A total of six UT Martin soccer players have been recognized as All-Ohio Valley Conference preseason selections, College Sports Madness has recently announced.
The Skyhawks boast Hannah McGowen, Midori Sera and Amy Maksimowicz on the preseason first team, while Kendyl Wilson, Alyssa Curtis and Morgan Brandon earned second team accolades.
UT Martin’s six selections made up 23 percent of the entire squad and were double the amount of any other conference school.
A junior midfielder out of Murfreesboro, McGowen led the OVC and set a Skyhawk single-season record with 10 assists in 2011.
She collected two multi-assist matches, including handing out both assists in the Skyhawks’ 2-1 victory over Morehead State in the OVC tournament championship match. She also added three goals, including the game-winner against Lipscomb on Aug. 28.
An OVC All-Newcomer last fall, Sera was one of UT Martin’s most consistent offensive performers down the stretch.
The San Francisco native amassed four goals, including game-winners at Southeast Missouri on Oct. 21 and against Jacksonville State on Oct. 30. The senior midfielder ranked eighth in the OVC in shots (46) last season.
Maksimowicz, a sophomore defender, also notched OVC All-Newcomer status in 2011.
She logged starts in 22 out of 23 matches and pushed up to record three assists, two of which were game-winners (against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Aug. 19 and at Austin Peay on Sept. 25). The Nashville native was named OVC Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 23.
Starting in 47-of-57 matches in her first three seasons as a Skyhawk, Wilson enters her senior campaign as a central piece of the blitzing offensive attack.
Last season, the forward out of Collierville ranked third in the OVC with six assists, while adding two goals at Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 9 and at Evansville on Sept. 18).
Curtis made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2011, netting five goals.
The sophomore forward came away with game-winners at Georgia State on Aug. 21, Arkansas State on Sept. 4, and at Austin Peay on Sept. 25. The Franklin native also added a multi-goal outing against Georgia State and a goal against OVC foe SIU Edwardsville on Sept. 30.
A junior defender out of Knoxville, Brandon helped lead a defense that generated seven shutouts and only conceded a pair of scores in three matches during the OVC Tournament. She started in a dozen matches and logged 1,079 minutes in 22 games.
For the first time this year, CollegeSportsMadness.com is featuring full soccer coverage.
The website covers all aspects of college sports, from recruiting right up through the draft.
The service has unveiled in-depth previews and rankings over the last few weeks.
During the season, College Sports Madness will feature a weekly Bracketology projection, Player of the Week honors on a national and conference basis, and rank incoming recruits. Published in The WCP 8,16.12