Oct. 31, 2006
SALT LAKE CITY - San Diego State sophomores Jen Mello (Pleasanton, Calif.) and Erika Sutton (Arvada, Colo.) have been named all-Mountain West at the annual pre-championship banquet in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mello was selected to the first team, while Sutton earned second-team honors for the second straight year.
The all-MWC selection is a first for Mello, who led the Aztecs in goals (eight), points (19), shots on goal (22) and game-winning goals (three). Her eight goals and 19 points placed her second in the MWC in both categories. Five of her eight goals came during conference play and her 19 points set a career high. The sophomore was named to the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week as well as the MWC Co-Offensive Player of the Week for her performance versus No. 15 BYU and Wyoming. Her three-goal, one assist performance during the week led SDSU to a 1-0-1 record. The Aztecs are 5-0-1 in 2006 when Mello has at least one point.
Sutton, who earned second-team accolades as a freshman, led the SDSU squad in assists (five) and was second on the team in points (11). Her five assists were second in the MWC behind Utah's Amanda Feigt, who tallied six. Sutton had a fine game at Purdue on Aug. 27 when she scored two goals and had two assists for a career-high six points. Her performance at the Purdue Boilermaker Cup earned her MWC Offensive Player of the Week honors as well as a spot on the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week. The sophomore registered 44 shots to lead the team and place her in a tie for sixth in the MWC.
The Aztecs, who are the No. 5 seed at the MWC Championships, will face No. 4 seed New Mexico tomorrow at Ute Field in Salt Lake City. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT.