BATON ROUGE — LSU’s talented Mitnick sisters were each honored with prestigious soccer awards on Friday as Ashley was named to the Soccerbuzz All-Central Region Third-Team and Tara was named to the All-Central Region Freshman Team.
“It is an outstanding honor to be named to one of these all-region teams,” said LSU head coach George Fotopoulos. “Not only is it saying that you are a very talented player, but it’s saying that you are one of the best players in the entire region. I’m just extremely happy for both Tara and Ashley. They are both great people and no one deserves it more than they do.”
Ashley Mitnick, the elder of the two sisters, was named to the Soccerbuzz All-Central Region team for the second time in three years on Friday. The Tigers’ senior also received the honor after leading LSU to a 15-6 overall record in 2000.
During the 2002 campaign, Ashley scored four goals and added five assists en route to becoming LSU’s all-time assist leader with 19.
Tara Mitnick, who started in all 20 of the Tigers’ contests last season, was named to the All-Central Region Freshman Team after compiling three assists from her position at left defensive back. Earlier this week, she was named LSU’s Co-Freshman of the Year and played an integral factor in the Tigers’ 12-5-3 overall record during the 2002 season.
“Again, I feel that every time one of our individual players receives an award that it is a direct reflection of our team’s success,” Fotopoulos said. “We had a very good season last year, therefore a lot of our players are earning these individual accolades.”
The LSU soccer team will next be in action on March 8, as the Tigers begin their spring season by hosting the second-annual LSU Spring Classic at the LSU Soccer Complex.
2002 Soccer Buzz All-Freshman Team
Central Region
Danielle Fauteux, F, Tulsa
Jen Nobis, F, Missouri
Kelly Renie, F, Ole Miss
Caroline Smith, F, Kansas
Carrie Berend, M, Texas A&M
Christie Cigno, M, St. Louis
Pam Karakusis, M, Nebraska
Lauren McIver, M, Oklahoma
Fran Munnely, M, Colorado
Kaletia Roberts, M, UTEP
Lauren Colwell, D, Oklahoma State
Julie Gailey, D, Texas
Tara Mitnick, D, LSU
Andrea Sparks, D, Arkansas
Kati Jo Spisak, GK, Texas A&M
2002 Soccer Buzz All-Region
Central Region Third Team
F Kim Harvey, Jr., Southern Methodist
F Kelly McDonald, So., Texas
F Kim Patrick, Sr., Tennessee
F Caroline Smith, Fr., Kansas
M Valerie Henderson, Jr., SE Missouri State
M Jenny Kehl, Sr., St. Louis
M Kayla Lockaby, So., Tennessee
M Kristin Warren, Sr., Denver
D Aimee Bugay, Sr., Colorado
D Jenny Hamilton, Jr., SE Missouri State
D Ashley Mitnick, Sr., LSU
D Sara Vienberg, Jr., Louisiana-Lafayette
GK Erin McLeod, So., Southern Methodist