FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2008

Southern places four on NSCAA Academic All-Region Squad

Joplin, Mo.. -- The Missouri Southern Lions have placed four women's soccer student-athletes on the NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-Central Region squad, as announced today.

Headlining the foursome is junior midfielder Nikki Llewellyn (O'Fallon, Mo.), who is a second-team scholar all-region selection with a 3.73 grade-point average as a marketing major. Despite just finishing her junior year, Llewellyn already ranks as the Lions' all-time leader in points (86) and goals scored (38). This year, she scored a team-high 18 goals and tied for second on the team with three assists.

Third-team selections for the Lions were seniors Amy Davis and Ashley Turner. Davis is a physical education major with a 3.78 GPA and finished the year with one goal and one assist. Davis, a native of Fenton, Mo., also provided a reliable defensive effort when called upon as a defender. Turner maintains a 3.85 GPA with a major in biology. Turner provided solid defense and scored two goals and handed out two assists this season. The Columbia, Mo. native concluded her four-year career at MSSU by starting every match since arriving on campus in 2004.

Earning honorable-mention honors is junior defender Kelsey Thomas, a native of Manhattan, Kan. Thomas has recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA in Health/Promotion Wellness. She provided a solid defensive presence this season and scored her first career goal on a penalty kick. Even though she has one year of eligibility remaining, she will graduate early and has wrapped up her career at MSSU.

The Lions tied the school record for wins by notching 11 victories for the third straight season. MSSU finished 11-5-3 overall and 7-5-2 in the MIAA.