Oct. 31, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Four Vanderbilt soccer players picked up all-conference plaudits in a vote by the Southeastern Conference coaches released today by the league office.
Senior defender Monica Buff (Lilburn, Ga.) headlined the group as a first-team selection. Senior goalkeeper Tyler Griffin (Charlotte, N.C.) picked up second-team honors along with junior forward Amy Baumann (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and sophomore midfielder Katie Schulz (Peachtree City, Ga).
In addition to the all-conference picks, senior defender Kari Boersma (Littleton, Colo.) was named to the SEC Soccer Community Service Team for her work in the Nashville community.
Buff, a second team All-SEC pick a year ago, has anchored the defense as a four-year starter with 66 career starts entering Wednesday’s SEC tourney contest against South Carolina. She has played a important role in the Commodores 25 shutouts over the last two seasons. She scored her first career goal this season in a 2-1 overtime win over Arkansas.
Griffin, a first team All-SEC pick and Defensive Player of the Year award winner in 2005, set the school’s new career shutout mark against Auburn on Oct. 1 with 29 and now has 31 entering tomorrow’s game. She recorded eight shutouts in the regular season and finished second in the SEC with a 0.57 goals against average.
Baumann finished the regular season on fire offensively with six goals in the last six games. She leads the team with seven goals entering the USC game and has four-game winners on the year as well.
Schulz, an SEC All-Freshman team selection a year ago, has started 38 of 40 games played in two seasons at Vanderbilt, including 18 starts this year. She has one goal on the year and has played an integral role in the Commodores 26 wins over the last two seasons.
Boersma is picking up the award for the second straight year. This year she was the Student Advisory Council President at Vanderbilt and helped organize a Christmas party, given by Vanderbilt student-athletes, for inner-city children. She was in charge of organizing the “soccer station” during Field Day, and helped with Kids Zone (where inner-city children gather with Vanderbilt student-athletes for food and games). Boersma has spent time visiting children in the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital while signing autographs and taking pictures with them. She also hosted a soccer camp through the Martha O Bryan Center (a local non-profit organization).
