Pirates Earn 2009 NSCAA Soccer Honors

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) released their 2009 Division II awards today and several members of the PBC Tournament champion Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates were honored by the organization.

Senior forward Kristin Burton was named to the 2009 NSCAA Division II All-American First Team, bringing her career full circle - she was also a NSCAA All-American First Team honoree as a freshman in 2006. The PBC's all-time leading goal scorer and a three-time PBC Player of the Year, Burton finished the 2009 ranked second in the nation in points (76) and third in goals (31).

Head coach Eric Faulconer was named the NSCAA Southeast Region Coach of the Year for the second time in his career at AASU - also earning the honor in 2006. Faulconer directed the Pirates (16-4-3) to their first-ever PBC Tournament championship, first NCAA Championships victory as well as the first national ranking to end the season (No. 23).

Three Pirates also earned NSCAA All-Southeast Region honors, led by Burton, who was named a first-team forward. Junior Carey Patterson was also a first-team honoree as a defender, while freshman Morgan Mitchell was a second-team honoree as a midfielder.

Click here to view the NSCAA's 2009 Division II All-American squads, and click here to view the 2009 DII Southeast Region squads.