Dec. 14, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Crystal Royall, Samford's senior goalkeeper on the 2004 Ohio Valley Conference's championship soccer team, was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas (NSCAA) South Region Scholar All-America First Team on Tuesday.

"This is a great honor for Crystal," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "I'm extremely proud of her and what she's been able to accomplish. She exemplifies the sort of athletes that we want here at Samford and she's been great for this University both on the field and in the classroom."

The honor, which is awarded to the top soccer players in the southern portion of the United States, takes into account the student-athlete's performance both on the field and in the classroom. The NSCAA's South Region is perennially one of the most competitive regions in the nation and its district spans all the way from Oklahoma to Florida.

Royall, who became the first player in OVC history to be named both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year earlier this season, was one of 12 people listed on the NSCAA's first team on Tuesday. She is the first Samford player to earn All-South Region honors.

The Bulldogs' senior from Richmond, Va., owns a 3.67 grade point average in physical education and is Samford's all-time leader in both goals against average and shutouts.

During the 2004 season, Royall registered a conference-best seven shutouts and limited her opponents to a 0.64 goals against average. She only allowed 11 goals on the season and compiled an impressive .867 save percentage.

"There are so many talented goalkeepers in this region," Yelton said. "So, I think that this is a great, great honor for Crystal to make the first team. She had a fantastic season for us this year and I think that this is a sign of the steps that we've been able to take as a program."

The Samford University soccer team finished the 2004 campaign with a 10-7-1 overall record and earned its second-straight OVC regular-season championship.

National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas 2004 South Region Scholar All-America Team First Team

GK, Crystal Royall, Sr., Samford University

D, Courtney Baines, Jr., UCF

D, Kayla Birdwell, Jr., Trinity University

D, Stephanie Gulisao, Sr., Central Oklahoma

D, Briana McCarty, Sr., UAB

MF, Allison Blagriff, Sr., UCF

MF, Stephanie Freeman, Sr., Florida

MF, Allison Graham, Jr. Clemson

F, Paige Ledford, Sr., Clemson

F, Kelly McDonald, Sr., Texas

F, Katie Riley, Jr., Francis Marion

F, Kelly Wilson, Sr., Texas

Second Team

GK, Andrea Hinshaw, Furman University

D, Lauren Colwell, Oklahoma State

D, Suzanna LaMotte, UAB

D, Andrea Morrison, Jr., Furman University

D, Molly Porter, Sr., Hardin-Simmons

MF, Carmen Bognanno, Jr., Duke

MF, Jill Heinemann, Sr., Southern Methodist

MF, Cassie Lewis, Jr., Oklahoma State

MF, Laura Probst, Jr., Texas A&M

F, Ashley Kellgren, Sr., Florida

F, Jessica Kellogg, Jr., Oklahoma

F, Erin MacCallum, Sr., Southern Methodist

Third Team

GK, Amber Angereier, Sr., South Alabama

GK, Ashley Lindley, Sr., Georgia

D, Denise Fliesser, Jr. Tusculum College

D, Carolyn Ford, Jr. Duke

D, Courtney Melton, Jr., Memphis

D, Amy Steadman, Jr. North Carolina

MF, Nikki Hawkins, Sr., Houston

MF, Kristal Menard, Sr., Ole Miss

MF, Jennifer Louise Patterson, Jr., Berry College

F, Artie Brown, Sr., LSU

F, Erin Griswold, Sr., North Carolina State

F, Marissa McConihey, Jr., Flagler College