Craft Named First Team All-BIG EAST

Nov. 4, 2005

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - University of Louisville women's soccer player Jamie Craft has been named to the 2005 All-BIG EAST First Team, while teammates Monique Gjini and Gina Lower earned third team honors.

"It is great for the program and these individuals to earn this honor in this tremendous conference," said Head Coach Karen Ferguson.

Craft, a forward from Owings, Maryland, lead the team with 11 goals, tying for the fifth-best single season total in school history. Her 25 points also lead the team, as she played in all 19 matches, starting 17. She ranks second on the U of L career list in goals(33) and points (75), trailing Jennifer Coe in both columns(40 and 87). Eight of Craft's goals came in conference matches.

Lower, a senior and captain of the team, anchored the back line which limited opponents to a 1.15 GAA. She did not leave the field once, playing every minute of every match. She added two assists on the season and has started 71 matches in her Cardinal career, placing her second in school history.

Gjini, a sophomore midfielder from Edmonton, was second on the team in goals (7) and points (19), while leading the team in assists with five, tying her for the fifth-highest total in school history. She started all 19 games this season for the Cards

For Craft, a junior, the award follows her selection as First Team All-C-USA and All-Region as well as All-C-USA Tournament last season. In 2003, she was Conference USA Freshman of the Year, and a member of the All-Freshman Team, Third Team All-C-USA and All-Region Freshman team.

Lower as on the 2004 C-USA First Team, earned third team honors in 2002, and was on the All-Freshman team in 2001. She earned All-Region honors last year, and was recently named to the COSIDA Academic All-District First Team, after earning third-team honors last season.

Lower was also named the U of L Accounting School of Business outstanding graduating senior.

Gjini was on the C-USA and Regional All-Freshman Teams last season, and was BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week on October 24.

The Cards finished their first season in the BIG EAST 11-8-0, tying for the second highest win total in school history and advancing to the BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinals.

2005 BIG EAST Award Winners

Offensive Player of the Year:Katie Thorlakson, Notre Dame, Sr., F

Defensive Player of the Year: Candace Chapman, Notre Dame, Sr., D

Midfielder of the Year: Jen Buczkowski, Notre Dame, Jr., M

Goalkeeper of the Year: Jillian Loyden, Villanova, Jr. GK

Rookie of the Year: Kerri Hanks, Notre Dame, Fr., F

Coach of the Year: Markus Roeders, Marquette


All-BIG EAST First TeamElizabeth Eng, Connecticut, Fr., FMeghan Schnur, Connecticut, So., MBrittany Taylor, Connecticut, Fr., FJulianne Sitch, DePaul, Sr., M/FJamie Craft, Lousiville, Jr., FJen Buczkowski, Notre Dame, Sr., MCandace Chapman, Notre Dame, Sr., DKerri Hanks, Notre Dame, Fr., FKatie Thorlakson, Notre Dame, Sr., FJillian Loyden, Villanova, Jr., GKMarisa Kanela, West Virginia, Sr., M

All-BIG EAST Second TeamNiki Cross, Connecticut, So., F/MChrissy Skogan, Georgetown, Jr., MMichelle Pitzl, Marquette, Jr., MJulie Thompson, Marquette, Sr., F/MBrittany Bock, Notre Dame, Fr., MChristie Shaner, Notre Dame, Jr., DJamie Pelusi, Pittsburgh, Sr., GKHolly Ryder, St. John's, Sr., M/FLaura Koch, Villanova, Sr., DAshley Banks, West Virginia, So., F/MAmanda Cicchini, West Virginia, Fr., M

All-BIG EAST Third TeamJen Lee, DePaul, Jr., DShara McNeill, Georgetown, Sr., MMonique Gjini, Louisville, So., MGina Lower, Lousiville, Sr., MMeghan Connelly, Marquette, Fr., MErica Bohn, Notre Dame, Sr., GkAmanda Cinalli, Notre Dame, So., FLizzie Reed, Notre Dame, Jr., M/FZoe Avner, Rutgers, Sr., MLana Bannerman, West Virginia, Jr., GKKambria Riggins, West Virginia, Sr., D

All-BIG EAST Honorable MentionBrittany Tegeler, Connecticut, Fr., FLaura Boyer, Marquette, So., GKSarah Uyenishi, Marquette, Sr., DChristy Zwolski, Marquette, So., FCarrie Dew, Notre Dame, Fr., D

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