Dec. 4, 2012
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's soccer team has landed five players on the NSCAA All-Pacific Region squad. The first-team honorees include redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Boaz, senior forward Megan Jurado and junior defender Haley Palmer, while redshirt senior defender Tiffany Hurst and junior midfielder Carli Johnson garnered second-team accolades.
"I am extremely proud of our team success this year, and happy for these players that are being recognized in our region," head coach Mike Friesen said. "They have all earned this recognition with their hard work and commitment to their own development and to the team.
"As we have said all year ... these awards are only possible because we have such an amazing team. Everyone that surrounds these players on a daily basis has helped them to be successful. I am excited that we have had so much recognition in our program this season. It feels great to be rewarded for all of the hard work our team has put in."
It marks the first time in program history that SDSU has placed three players on an all-region first team. In 1998, the Aztecs had two players earn first-team honors in Lori LaCoursiere (Soccer Buzz) and Catherine McGuire (NSCAA). San Diego State also sets another record in its five honorees this year surpassing the four total players to have earned all-region accolades in school history.
Boaz put up some gaudy numbers in 2012 as she finished her second year on Montezuma Mesa with a school-record goals-against average of 0.60. The MW all-tournament team selection had 11 shutouts on the season, which tied for the most in Aztec single-season history. Boaz also had a streak of six consecutive shutouts to begin the year en route to SDSU playing nearly 598 minutes of shutout soccer.
Jurado left quite a mark in her final campaign on Montezuma Mesa. The Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year native netted 15 goals, including seven game-winners, and nine assists for a team-high 39 points. Her 15 goals and 39 points each rank second most in school history for a single season, while her nine assists are tied for eighth. Jurado's success resulted in a number of honors, highlighted by being just the second Aztec to garner NSCAA All-America honors.
Palmer, the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, started all 24 games on the season and played in 2056 of the 2195 total minutes in 2012. The Windsor, Calif., native was part of a defense that tallied 13 total shutouts, while holding opponents to just 15 goals on the season. Palmer along with the rest of the consistent backline also made Boaz's job easier as the goalkeeper only had to tally 62 saves in 2012.
Hurst was an instrumental part of the Aztecs advancing to the Sweet 16 for just the second time in program history. An all-MW first-team selection, Hurst scored the game-winning goal at the 82:53 mark in a 2-1 victory over California on Nov. 16. On the season, the Santa Rosa, Calif., native tallied five goals and three assists while also being a member of an Aztec backline that allowed just two goals in the second half or overtime all season.
Johnson, the MW Tournament Most Valuable Player and an all-MW first-team selection, was arguably the most consistent player for San Diego State in 2012. The Santa Rosa, Calif., native started all 24 games and saw action in all but 19 minutes of the season. In addition to being a key part of a starting backline that helped the Aztecs finish with a miniscule goals-against-average of 0.61, Johnson contributed two goals and four assists on the offensive side of the ball.
It was a magical year for San Diego State in 2012 as it finished the season with a school-record 21 victories en route to advancing to the Sweet 16. In addition to the aforementioned records, the Aztecs set a few more. The 2012 SDSU squad had the fewest losses (two), the highest winning-percentage (89.6) and also tied the school record with 13 shutouts, equaling the 1998 team's performance.