Pacific Palisades, Calif. (Monday, November 16, 2009) – Pali Blues players: Kelley O’Hara, Lauren Cheney, Mariah Nogueria, Ali Riley, Christen Press and Kristen Olsen made the 2009 Pac-10 First Team All Conference Wednesday.
Founded in 1915, the Pac-10 Conference has been deemed ‘The Conference of Champions,’ with 10 of the nation’s premier institutions as members: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington and Washington State. Each year the Pac-10 honors its top NCAA athletes by naming them to their first team, second team or honorable mention.
In addition to first team accomplishments, Kelley O’Hara was selected as the league’s sole Player of the Year. The senior forward has had a record breaking season at Stanford by starting in all 21 matches, scoring 23 goals and earning 11 assists. O’Hara currently leads the league with an untouchable 57 points.
Freshman defensive midfielder Mariah Nogueria also received additional honors by being selected as the Pac-10 All Conference Newcomer of the Year. Nogueria has also played in all 21 of Stanford’s matches and helped her team earn 11 shutouts this season. Nogueria has even managed to score an impressive 5 goals and earn 5 assists from her defensive position.
It should come as no surprise the Pali Blues (a 100% amateur organization) are the back-to-back National Champions of the USL W-League (the top developmental women’s soccer league in the world), since their players proudly occupy 6 out of the 11 first team all conference spots. Blues players not only shine on the field, but they continue to be strong and positive role models to youth communities off the field as well.
“We are pleased to have had the opportunity to spend time with these great players and congratulate them on their accomplishments,” said Pali Blues head coach Charlie Naimo. “I am sure we will see many of them selected in the first round of the WPS draft in January.”
With the first and second round of NCAA Tournament play under way, look for Kelley O’Hara, Lauren Cheney, Mariah Nogueria, Ali Riley, Christen Press and Kristen Olsen to add to their list of accomplishments in hopes of advancing their teams to the championship. Also watch for these women to make a huge impact in the upcoming WPS 2010 draft, which is set for January 15th.
“They will be extremely hard to replace but the staff is working hard right now to but Pali in position for the first 3 peat in USL W-League history," said Naimo.
Visit http://www.bluessoccerclub.com/ frequently for upcoming news on their 2010 roster and schedule.
