Gjini Earns All-BIG EAST Honors

Aug. 9, 2007

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - University of Louisville midfielder Monique Gjini has been selected to the 2007 All-BIG EAST Preseason team as determined by a vote of the league's 16 head coaches.

"We're very excited that Monique has been selected to the All-BIG EAST preseason team because she has worked extremely hard to earn the honor," said U of L Head Coach Karen Ferguson.

"She knows that it is only a preseason vote, and I know that she will want to prove worthy of that honor come the end of the season as well."

Gjini, a senior from Edmonton, Alberta earned First Team All-Region and Second Team All-BIG EAST after leading the team in assists (7) and finishing second in goals (5) and points (17) last season. The seven assists tied for the second best single season in Cardinal history. Her 17 career assists is just two off of the career record at U of L.

She started all 20 matches and helped the Cardinals to the most successful season in school history last year, with the Cardinals earning a national ranking and advancing to the NCAA's for the first time.

Notre Dame junior forward Kerri Hanks was a unanimous selection as preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Teammate Carrie Dew was named Defensive Player of the Year and Villanova senior Jillian Loyden was tabbed preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. All three athletes earned the same honor following the 2006 slate.

Louisville opens the season on August 21 in Knoxville against Tennessee at 5:00 p.m. ET in an exhibition match.

2007  BIG EAST PRESEASON AWARD WINNERSPreseason Offensive Player of the Year*Kerri Hanks, Jr., F, Notre Dame
Preseason Defensive Player of the YearCarrie Dew, Jr., D, Notre Dame
Preseason Goalkeeper of the YearJillian Loyden, Sr., GK, Villanova
2007 ALL-BIG EAST PRESEASON TEAM^Brittany Bock, Jr., M/F, Notre DameAmanda Cicchini, Jr., M, West VirginiaAmanda Cinalli, Sr., F, Notre DameGina DeMaio, So., M, RutgersCarrie Dew, Jr., D, Notre DameKelly Eagan, So., D, VillanovaDeana Everrett, Jr., F, West VirginiaMonique Gjini, Sr., M, Louisville*Kerri Hanks, Jr., F, Notre DameJillian Loyden, Sr., GK, Villanova*Meghan Schnur, Sr., M, ConnecticutBrittany Taylor, Jr., M, ConnecticutMichele Weissenhofer, So., F, Notre Dame
* - Unanimous Selection^ - Due to a tie in voting, extra members have been added to the BIG EAST Preseason All-Conference Team

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