Four Lady Monarchs named to SOCCER BUZZ All-Region Team

SOCCER BUZZ Magazine released its postseason awards today, listing four Lady Monarchs and head coach Joe Pereira as All-Region honorees. Among the 46 Mid-Atlantic Region teams, Pereira was named as a finalist for the All-Region Coach of the Year, while senior Katie Watson earned First Team honors, seniors Shavon Knight and Elizabeth Brewster earned Third Team honors, and rookie Lisa Bernardini earned All-Freshman Region honors. Watson was also named First Team All-State by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID).

Pereira guided the Lady Monarchs to its first ever national ranking en route to a 14-4-1 season and a CAA Quarterfinal appearance. The Lady Monarchs boasted a powerful offense and stingy defense that lost just one game at home all season. Pereira finished second to just Steve Swanson from Virginia, the Coach of the Year in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Katie Watson, a senior forward from Woodbridge, Virginia, was named to the NSCAA First Team All-Region in December, and adds the SOCCER BUZZ First Team honor today. She led Old Dominion in every offensive category, scoring a career-high tying 33 points this season. She was third in the conference in scoring, tied for third in goals and tied for fifth in assists. It was her second time being named to the All-Region team by SOCCER BUZZ.

Watson was also named to the VaSID First Team today, voted by the sports information directors in the state. It was her second VaSID All-State appearance.

Shavon Knight, a senior forward from Waldorf, Maryland, was named to the All-Region team for her second time as well, as she hauled in the Third Team honor. Knight helped Watson lead ODU\'s explosive offense, posting a career-high 10 assists and adding nine goals for 28 total points. With freshman Victoria Johnson and Watson, Knight became part of the first trio in ODU history to each score 20 points or more. Knight also led the team in game-winners this year.

Defender Elizabeth Brewster, from Clifton, Virginia, was also named to the SOCCER BUZZ Third Team. Brewster led the ODU defense from the center back position, assisting in 11 team shutouts and a league best 0.82 goals against average. Brewster also added four goals and three assists for 11 points, including a dramatic game winning goal with no time left at George Washington University.

Finally, freshman defender Lisa Bernardini from Langhorne, Pennsylvania, was named to the All-Mid-Atlantic Frehsman squad. Bernardini was a force defensively for Pereira, constantly the last line of defense between ODU and the goal. Bernardini marked the opposing teams best player often and was second on the team in minutes played as a true freshman.

Old Dominion went 14-4-1 overall and 7-3-2 in the CAA during the 2008 season. The Lady Monarchs were nationally ranked for the first time in program history and shattered team marks for goals, assists and points, as well as goals against average and goals allowed in a season. The team outscored opponents at home in the regular season, 28-1.