Bears Honor Historic 2010 Season with Awards Banquet

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women’s soccer team celebrated their magical 2010 Atlantic Sun Championship season on Thursday night as the team held its annual winter awards banquet. The Bears held the private affair for players, parents, coaches and staff at the Bear Rock Café on the Mercer campus, just days after the team was honored during halftime of the Mercer women's basketball game against Jacksonville.

Bears head coach Grant Serafy doled out personal awards during the ceremony, but also pointed out that it was the effort of the entire team that accounted for much of the success last season. The Bears qualified for their first-ever NCAA Women’s College Cup in 2010 after winning the program’s first A-Sun tournament championship back on November 6. Mercer won their final six matches of the season to clinch their bid to the national tournament and outscored their opponents 14-2 in that stretch.

Seven seniors, many of whom will graduate in May, leave the program as one of the most decorated classes in Mercer women’s soccer history. However, their efforts are not lost on the Bears returning players as Serafy expects his talented team to maintain the championship expectations for next season.

The Bears gathered for dinner which was followed by the awards presentation that included the NCAA medals and Atlantic Sun All-Conference plaques and certificates. Serafy also handed out the team’s traditional Bear awards which included:

Most Balls Won – sophomore defender P.A. Upson

Overall Evaluation Top Performer (Goalkeeper) – junior goalkeeper Cristina Guilarte  

Overall Evaluation Top Performer (Field Players) – sophomore defender P.A. Upson

Golden Boot Award (top scorer) – senior defender Kacie Hudson

Most Valuable Attacker – senior forward Lauren Johnson

Most Valuable Defender – senior defender Raschelle Riley

Most Valuable Player – senior defender Kacie Hudson

“It was a nice evening and a good way for us to celebrate a fantastic season," Serafy said. "It was especially significant to recognize our seven seniors and their contributions to the program – they have been an integral part of two championships and have laid a very solid foundation that will enable our program to reach even greater heights.”

The Bears have started preparation for the 2011 season and will play a number of exhibition matches in the coming months to prepare for the fall season. Stay tuned to MercerBears.com for more updates on the spring season.