BATON ROUGE — LSU freshman midfielder Melissa Clarke was named Second-Team All-SEC and a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team for 2005, the league announced at its postseason awards banquet Wednesday.
Clarke becomes just the third freshman in program history to garner All-SEC recognition and the first since Artie Brown was named Second-Team All-SEC in 2001.
“Melissa has had a great season, and she’ll continue to get better year to year,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “We certainly think she’s one of the best freshmen not only in the SEC, but in the country as well. We expect her to continue to receive accolades throughout her four years at LSU.”
The Norcross, Ga., native scored the game-winning goal and her first career goal against Arkansas on Friday and added an assist in LSU’s 4-3 victory en route to earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors Tuesday. The win gave the Tigers their first appearance in the SEC Tournament since 2002.
Clarke has lived up to her billing as a Soccer Buzz Top 50 Recruit as she has started all 18 games she has played this season while scoring one goal and recording four assists for a total of six points. She leads the team with 37 total shots, including 10 shots on goal, and ranks second in assists and fourth in points scored.
2005 SEC Soccer Awards
Co-Coaches of the Year
Angela Kelly, Tennessee
Ronnie Coveleskie-Hill, Vanderbilt
Offensive Player of the Year
Ali Williams, Georgia
Defensive Player of the Year
Tyler Griffin, Vanderbilt
Freshman of the Year
Jennifer Hance, Ole Miss
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Libby Probst, Alabama
First-Team All-SEC
F, Ali Williams, Sr., Georgia
F, Courtney McCrudden, Sr., Kentucky
F, Genna Gorman, So., Tennessee
M, Randi-Lynn Bruso, Jr., Georgia
M, Ali Christoph, Jr.., Tennessee
M, Jennifer Hance, Fr., Ole Miss
M, Chrissy Strini, So., Ole Miss
D, Melanie Booth, Jr.., Florida
D, Ronda Brooks, Jr.., Auburn
D, Kim Perkins, Jr., Vanderbilt
GK, Tyler Griffin, Jr.., Vanderbilt
Second-Team All-SEC
F, Tina Burger, Jr., Arkansas
F, Megan Kerns, Fr., Florida
F, Lea Lafield, Jr., Vanderbilt
F, Kylie Rossi, Fr., Tennessee
M, Melissa Clarke, Fr., LSU
M, Cortni Joyner, Jr., Georgia
M, Ashley Kirk, So., South Carolina
D, Monica Buff, Jr., Vanderbilt
D, Ashley Eason, Sr., Auburn
D, Ashley Harris, So., Florida
GK, Vanessa Phillips-Bosshart, Sr., Tennessee
All-Freshman Team
F, Jackie Acevado, , Tennessee
F, Megan Kerns, , Florida
F, Jessica Lenze, , Vanderbilt
F, Kylie Rossi, , Tennessee
M, Melissa Clarke, , LSU
M, Jennifer Hance, , Ole Miss
M, Katie Schulz, , Vanderbilt
D, Christine Breaux, , Ole Miss
D, Bethany Frazier, , Mississippi State
D, Jennifer Johnson, , Auburn
D, Colleen Posey, , Alabama
D, Megan Tomlinson, , Georgia
GK, Kara Gudmens, , Alabama