Nov. 3, 2005

Notre Dame became the first women’s soccer team ever to earn four of the BIG EAST Conference major awards, with those players leading the way as the Irish also earned distinction as the first team ever to produce 10 all-BIG EAST performers in the same season.

Senior forward Katie Thorlakson earned BIG EAST offensive player of the year, the fourth ever to repeat that honor, while fifth-year right back Candace Chapman picked up her second career BIG EAST defensive player-of-the-year award (also in ’02) – becoming the third player ever to repeat the defensive honor.

Junior Jen Buczkowski added the BIG EAST’s top midfielder award and freshman forward Kerri Hanks became the Notre Dame program’s fifth player to earn the BIG EAST rookie-of-the-year award.

The above four Irish players collected first team all-BIG EAST honors while two others were second-team picks: freshman midfielder Brittany Bock and junior defender Christie Shaner (her third career all-BIG EAST honor). Senior goalkeeper Erika Bohn, sophomore forward Amanda Cinalli and junior forward/midfielder Lizzie Reed were third team all-BIG EAST selections, with freshman central defender Carrie Dew adding honorable mention designation.

**Check back to this release for a capsule look at each of the 10 honorees and photos from the banquet.**