WINTER PARK, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers have enjoyed unequalled success in Sunshine State Conference women’s soccer, but one prize had always eluded them. Becca Rogers took care of the dearth, winning the 2013 SSC Defensive Player of the Year on the All-SSC team announced by Commissioner Jay Jones on Thursday.
Head coach Denise Brolly became the third Buccaneer coach to the league’s Coach of the Year honor in her first season at the helm. Brolly led the Bucs to a 12-3-1 mark and the regular-season championship of the conference. She joins Mike Neveu (1999) and Kyllene Carter-Weiss (2002) as rookie Buccaneer coaches to win the award.
Rogers ran away with the award this season, leading the league in goals against average (0.62), save percentage (88.1) and tying in shutouts (8). In conference games, she was even better, with a 0.36 goals against average, 93.0 save percentage and five shutouts. She also led the league in saves during conference game at 40.
Rogers joins the list of Buccaneers to earn SS Player of the Year honors, including Emelie Karlsson (Offensive 2002-03-04-05 and Player 2002-03-05), Jenny Nilsson (Player 1999), Ashley Snell (Player 2000) and Tiina Saario (Player 2004).
Ashley Harlan chipped in on the defensive end, earning first-team honors from her left back position. She played 1309 of 1463 minutes and locked down the left side for the Bucs, who allowed more than one goal only once this year.
Offensively, the Bucs had two first teamers in forward Lauren Manna and midfielder Lavinia Nkomo. Manna paced the squad with nine goals and Nkomo added eight, while both finished with a team-high 22 points. Nkomo did some of her best work in conference, with seven of her eight goals and five of her six game-winners in SSC play.
Midfielder Tamara Vuckovich was named to the second team after tying Nkomo and Chelsea Stoeckigt for the team lead in assists. She was also a threat on free kicks, scoring twice from beyond 30 yards.