Six Columbus State Women’s Soccer Players Honored by NSCAA

KANSAS CITY, KS – The National Soccer Coaches Association of America released their post-season awards and six Lady Cougars were honored for their outstanding play this season.  Headlining the group was Stephanie Lowery as she was named to the All-American Second Team and All-Southeast Region First Team.

The Sandy, Utah native was joined on the All-Southeast Region First Team by Stephanie Parrish.  Willi Babillis, Kansas Bayly and Kate Walton were named to the Second Team while Kim Gaughan picked up Third Team honors.

Lowery led the Peach Belt Conference in scoring (43 points) this season as she knocked in a school record 19 goals and tallied five assists.  The midfielder scored in seven of the final eight games of the year and had a hat trick against Carson-Newman.  She was named the PBC Co-Player of the Year, Daktronics Southeast Region Player of the Year and Daktronics All-American First Team honoree.

Parrish was second on the team with 33 points on 13 goals and a team-high seven assists.  It was the third straight season she was named to the NSCAA All-Southeast Region team, garnering second team honors in 2009 and first team in 2008.  Walton was tied for third on the team with 17 points, netting five goals and also assisting on a team-high seven assists.  The midfielder was also an All-Peach Belt Conference First Team choice and Daktronics All-Southeast Region second team selection.

Columbus State had a fantastic year defensively and Babillis, Bayly and Gaughan were a huge factor in that.  Babillis started the season splitting time in goal, but solidified herself as the number one goalkeeper midway through the year and flourished.  The freshman set several school records this year including goals against average (0.41), save percentage (.909), allowed the fewest goals in a season (six) and only suffered one loss on the year, posting a 10-1-1 mark.  She was an All-PBC and All-Southeast Region Second Team honors.  She was a part of 15 shutouts this year, the third time in four years the team has had at least that many in a season.

Bayly and Gaughan were part of the back four in front of Babillis that did a great job limiting the opposing teams from having a quality scoring opportunity.  CSU allowed just 12 goals on the year, the fewest number of goals permitted in single-season.  Bayly scored three goals and added three assists while earning All-PBC First Team honors.  Gaughan has been a mainstay in the backline for three years and assisted on two goals in 2010.  She received All-PBC and Daktronics All-Southeast Region Second Team laurels.