Carrollton, Ga. – November 8, 2005 – The West Georgia Braves made waves in 2005, earning a trip to the Gulf South Conference tournament in their first year in GSC play. But when conference officials handed out postseason awards Tuesday, UWG was at the top of the list.
Junior forward Sara Sohlberg, who led the nation in Goals per game with 1.49, was named Co-Conference Player of the Year along with CiCi Marrero of West Florida. The native of Voxnabruk, Sweden finished the season with 27 goals and six assists.
The news is also a first in the UWG Athletic department, as Sohlberg becomes the first West Georgia woman to be named Conference Player of the Year. The most recent POY for the Braves was Darnell Miller last year in basketball.
Head Coach Gareth O’Sullivan was also named Co-Coach of the Year along with West Florida’s Joe Bartlinski. It is the fifth time that a UWG coach has been voted Coach of the Year in the Gulf South Conference. O’Sullivan joins Roger Kaiser, Ed Murphy, Robbie Cameron and Amy Draper as West Georgia’s representatives.
Sohlberg also earned First-Team All-GSC accolades alongside fellow UWG forward Maz Sweeney. The junior from Donegal, Ireland had eight goals this season and led the Braves in assists with 10.
One Brave earned second-team All-GSC honors, Katie Perea, the leader of the UWG defense. While the freshman from Cumming, GA had very little stats to show, she was the vocal leader of a West Georgia defensive effort that allowed just 1.40 goals per game in 2005.
West Georgia finished the season at 13-7-1 on the year and 6-3-1 in the Gulf South Conference.