2015-16 PBC Yearbook | Page 28

PBC YEARBOOK CSU’s Corcione Wins NCAA Elite 90 Award 2 5 Y E A R S PENSACOLA, Fla. – Continuing her run of awards, Columbus State University junior women’s soccer player Nicole Corcione was named the Elite 90 award winner for the 2015 NCAA Division II women’s soccer championship. The award was handed out at the championship banquet on Wednesday night in Pensacola, Fla. Corcione adds the Elite 90 award to a long list of honors presented to her since the end of the regular season. The Candler, N.C. native has also been named the D2CCA Southeast Region Player of the Year, Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year and a CoSIDA Academic All-American. The Elite 90 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s championships. In order to be eligible, the student-athlete must be a sophomore or above and participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed. Corcione is the second student-athlete in Columbus State history to be recognized with the award joining Filip Cojbasic, who won the award for men’s tennis during the 2010-11 academic year. Columbus State’s leader in points, Corcione carries a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and is majoring in nursing. She becomes the fourth Peach Belt Conference student-athlete to win the NCAA Elite 90. Columbus State’s Filip Cojbasic won for men’s tennis in 2011, USC Aiken’s Andrew Ward received the honor for men’s golf in 2014 and Lander’s Diego Zegarra claimed the men’s tennis honor in 2015. CSU’S Corcione, UNG’s Pennock Named NSCAA Women’s Soccer All-Americans KANSAS CITY, MO -- The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) has named Columbus State’s Nicole Corcione and North Georgia’s Jade Pennock All-Americans. The PBC has now had multiple NSCAA All-Americans for eight straight seasons. Corcione was named a first-team All-American, becoming the eigth PBC women’s soccer player to earn that distinction. The award is another in an awards- filled year as the Candler, N.C. native has also been named the D2CCA Southeast Region Player of the Year, Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year, a CoSIDA Academic All-American and won the NCAA Elite 90 Award. She is also currently preparing to play in the national championship match on Saturday. On the field, Corcione has turned in one of the top seasons in program history. She has scored 15 goals on the year, including one in Sunday’s national quarterfinal victory over fourth-ranked Barry. Corcione has also added 13 assists on the season, which ranks third in the country. The junior continues to climb the all-time record charts for the 26 2015 Women’s Soccer All-Conference Team First Team Forwards Jenny Allen, Armstrong State Nicole Corcione, Columbus State Maria Marti Bartis, Clayton State Jacy Ramey, North Georgia Midfielders Olivia DeJong, Armstrong State Sophia Matonak, North Georgia Jade Pennock, North Georgia Shelby Rolling, Columbus State Defenders Jessica Allen, North Georgia Megan Gil, North Georgia Jasmine Senécal-Guzman, UNC Pembroke Siobhan Wilson, Clayton State Goalkeeper Maylyn Parsons, Columbus State Second Team Forwards Courtney Crump, UNC Pembroke Chelsea Person, Columbus State Olivia Jarrell, Columbus State Rachel Vanhorn, North Georgia Midfielders Ragnheidur Bjarnadottir, Georgia College Lucy Cunningham, Clayton State Frida Lindblom, Flagler Taylor Marks, Columbus State Cassandra Wade, Columbus State Defenders Michelle Allen, Armstrong State Hugrun Elvarsdottir, Columbus State Allyease Schwartz, Georgia College Jessi Vaverka, North Georgia Goalkeeper Ashlee Graham, Georgia College Brine Golden Ball Winner (Most Goals Scored) Nicole Corcione, Columbus State Player of the Year Nicole Corcione, Columbus State Freshman of the Year Olivia Jarrell, Columbus State Coach of the Year Jay Entlich, Columbus State 2015-16