CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Sophomore Tyler Drake (Palmyra, Va./Fluvanna County) was tabbed 2011 Big South Defensive Player of the Year and Radford head women's soccer coach Ben Sohrabi was named Coach of the Year, highlighting numerous other awards, announced by the league office Wednesday.
 
Sohrabi was recognized as the league's top coach for the second time in his career while Drake, Radford's central defender, was named the league's top defensive player for the first time in her career.  It marks the second consecutive year a Highlander has taken home Defensive Player of the Year, as Che' Brown (Manassas Park, Va./Manassas Park) was last year's recipient.
 
"It's an honor to receive these awards.  I have a lot of respect for the players, coaches and teams in our conference so the recognition for myself and our players is appreciated," commented Sohrabi.  "I have always felt all individual awards are a result of hard work from the team and once again I think that is the case here."
 
In addition, Drake earned a spot on the all-conference first team, the lone unanimous selection on either first or second team.  Brown joined Drake on the first team for the second straight year, taking the goalkeeper position.
 
Julie Ruh'e (Monrovia, Md./Urbana) collected second-team all-conference honors.  The sophomore striker led Radford in goals (7) and assists (5) for the second straight year.  Ruh'e matched her goal production from a year ago and still has a chance to surpass that Thursday in the Highlanders' quarterfinal match.
 
Garnering a spot on the all-freshman team was midfielder Kara Nay (Montclair, Va./Forest Park) and defender Stephanie Herb (Fairfax Station, Va./Robinson Secondary). 
 
A senior with a 4.0 overall GPA and majoring in Spanish, Megan Rhodes (Blacksburg, Va./Blacksburg) was named all-academic.  Rhodes has been an integral part of Radford's defensive success.
 
2011 Big South Conference Women's Soccer Award Winners
 
First-Team All-Conference
F: Courtney Durbin, Sr., Winthrop
F: Krystyna Freda, Fr., Winthrop
F: Ashley Clark, Fr. Campbell
F: Pirjo Leppikangas, Sr., Campbell
MF: Kelli Joline, Soph., High Point
MF: Kirsty Meyer, R-Jr., Campbell
MF: Leilani Halkiotis, Sr., UNC Asheville
MF: Allie Vandewater, Jr., Winthrop
D: Tyler Drake, Soph., Radford *
D: Janay Whittaker, Jr., High Point
D: Taylor Brown, Jr., Campbell
D: Casey Bolduc, Sr., Charleston Southern
GK: Che' Brown, Soph., Radford
 
Second-Team All-Conference
F: Silvia Betancourt, Sr., Liberty
F: Dawn Rollyson, Sr., Gardner-Webb
F: Julie Ruh'e, Soph., Radford
F: Toni Lashley, Soph., Charleston Southern
MF: Becca Hemby, Soph., High Point
MF: Megan Curan, Fr., Gardner-Webb
MF: Katie Taber, Sr., High Point
MF: Sarah Strand, Sr., VMI
D: Megan Pritts, Soph., Winthrop
D: Sammy Vercellino, Soph., High Point
D: Lauren Stell, Jr., Liberty
D: Alyssa Clark, Soph., Coastal Carolina
GK: Andrea Ritchie, Sr., High Point
 
All-Freshman Team
Krystyna Freda, F, Winthrop *
Ashley Clark, F, Campbell *
Maddie Boone, MF, Liberty *
Jacky Kessler, F, High Point
Stephanie Herb, D, Radford
Ashley Herndon, D, Winthrop
Stephanie Hand, D, Charleston Southern
Megan Curan, MF, Gardner-Webb
Kara Nay, MF, Radford
Kaitlyn Eckert, F, UNC Asheville
Gracie Boswell, F, Presbyterian College
 
All-Academic Team
Taylor Brown, Campbell
Allison Lewis, Charleston Southern
Jessie Benchley, Coastal Carolina
Megan Tremblay, Gardner-Webb
Brielle Spencer, High Point
Karen Blocker, Liberty
Emily Boggus, Presbyterian College
Megan Rhodes, Radford
Hannah Jeske, UNC Asheville
Simone Jimenez, VMI
Rachel Webster, Winthrop
 
Attacking Player of the Year
Courtney Durbin, F, Sr., Winthrop
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Tyler Drake, D, Soph., Radford
 
Freshman of the Year
Krystyna Freda, F, Winthrop
 
Coach of the Year
Ben Sohrabi, Radford
 
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Brielle Spencer, High Point
 
* - Unanimous selection