BATON ROUGE — LSU soccer players, Ashley Mitnick and Artie Brown, each received second team All-Southeastern Conference honors on Thursday, becoming the only Tiger duo to accomplish the feat in the seven years of the LSU soccer program.
“This is a huge accomplishment for both Ashley and Artie,” said LSU head coach George Fotopoulos. “It is a testament to how hard each of them worked this season and how dedicated they were this year to both the team and in getting better. I’m extremely proud of both of them.”
Mitnick, the Tigers’ junior from Lilburn, Ga., became the first LSU soccer player to be named to the All-Conference squad in three-consecutive seasons.
She has proven to be one of the SEC’s premier defenders and has led the Tigers in assists during both the 2000 and 2001 seasons.
As LSU’s captain and leader both on and off the field, Mitnick was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and tied the Tigers’ career record for assists in 2001. Mitnick’s six assists during the year increased her career total to 14 and knotted her with former Tiger great, Michelle McKinney.
“Ashley did an excellent job for us this season,” Fotopoulos said. “She’s been a good leader for our younger players and she always puts the team before herself. I’m glad that she keeps receiving these awards and honors, because she’s earned each and every one of them.”
Brown, LSU’s highly touted freshman from University High School in Baton Rouge, became only the second Tiger newcomer to be named to the SEC’s second team. The Tigers’ forward finished the 2001 season as LSU’s leader in goals scored, points and shooting percentage. She ended the year with eight goals, 18 points and a .320 shooting percentage.
“As the season went on, I began to see more and more improvement in Artie,” said Fotopoulos. “After a while, I realized that she was not only one of the best players on our team, but in the league. She has a really worked hard this season and I’m glad she earned this award.”