Nov. 6, 2012

Complete All-WCC Release | LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Jenni Benger and Whitney Sharpe were named to the 2012 All-West Coast Conference Second Team, highlighting five total LMU women's soccer players honored by the league Tuesday.

Etajha Gilmer and Cori McGovern earned All-WCC Honorable Mention honors while rookie Jocelyn Blankenship was named to the All-WCC Freshman Team.

The second team honors were a first for both the sophomore Benger and senior transfer Sharpe. Both were key members of the Lions' defense with Benger running things from the center of the back line and Sharpe as an outside marking back. LMU had six shutouts on the season and allowed just 1.22 goals per game - allowing more than two goals to a single opponent just three times.

Benger also added her first collegiate goal this season - a header off a corner kick in a 1-1 double overtime draw against the No. 1 UCLA. Sharpe also scored once while her ability to press forward into the attack led to a pair of assists.

This marks the third straight year Gilmer has been honored by the WCC. An honorable mention selection and All-Freshman Team member in 2010, she also earned second team honors last fall. Gilmer joined Benger and Sharpe as another key member of the LMU back line this season while tallying her fifth career goal in a 3-0 upset of then No. 15 Pepperdine.

McGovern also makes the WCC list for the third time. She was an All-Freshman Team member in 2009 and an honorable mention selection in 2010. The four-year starting central midfielder contributed two goals this season.

The future is bright for the Lions if Blankenship is any indication. The All-WCC Freshman Team pick played nothing like a rookie all fall for LMU, tallying three goals and a team-high five assists to tie for the team lead of 11 points.

The Lions concluded the 2012 season with a 9-8-2 overall record and 3-5-0 WCC mark, good for sixth place in the highly competitive league that sends four teams into the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year.

2012 West Coast Conference Player of the Year
Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall, Sr., D, BYU

2012 West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year
Kendall Johnson, Jr., Portland

2012 West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year
Erica Owens, Jr., BYU

2012 West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year
Michele Murphy, F, BYU

2012 West Coast Conference Coach of the Year
Jennifer Rockwood, BYU

2012 ALL-WEST COAST CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Name, School, Class, Position
Cloee Colohan, BYU, Jr., M
Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall, BYU, Sr., D
Amanda Frisbie, Portland, Jr., F
Anisa Guajardo, Pepperdine, Sr., M/F
Sofia Huerta, Santa Clara, So., F
Kendall Johnson, Portland, Jr., D
Julie Johnston, Santa Clara, Jr., M
Michelle Pao, Pepperdine, Jr., D
Jessica Ringwood, BYU, Sr., F
Danielle Russell, San Diego, Sr., D
Lynn Williams, Pepperdine, So., F

2012 ALL-WEST COAST CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Name, School, Class, Position
Jenni Benger, LMU, So., D
Michelle Cruz, Portland, Jr., M
Carlee Payne Holmoe, BYU, Sr., F
Mackenzie Krieser, San Francisco, So., F
Rebekah Kurle, Portland, So., M
Rachel Manning, BYU, Jr., M
Meghan O'Rourke, San Diego, So., D/M
Erica Owens, BYU, Jr., GK
Whitney Sharpe, LMU, Sr., D
Meleana Shim, Santa Clara, Sr., M
Allie Vernon, Santa Clara, Jr., D

2012 ALL-WCC HONORABLE MENTION
Roxanne Barker (Pepperdine); Taylor Brooke (Portland); Megan Connor (San Francisco); Erin Dees (Portland); Etajha Gilmer (LMU); Cricket Harber (Gonzaga); Mariah Hobbs (San Diego); Noelle La Prevotte (Portland); Lauren Luke (Gonzaga); Melinda Madden (Saint Mary's); Morgan Manchester (Gonzaga); Lauren Matheson (Santa Clara); Kelley McCloskey (San Diego); Cori McGovern (LMU); Christina Moberg (San Francisco); Michele Murphy (BYU); Vicki Shimkus (Saint Mary's); Kelsea Smith (Pepperdine); Dani Weatherholt (Santa Clara)

2012 ALL-WEST COAST CONFERENCE FRESHMAN TEAM
Name, School, Position
Jocelyn Blankenship, LMU, F/M
Mandy Davis, Pepperdine, F/D
Meggie Gulczynski, San Diego, D
Paige Hunt, BYU, D
Devlyn Jeter, Portland, M
Noelle La Prevotte, Portland, M
Lauren Luke, Gonzaga, F
Michele Murphy, BYU, F
McKenna Tollack, San Diego, GK
Andi Tostanoski, Santa Clara, GK
Dani Weatherholt, Santa Clara, M

-GO LIONS-