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Women's Soccer Most Valuable Players Announced
11/8/2013 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Soccer
BUFFALO, NY – Seniors Courtney Gross and Karen McMahon were named UB women's soccer defensive and offensive Most Valuable Players, as announced by the teams coaching staff on Friday.
Gross was named team captain before the season started and was the backbone of a Buffalo defense that finished the regular season ranked second in the MAC in goals-against average (0.88), allowing only 17 goals in 18 games. The stingy defender helped the Bulls lead the conference in shot attempts against, only allowing 12.1 attempts per contest.
For her career, the East Meadow, NY native appeared in all 77 possible games including making 61 starts all over the pitch for the Bulls. Gross started her UB career switching between attack and midfield before maturing into one of the better defenders in recent years.
"Courtney Gross epitomizes the phrase team player," said assistant coach Shawn Burke. "As our team captain, Courtney has been the most reliable Bull in her four years, always leading by example. Courtney was an invaluable piece of one of the best defenses in the MAC this year."
Earning a chance to showcase her talents this season, McMahon did not disappoint as she led the team with five goals and 11 points. McMahon also led the team with 50 shots while ranking third in the MAC in game-winning goals with three on the season.
The senior campaign for McMahon was the best of her UB career, as she made 13 starts while appearing in all 18 games. Her five goals and 11 points were also career highs as she finished her four-year run at Buffalo with seven goals and 17 points.
"From our very first game this season Karen McMahon played with an attacking mentality that put our opponents on their heels," stated Burke. "Her ability to run at defenders and time her runs into dangerous spaces made games tough on the opposing backline. She was our most consistent attacker and finishes her career with this well deserving honor."
The UB women's soccer team (6-9-3, 3-7-1 MAC) finished off their 2013 campaign with an impressive 2-1 victory on the road at Akron last week. The Bulls barely missed out on the MAC Championships, falling two points shy, or one win shy of making their second appearance in three seasons.
