford, Pa., native led the conference and ranked sixth nationally with a 0.474 goals against average. Additionally, she ranked second in the league with nine shutouts. Highlighting her long list of impressive performances this season was a shutout against then-No. 2 North Carolina, which earned her NSCAA National Player of the Week honors.

An instrumental member of the W&M defensive corps, Lauer earned third-team all-conference accolades. In addition to helping the Tribe post 12 shutouts and a 0.46 goals against average, Lauer totaled three assists. With outstanding performances in the wins against UNC and Navy, she was selected to the VCU Invite All-Tournament Team. An outstanding student, the Oak Hill, Va., native was also recently named to the Academic All-District III First Team.

Another key defensive player for the Tribe, Winsper garnered All-Rookie Team honors after starting all 19 matches as a freshman. The Virginia Beach native finished the year with an assist and was selected as the CAA Rookie of the Week on Oct. 8 after helping the College record shutouts at Hofstra and Northeastern.

The top-seeded Tribe will begin its quest for the Colonial Athletic Association championship when it squares off against fourth-seeded Virginia Commonwealth University in a semifinal matchup on Friday evening at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex at 7:30 p.m.


2007 All-CAA Women’s Soccer Team
(Selected by CAA Women’s Soccer Coaches)

First Team
Player, School
Brooke DeRosa, Hofstra
Annie Lowry, James Madison*
Claire Zimmeck, William and Mary*
Danielle Collins, William and Mary*
Kimmy Germain, James Madison#
Edel Malone, Hofstra
Kelly Renkin, UNC Wilmington*
Bridgit Cooley, VCU
Kaitlin O’Connor, William and Mary
Sue Weber, Hofstra*
Brandi Daniels, Towson*

Second Team
Player, School
Caitlyn Germain, Delaware
Amy Pickard, Delaware
Cate Tisinger, James Madison
Jenny Cauble, UNC Wilmington*
Megan Flanagan, VCU#
Stephanie Power, VCU
Tiffany Yovino, Hofstra
Christa Mann, Georgia State
Samara Stephen-Dowd, VCU
Caitlin Walko, James Madison
Meghan Walker, William and Mary#

Third Team
Player, School
Kelly Keelan, George Mason
Lisa McKenzie, Old Dominion
Jasmine Riley, VCU
Myriam Bouchard, VCU
Caroline Brown, Old Dominion
Sophia Palmquist, Northeastern*
Emily Sammis, Delaware
Jess Crankshaw, Hofstra
Abby Lauer, William and Mary
Jessica Paris, George Mason
Kaitlin Bond, Drexel

2007 CAA Player of the Year: Claire Zimmeck, William & Mary
2007 CAA Defensive Player of the Year: Sue Weber, Hofstra
2007 CAA Rookie of the Year: Cate Tisinger, James Madison
2007 CAA Coach of the Year: Dave Lombardo, James Madison

* - All-CAA First Team in 2006 # - All-CAA Second Team in 2006


All-Rookie Team
Player, School
Tandy Banks, UNC Wilmington
Heidi Blankenship, Georgia State
Kim Chiarelli, Drexel
Melissa Gomes, Towson
Ashley Kukura, Old Dominion
Kaitlin O’Connor, William and Mary
Laurel Pastor, VCU
Amy Pickard, Delaware
Teresa Rynier, James Madison
Cate Tisinger, James Madison
Katy Winsper, William and Mary
Tiffany Yovino, Hofstra