KANSAS CITY, Kan. - UNC Greensboro's Lauren Lopez and Tabitha Padgett were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's All-Southeast Region teams, the organization announced recently.
Lopez, a defender from Concord, N.C., earned a spot on the all-region second team. The senior was one of 10 national finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and was named a second-team All-American by the organization. Lopez took first-team All-Southern Conference honors for the second year in row and was named to the SoCon All-Tournament Team. She scored five points on a goal and three assists this season and was part of a defense that posted 10 shutouts.
Padgett earned a spot on the all-region third team. The forward from Orange Park, Fla., was the SoCon's Co-Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. She scored 19 points on a team-best eight goals and three assists, earning first-team All-SoCon and SoCon All-Freshman honors. Her five game-winning goals - including the only goals in 1-0 wins over then-No. 11 Duke and a regular-season SoCon title-clinching victory over Elon - tied for the league lead.
The duo led UNCG to a 13-7 overall record and a 9-2 mark in the SoCon, helping the Spartans to their fourth consecutive regular-season league title.
The selection of Lopez and Padgett gives UNCG multiple NSCAA all-region performers for the first time since 1998, when Ali Lord and Danica Baker earned first- and third-team honors, respectively. Since, 2000, the Spartans have had eight NSCAAA all-region selections.
- UNCG -