Four Runnin' Bulldogs Earn NCCSIA All-State Accolades
December 05, 2019 | Women's Soccer
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – Four Gardner-Webb women's soccer players All-State recognition in the University Division from the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) on Thursday.
Defender Kylie Ameres and midfielder Stina Kleppe earned First-Team All-State honors, while forward Maddie Turlington and defender Jaasiel Forde were named Second-Team All-State.
The NCCSIA All-State University Division includes players from NCAA Division I schools. Charlotte and UNCW led the way with five players honored while the Runnin' Bulldogs had four student-athletes recognized. High Point and Western Carolina also had multiple players honored with two each with Appalachian State being the lone school with one honoree.
Ameres (Palmetto, Fla. / Manatee HS) started all 22 matches and helped the Runnin' Bulldogs record five shutouts – all against Big South Conference opponents. She scored three goals, including the game-winner at USC Upstate and added three assists for nine points. In addition to her NCCSIA accolade, she was named Honorable Mention All-Conference in November.
Kleppe (Skien, Norway / Dahlske videregående skole) earned All-State recognition for the third time in four seasons. She was also a First-Team All-Big South selection in 2019 and ended her collegiate career as a four-time All-Conference honoree. On Monday, she was named a Third-Team All-Southeast Region selection by the United Soccer Coaches. She ended her four years at Gardner-Webb with 27 goals and 15 assists. As a senior, she led the team with 12 goals and 29 points and was second on the squad with five assists. She was third in the conference in points and game-winning goals.
Turlington ((Roanoke, Texas / Byron Nelson HS) was the team's leader in assists with eight and also scored five goals for a total of 18 points. She earned NCCSIA All-State honors for the second consecutive year and previously received recognition from the Big South as a First-Team All-Conference member. Her eight assists placed her fifth among student-athletes in the Big South.
Forde (Trincity, Trinidad and Tobago / Bishop Anstey HS) started 21 matches and logged nearly 2,000 minutes as a defender. She helped the 'Dogs record back-to-back shutouts in October at Presbyterian and inside Greene-Harbison Stadium against UNC Asheville. Additionally, she helped the 'Dogs to a 1-0 win over Longwood in the season finale which clinched home field advantage for the Big South quarterfinals. She scored one goal and added an assist as a sophomore en route to both Big South All-Conference NCCSIA All-State honors.
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