Decker and Creamer lead the way for SIUE women's soccer |
Keli Keener |
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Sophomore Colleen Creamer and freshman Sara Decker excelled for the women's soccer team this season. Creamer led the team in goals while Decker led in assists. The Cougars unfortunately may not receive a National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament bid in spite of their admirable record. As a senior at Incarnate Word High School, Creamer led her team to the Missouri High School State Championship. She was named first-team All-State and was a second-team All-Conference selection. Creamer, a forward/midfielder from St. Louis, was the Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year last season for SIUE and was named second-team All-Conference. She led the team with 13 goals, nine assists, 42 shots and 35 points. She was third in the conference in scoring and fourth in goals while starting in 15 of her 19 games played. This season, Creamer again led the team in scoring with 10 goals in her 19 games played. She is ranked fourth this season in the GLVC in that respect. She also racked up five assists on the side. "Colleen, once again, played tremendous for us," coach Brian Korbesmeyer said. Decker, a midfielder also from St. Louis, was named All-Conference and first-team All-State as a senior at Rosary High School. She lettered in soccer, basketball, softball and track. Decker recorded nine goals during her first season as a Lady Cougar. She came in fifth in the GLVC in scoring behind junior Laura Gregory of the University of Indianapolis. Decker had 38 shots on goal and led the Lady Cougars with nine assists. She is ranked seventh in GLVC in goals and third in assists behind Tricia Ruark of Northern Kentucky University. "Sara has had one of the finest freshman years I have ever seen," Korbesmeyer said. It will be a close race for Freshman of the Year this season as Decker battles Lorrie Jones of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Jones is first overall in the conference in scoring this season. The women's soccer team finished second in the GLVC with its 8-0-3 record. SIUE finished 13-4-3 overall and ranked ninth in the region in the final standings. "I think we played well as a team," Decker said. "We all got along on and off the field, and I think that is important. Becky (Baker) and I came here together and it made for an easier transition to college soccer." "We had a really good year," Creamer said. "We lost a few seniors from last season and we will lose three now (Beth Louderman, Rebecca Mays and Michelle Montgomery). I think we were one of the best teams even though we had a good number of underclassmen. We will only get better." | |