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Nov. 3, 2009
UTEP soccer player Skye Schultz has been tabbed as the 2009 Conference USA Freshman of the Year while seniors Tameka Sumter and Chelsea Winbush (first-team All C-USA) and senior Jo Radcliffe (third-team All C-USA) also were recognized in the annual awards, as announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon.
Sumter becomes just the third Miner to garner multiple first-team all-conference recognition, joining former greats Ja’net Esparza and Kim Rogers. Winbush has now reaped a pair of all-league honors (2008 second-team recipient) while Schultz stands alongside Esparza as the only players in program history to take home freshman of the year awards.
The honor for Radcliffe is the first of her career.
"We are very honored to have four players chosen for All-Conference honors,” UTEP head coach Kevin Cross said. “This is a tremendous honor in one of the most competitive conferences in the country for soccer. We are hoping these players honored can help lead us to success during tournament play. I am very proud of all four of them, and their teammates who helped them obtain such an outstanding recognition."
Schultz burst onto the scene, compiling seven goals, a C-USA leading nine assists for a team-best 23 points in playing a large role for the league’s top-rated attack. The gifted forward has started all but one match this year and is on track to become the first freshman to pace the team in points since Sumter did so in 2006. Sumter compiled another banner regular season, racking up a squad-leading nine goals. The effort places her tied for second in the league. The active leading scorer and No. 4 all time for C-USA, Sumter is the only player in UTEP history to record 10+ goals in three straight seasons.
Winbush leads all C-USA midfielders in goals (8) and points (21) while rating sixth and fourth, respectively, overall among all league players regardless of position. She has shown a flair for the dramatic, with four match-winning goals placing her tied for second in the league. Radcliffe is a senior leader who has played a big part in UTEP’s all-around success. She has used her ball-winning ability and marking skills in aiding the Miners record a 1.30 GAA. UTEP’s opponents have only registered 5.2 shots on goal per game. The defensive-minded midfielder has also been a factor offensively, with three goals and an assist.
The quartet of players will be in action when the Miners take on UAB in the C-USA quarterfinals at 4 p.m. MT on Wednesday. 
 
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