James, Duncan, and Bradford all earned All-Southeast Region honors for the first time

Pioneers place three on Daktronics All-Southeast Region Team

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum College forward Tramicka James and defenders Claire Duncan and Ashley Bradford were selected to the 2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Women’s Soccer Team Tuesday, in a vote of the region’s Sports Information Directors. All three were named to the Daktronics All-Region Team for the first time in their careers as the trio marks the second-largest number of All-Southeast Region selections in program history.

James, a freshman from Wilson N.C., led the Pioneers with 11 goals and eight assists, earning All-Southeast Region Second Team honors after leading Tusculum to a sterling 15-5-3 record and the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 2007. The 5-4 forward scored a team-high three match-winners this season, including the deciding tally against Wingate on Oct. 24 en route to an All-South Atlantic Conference Second Team selection.

Duncan, a sophomore from Greeneville, Tenn., was named to the Second Team after finishing the season tied for third on the team with six goals, including a pair of match-winners. The 5-6 defender was a perfect 3-for-3 on penalty kicks this season, and helped the Pioneers hold their opponents to one goal or less in 15 matches, including seven clean sheets.

Bradford was a critical component of the Pioneers’ success this season, answering the call countless times this fall to mark and shut down opposing teams' top players. The 5-7 defender has come through in the clutch several times, scoring three match-winners this fall to tie James for the team lead. Bradford's three deciding goals came in three consecutive matches early this season, as the senior defender netted the match-winners against Southern New Hampshire and Lynn.

The Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Teams are voted on by the sports information directors of the Southeast Region. The region is comprised of the Conference Carolinas, the Peach Belt Conference, the South Atlantic Conference, Chowan University and North Greenville University.

The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition.

Tusculum is expected to return 10 starters and 21 letter-winners from this year’s squad, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer National Tournament. The Pioneers are also expected to return eight of their top 10 scorers from this season.

- TC -

2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Women’s Soccer Team

First Team

Region Player of the Year: Kristin Burton, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Second Team

*-indicates was a member of the 2008 Daktronics All-Southeast Region Team