GREENVILLE, S.C. (November 2, 2015) — The Lady Bruins soccer team won in a thrilling double-overtime penalty shootout on Saturday evening against Toccoa Falls College to capture the first National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) regional championship in program history. The Bruins defense stood strong as the team wasn’t scored on throughout the entire regional playoffs.
The team walked away with more than the championship as eight different players were recognized for their play this season. Coach Chris Carmichael was named South Region Coach of the Year. He helped lead the Bruins through a tough 2015 schedule to a 9-9 record, and the program’s first regional championship. Miriam Lozano was given the NCCAA DII South Region Player of the Year. She scored 14 goals over the course of the season to go along with 2 assists.
“Mimi is an exceptionally dangerous player that has brought a lot to our program this year,” Coach Chris Carmichael said. “She plays with a lot of confidence and has quick feet and a strong shot. She has acclimated to our program very well and plays very unselfish on the pitch. This award is well-deserved for all her hard work this year.”
The Bruins had eight players named to the 1st team and 2nd team All-Region squad. Jenn Wise, Mimi Lozano, Abby Davis and Tessie Estrella were named first team All-Region while Spencer Martin, Kaitlyn Hummel, Caralise Roach and Jessica Baun received second team honors.
“We take great pride as a team in these players being recognized,” Carmichael said. “The foundation of the team is in making the people around you better and each of our players on the roster did that this season. These players being recognized is really a ‘team’ recognition of how we helped each other this season.”
The Bruins will compete in the NCCAA DII National Tournament November 11-14. The team enters the tournament with the #2 seed as they look to win their 2nd national championship in the last three seasons.
This post was written by Sports Information Director Jonny Gamet.
