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Three Nebraska soccer players have been selected as candidates for the 10th-annual Missouri Athletic Club Collegiate Player of the Year award, the club announced Monday. Husker senior goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc, junior midfielder Meghan Anderson and senior defender Jenny Benson are among 15 candidates for the official National Soccer Coaches Association of America award for Division I players, which will be selected by a vote of NSCAA members.
LeBlanc notched her fifth and sixth consecutive shutouts last weekend against 24th-ranked Missouri on Friday and Kansas on Sunday. The Maple Ridge, British Columbia, native owns a Big 12 Conference-leading 0.29 goals-against average, and has posted 600:22 scoreless minutes. Her career goals-against average of 0.55 ranks seventh in NCAA Division-I history.
Along with LeBlanc, Benson has helped the Husker defense record 10 shutouts in 12 games. A Huntington Beach, Calif., native, Benson has also contributed offensively, scoring three goals this season - including the game winner at Baylor on Sept. 22. A three-time All-Big 12 Conference selection as a midfielder, Benson moved to defender earlier this year.
Anderson, who ranks fourth among NU's all-time point leaders with 97 points, has scored 24 points on seven goals and 10 assists this year. The Omaha, Neb., native could threaten Lindsay Eddleman's school record of 128 career points by the end of the season.
Also among the 15 candidates were three athletes from North Carolina and two athletes from Santa Clara. North Carolina is represented by sophomore forward Susan Bush, junior midfielder Jena Kluegel and junior defender Danielle Borgman, while Santa Clara is represented by junior defender Danielle Slaton and sophomore midfielder Aly Wagner.
Other candidates include: Notre Dame senior midfielder Anne Makinen; Connecticut junior forward Mary-Frances Monroe; Penn State sophomore forward Christie Welsh; Virginia junior midfielder Lori Lindsey; Southern California senior midfielder Isabelle Harvey; Florida junior forward Abby Wambach; and Missouri senior forward Nikki Thole.
The winner will be honored at an awards banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club on Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, and at the NSCAA convention later that month in Indianapolis.