ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop women's soccer team earned six All-Conference awards, along with head coach Spencer Smith being named Big South Coach of the Year, it was announced today by the league office.

This is Smith's third career Big South Coach of the Year honor, and first as a women's soccer head coach. He received two Big South Coach of the Year awards during his 16 season as the head men's soccer coach at Radford. Smith has led the Eagles to a 6-2-1 conference record in 2010, which ties a school record for most conference wins in a season.

Junior forward Courtney Durbin, sophomore midfielder Allie VandeWater and senior defender Katie Perkinson were all named First Team All-Conference for Winthrop. Senior forward Tricia Vensel garnered Second Team All-Conference honors, freshman defender Anna Sammons was placed on the All-Freshman Team and junior midfielder Rachel Webster received All-Academic Team recognition.

Durbin, who earned her first career All-Conference recognition, currently leads the Eagles on the season with six goals, 14 points, four game-winning goals, and is tied for first with 17 shots on-goal. Her six goals are a career-high and are the highest for a Winthrop player since Chelsea White posted eight goals during the 2007 season.

VandeWater has dished out a career-high four assists during her sophomore season en route to being placed on the All-Conference Team for the first time in her career. The four assists are tied for the team-lead, and she is also third on the team with two goals (ties a career-high) and eight points. Her two assists against Marshall in the season opener on Aug. 27 tie a school record for most assists in a game.

Perkinson has earned her second career All-Conference award as she received All-Freshman Team honors during the 2007 season. She has appeared and started in all 17 games this season and has attempted one shot, which came in the season-opener against the Thundering Herd. She has been the leader of the Eagle defense which has held opponents under 10 shots five times this season against Appalachian State, VMI, UNC Asheville, Presbyterian and Coastal Carolina.

The three players named First Team All-Conference are the most in program history for Winthrop.

Vensel is being recognized as a Second Team All-Conference player for the second time in her career. She was named Second Team All-Conference as a junior last season. Currently in 2010, Vensel is tied with VandeWater for the team-lead in assists with four, and Durbin for shots on-goal with 17. She has also attempted a team-high 40 shots and is second with three goals (ties career-high) and 10 points.

Sammons receives her first career All-Conference honor as she has appeared in 14 games this season with 10 consecutive starts dating back to the final non-conference game of the season at SC State on Sept. 29. Since her insertion into the lineup against the Bulldogs, the Eagles have gone 6-3-1, including a school record six-match unbeaten streak. She has attempted a total of three shots on the season, which have come in conference play against the Keydets, Blue Hose and Charleston Southern.

Webster was named to the All-Academic Team for the second consecutive season as she was also on the team last season as a sophomore. She has recorded one goal on the season, and is tied for third on the team with two assists and tied for fourth with four points. In her 58 career games played, Webster has started in 56 of them. She made the Dean's List once as a freshman and the President's List the last three semesters. Webster was named to the Big South Presidential Honor Roll two straight times and currently holds a 3.9 GPA while majoring in Elementary/Middle Level Match Education.

2010 Big South Women's Soccer All-Conference Awards

First Team All-Conference
Marky Boyce, Sr., F, Charleston Southern
Courtney Durbin, Jr., F, Winthrop
Kelli Joline, Fr., F, High Point
Julie Ruh'e, Fr., F, Radford
Anna Tupy, Sr., MF, Coastal Carolina
Latrice Lee, Sr., MF, Radford
Caitlin Wesnesky, Sr., MF, Charleston Southern
Allie VandeWater, So., MF, Winthrop
Janay Whittaker, So., D, High Point
Tyler Drake, Fr., D, High Point
Katie Perkinson, Sr., D, Winthrop
Chloe Urig, Fr., D, Charleston Southern
Che' Brown, Fr., GK, Radford

Second Team All-Conference
Michelle Dennis, Sr., F, Charleston Southern
Aimee Luurtsema, Jr., F, Liberty
Tricia Vensel, Sr., F, Winthrop
Kate Wilkinson, Fr., F, Coastal Carolina
Sara Rager, Sr., MF, High Point
Madison Short, So., MF, Liberty
Sarah Strand, Jr., MF, VMI
Emma Krantz, Fr., MF, Charleston Southern
Kelly Morrison, Jr., D, VMI
SharDavia Bell, Sr., D, Radford
Ariana Espinoza, So., D, Liberty
Sammy Vercellino, Fr., D, High Point
Chelsea Hearne, Jr., GK, Gardner-Webb

All-Freshman Team
Che' Brown, GK, Radford
Kelli Joline, F, High Point
Kate Wilkinson, F, Coastal Carolina
Chloe Urig, D, Charleston Southern
Toni Lashley, F, Charleston Southern
Anna Sammons, D, Winthrop
Megan Reynolds, F, Gardner-Webb
Julie Ruh'e, F, Radford
Tyler Drake, D, Charleston Southern
Sammy Vercellino, D, High Point
Casey Norris, MF, Liberty

All-Academic Team
Staci Ulichnie, Sr., MF, Charleston Southern
Colleen Schohl, Sr., D, Coastal Carolina
Megan Tremblay, Jr., MF, Gardner-Webb
Brielle Spencer, Jr., D, High Point
Aimee Luurtsema, Jr., F, Liberty
Melanie Martin, Sr., MF, Presbyterian College
Kathleen Jarvis, Sr., MF, Radford
Megan Dent, So., GK, UNC Asheville
Simone Jimenez, So., MF, VMI
Rachel Webster, Jr., MF, Winthrop

Attacking Player of the Year
Marky Boyce, Sr., F, Charleston Southern

Defensive Player of the Year
Che' Brown, Fr., GK, Radford

Freshman of the Year
Che' Brown, GK, Radford

Coach of the Year
Spencer Smith, Winthrop

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Brielle Spencer, Jr., D, High Point