DRAKE AND BROWN GARNER NSCAA ALL-REGION HONORS

Radford Is The Only Non-ACC Team With Multiple Selections

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Juniors Tyler Drake and Che' Brown garnered 2012 NCAA Division I All-Southeast Region honors, announced recently by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

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Coming off back-to-back Big South Tournament Championships and NCAA appearances, two Highlanders have been recognized in the same season for the first time in program history. The two were integral parts of Radford's highly ranked NCAA defense.

Drake (right) earned her second straight second-team honor, while Brown gained her first honor with a third-team recognition. As part of a very tough region, which includes the highly-touted ACC, the Highlanders were the only non-ACC school to earn multiple honors.

"It is a fantastic honor for these two players, but also for our program especially considering the region in which we play,” head coach Ben Sohrabi said. “Our entire defense was great this year and it truly was a team effort, but both of these individuals had great seasons. Getting two players on the all region team really shows that our program has taken a jump in many ways.”

Drake, a three-time Big South first team selection, anchored a defensive unit that posted a Big South record 14 shutouts, ranked third in the NCAA in shutout percentage (.667), fourth in save percentage (.875), fifth in shutouts and 17th in goals against average (0.64). The Highlanders also engineered a stretch of 660:06 without allowing a goal that was key to their 17-match undefeated streak, which tied for the sixth longest in Division I. The central defender also added her first collegiate goal, an 89th-minute equalizer at Winthrop, and assisted on a pair of goals.

“Tyler helped us tremendously with her leadership, communication, and top level athleticism,” commented Sohrabi. “We asked her to neutralize some of the best players in the conference, region, and nation.”

As the 2012 Big South Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP, Brown (left) concluded her junior campaign as the all-time leader in shutouts at Radford with 27. She broke the previous 27-year old mark held by Hall of Famer Peggy Poore (1982-85). In addition, claimed the Big South's and the program's clean sheet record of 13, surpassing UNC Asheville's Jill Young (1995 - 12) and former Highlander Nyiesha Ford (1997 – 11), respectively. For the season, the last line of the RU defense led the league in save percentage (.880), GAA (0.63), shutouts and shutouts per game. Brown's save percentage (career-best) and GAA ranked 11th and 21st in the NCAA, respectively, while she also charted a career-high 95 saves.

“Che' is a big game performer,” said Sohrabi. “Che' is the foundation of where our defense begins. She did a great job this year organizing her back line, making big saves in big moments, and being an overall great leader of the team.”

Radford concluded its 2012 campaign with a 14-3-4 overall and 7-0-4 Big South record. Along with the undefeated league mark, the Highlanders were perfect at Cupp Stadium (8-0-2) for the first time in program history.

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