Three from women's soccer earn all-region honor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOV. 29, 2005

Three from women's soccer team earn All-Central Region honor

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Three members of the Missouri Southern State University women's soccer team have been named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Central Region team.

Midfielder Nikki Llewellyn, goalkeeper Kaney Tyler and defender Jessica Buhman were all named to the all-region squad. Llewellyn was picked for first-team honors, MSSU's first ever first-team all-region choice in women's soccer, while Tyler was a second-team selection. Buhman was named to the third team.

Llewellyn, a 5-foot-7 freshman from O'Fallon, Mo., finished the 2005 season with a team-high 14 goals to go with two assists. The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Freshman of the Year, she led the MIAA in goals (0.70 per game) and tied for the conference scoring lead (1.50 ppg.) Her total of 30 points this year is the third highest in a single season at MSSU.

Tyler, a 5-foot-7 sophomore from Topeka, Kan., was the MIAA Most Valuable Player after posting the second-best shots-on-goal save percentage in NCAA Division II (.911), an MIAA-leading and school-best 0.58 goals-against average and a school-record 10 shutouts. Tyler's goals-against average ranked 10th nationally in Division II.

Tyler, already MSSU's career shutouts leader with 13, finished the 2005 season with 112 saves and allowed just 11 goals in more than 1700 minutes in goal.

Buhman, like Llewellyn and Tyler, was also a first-team All-MIAA choice this year. The 5-foot-5 junior from Olathe, Kan., played a key role on the MSSU defense that surrendered only 15 goals while posting 10 shutouts. She has started 58 of 60 career games for the Lions and this year was the only member of the team to enter the season with at least two years of collegiate playing experience.

Missouri Southern's three all-region selections is not only the most ever by the team, but also tied for the most this season by an MIAA squad. Washburn University also had three selections on the all-region team.

The 2005 Lions went 11-5-4 overall, which tied the school mark for victories and recorded their best-ever MIAA finish (T-2nd) with a 6-3-4 conference record.