Missouri State University

Nov. 3, 2011

Missouri State women's soccer senior goalkeeper Jessica Teahan headlined six Bears to earn awards at the annual banquet held prior to the State Farm MVC Tournament on Thursday night. Teahan took home her third All-MVC first team honor and was decorated as the inaugural MVC Goalkeeper of the Year. The award marks the seventh-consecutive year that a Missouri State goalkeeper earned All-MVC first team honors.

Grace Cross joined Teahan on the All-MVC first team while Bethany Smith, Michelle Sommer and Nia Williams earned second team nods. Kelsey Fouch was named to the honorable mention squad and, along with Smith, to the All-Freshman team.

Teahan set career highs in wins (11) and saves (93) en route to her third-straight first-team all-conference accolade. She also recorded a league-high seven shutouts, the second time in her career she has managed seven clean sheets. A winner of three-straight MVC Goalkeeper of the Week honors from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11, Teahan heads the MSU career list with a 0.89 goals against average. She was also named the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week on three occasions this season (Sept. 14, Oct. 5, Oct. 26). She held MVC opponents to just two total goals this season and led MSU to its first-ever 11-match unbeaten streak.

Cross moved to the center back position this season after taking home an All-MVC second team award last season. She once again proved her versatility on the pitch to be invaluable as her goal against Illinois State was the game-winner. Her shift to the midfield late in the match at Creighton led to the Bears' game-tying goal. She was named MVC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 18 and aided in a Bears' run of seven shutouts in eight matches from Sept. 6 through Oct. 7.

Smith quickly became the Bears' offensive leader, scoring a team-high eight goals during the regular season. Four of her goals were game-winners, tying the program record for a single season. She scored goals in four straight matches from Oct. 7 to Oct. 22 and had at least one goal in six of eight matches from Sept. 16 through Oct. 22. Smith earned MVC Newcomer of the Week twice (Sept. 27, Oct. 11) and took the MVC Offensive Player of the Week honor on Oct. 11.

Sommer racked up a team-high 52 shots during the regular season, good for fifth on the single-season leader list. She scored twice, including the game-winner in the conference opener at Indiana State (Sept. 23). Her lone assist was also a game-winner in the Bears' 1-0 win over Saint Louis on Sept. 25. She was named MVC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 27.

Williams led Missouri State in assists for the second-straight season. She racked up five helpers this season, including three assists on game-winning goals. Williams has been the Bears' primary free kick taker the last two seasons. She has been a leader on the Bears' backline that allowed just two goals during conference play and recorded shutouts in seven of eight matches from Sept. 6 through Oct. 7. This is the second time she has been named to the All-MVC second team. She earned honorable mention and all-freshman team honors in 2009.

Fouch has been a rock on defense this season, starting all 17 matches for the Bears. Her 1,469 minutes played is third on the team this season. She has utilized her speed to gather two assists including an assist on Shelby Stewart's game-winning goal against Oral Roberts (Sept. 11). Fouch was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week on Oct. 4 after aiding the Bears' defense to its third-straight 1-0 shutout win.

Missouri State will host the State Farm MVC Women's Soccer Tournament on Friday and Sunday at Cooper Family Soccer Plex. The Bears will face UNI at 6:00 p.m. in Friday's second semifinal. Illinois State will play Evansville at 3:30 p.m. in the other semifinal on Friday. The first 50 Missouri State students to show their ID beginning at 5:00 p.m. will be admitted to the Bears' semifinal match free. For more information on the MVC Tournament, visit missouristatebears.com/womenssoccer.

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