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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Hand Out Soccer Team Awards
12/16/2002 | Soccer
Dec. 16, 2002
OXFORD, Miss - Having wrapped up its best season ever, the Ole Miss soccer team recently honored a few of the players that made key contributions to the Rebels' record-breaking 2002 campaign.
Nabbing the Team MVP Award was sophomore Kristal Menard. The Crestwood, Ky., native moved from forward to the midfield in 2002 and quickly became a key component in the Rebel attack. Menard finished with a team-high five assists and was second in total points in league games en route to earning All-SEC first team honors.
Having already been named SEC Freshman of the Year and an All-SEC first team member, Kelly Renie also collected the Rebels' Offensive MVP award. She was one of the nation's premier goal-scorers in her first collegiate season, ranking top 12 in NCAA Division I in goals per game. After missing last season with a torn ACL, Renie returned to lead the SEC in goals and total points in league games. She recorded the game-winner in nine of the 13 UM victories, and finished the regular season with 18 goals, the second-highest season total in school history.
The Defensive MVP Award was also presented to a freshman in Germantown, Tenn., native Lyndsey Williams. She started all 20 games of her rookie campaign and anchored a UM defense that easily set new school records for fewest goals and points allowed in a season. Williams also netted the game-winner against Georgia State for her first career goal.
Leigh Barrow picked up the Most Improved Player Award. The sophomore midifielder from Guntersville, Ala., saw limited action a year ago but returned to start 13 games on the outside for Ole Miss. Barrow chipped in offensively with three assists as well as her first career goal against Mississippi State. She also continued to excel in the classroom and was selected to the Verizon Academic All-District VI second team.
Junior midfielder Amy Sample took home the Unsung Hero Award. A starter in all 20 games, Sample tied for third on the squad in goals (3) and points (10) and tied for fourth in the SEC in league-game assists (3). She connected on her fourth career game-winner vs. Missouri in overtime and tallied a goal and assist at Mississippi State.
The Coaches' Award was presented to Heather Wilemon. A junior goalkeeper from Tupelo, Miss., Wilemon was a leader for the Rebels on and off the field with her positive attitude and constant selflessness. She also did not allow a score in her limited time in goal.
Ole Miss entered the 2002 season with the goal set on a first NCAA Tournament berth. The Rebels made that a reality with their appearance at the Tallahassee, Fla., regional on Nov. 15. It was the first tourney berth for a Division I team from the state of Mississippi.
Ole Miss' NCAA debut capped a year of firsts for Steve Holeman's club. The Rebels opened the year with a nine-game unbeaten streak, the longest in school history, and were the last undefeated team in the SEC and among the final 11 in DI. Ending with a 13-5-2 record, Ole Miss registered their best single-season winning percentage (.700).
The Rebels finished the campaign top three in the SEC overall standings for the first time. In the rankings, Ole Miss rose as high as fifth in the region and 26th in the national polls - both were new team bests.
Ole Miss' 2002 NCAA Tournament team
