KANSAS CITY — The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) has released its 2015 All-Region honors with a pair of Lady Lions earning spots on the 1st Team listing. Piedmont's Michaela Gardner and Cassidy Reich were honored as 1st Team selections on the NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region listing after record-breaking seasons on the field.
The selection by the two marks the first time that Piedmont has placed a pair on the 1st team of the NSCAA All-Region listing in the program's NCAA Era which began with the 2003 season. Gardner and Reich become the 5th and 6th players to earn the distinction under Head Coach Stephen Andrew joining Laura Goodwin (2013), Justine Clay (2011), Kaitlyn Induni (2010), and Katie Porter (2009).
Both Gardner and Reich were also honored by the NSCAA earlier this season as National Players of the Week as well with Reich's honor coming in the final week of the regular season after a five-goal run in two wins while Gardner took her honor after a season-saving stop on a PK in overtime of the USA South Championship Game.
Gardner just completed perhaps the finest season in the goal in Piedmont's history posting a 0.48 goals against average, tops in the NCAA Era besting the previous mark set by Gardner herself last season (0.64). Gardner was a part of Piedmont's record-setting defensive season that not only shattered marks within the program but also in the USA South as the team's 18 clean sheets is a new conference record.
The senior leaves PC with the best winning percentage as a starter keeper tallying a incredible 40-7-1 record, the third keeper under Coach Andrew to leave campus with 40 wins or more to their name as a starter.
For Reich, the accolade comes as a part of a sparkling debut campaign with the Green and Gold as she totaled a conference-best 22 goals and 13 assists this season on the way to USA South Player and Rookie of the Year honors. Reich became the first player in the history of the league to win both Player and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season.
Reich's memorable moment came at the right time as she scored the game-winning goal with 15.3 seconds left in double overtime of the USA South Championship Game to hand Piedmont its 2nd league title in three years.
