Nov. 6, 2008

By Brett Maikowski, Soccer Contact

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Three Southeast Missouri State soccer players were selected to All-Ohio Valley Conference teams today. The awards were voted upon by the conference's 10 head coaches and sports information directors.

Senior forward Casey Kraft (St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx Hall) was named to the All-OVC First Team, while sophomore midfielder Kristi Frick (Villa Ridge, Mo./Washington) notched a spot on the All-OVC Second Team. Rounding out the awards for the Redhawks, sophomore midfielder Mabel Velarde (Quito, Ecuador/Lee University) captured All-Newcomer Team honors.

Kraft has been a dominant force for the Redhawks this season, as she has scored four out of the total nine goals for the team. She has been among the top offensive players in the conference as well, as she is second in goals per game, third in shots per game, and is in the top ten in points per game. Kraft has now earned a spot on all three teams in her collegiate career after being selected to the OVC All-Newcomer Team in 2005 and the All-OVC Second Team in 2006.

Sophomore Kristi Frick earned a spot on the All-OVC Second Team. (Photo Courtesy of Patrick Clark)

Frick has contributed greatly to the Redhawks success on defense this year, as they have only allowed 16 goals over the entire season, which puts them in second place in the conference and fourth in goals against average. She has also helped on offense as she scored the Redhawks' second goal of the season midway through the season against Tennessee-Martin at Houck Stadium.

Sophomore Mabel Velarde notched All-OVC All-Newcomer Team accolades. (Photo Courtesy of Patrick Clark)

Velarde led all newcomers for the Redhawks with 20 shots on the season and trailed only Ashley Runion and Casey Kraft for the team lead. She also contributed an assist to Frick in the Tennesee-Martin game, which ended in a 1-1 tie. Velarde also leads the team in minutes played for the year, as she rarely left the game.