By: KSU Sports Information
KENNESAW, Ga. – Thursday was a big day for the Kennesaw State women’s soccer program as nine of its players will officially move on to the next step of their lives after receiving their degrees during graduation ceremonies at the KSU Convocation Center.
The 2012 graduating class was a very successful one for the Black and Gold as every player in this group was a part of the 2009 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship team. The women’s soccer team also had the most players graduate in this year’s graduation class with track and field coming in second with eight members graduating.
“It's great to see so many soccer players in the graduating class,” head coach
Rob King said. “Most have graduated within four years and have stellar GPA's for graduate school or employment. This group has enjoyed the successes of Conference Championships and NCAA post season play, but they also tasted disappointment on the field as well. I'm sure though, as they look back on their time spent, and friends made, at KSU they will have many great memories to take with them.”
The nine graduates consist of
Shelby Cosby,
Savannah Duet,
Alyssa Mahan,
Kristin Marietta,
Lauren Ruffini,
Katie Schwartz,
Katie Scott,
Brittany Vining and
Sadjr Williams.
Cosby, who will graduate this summer with a degree in exercise and health science, played in 61 games in her career as an Owl, starting in 15 of them. She was a key member of the Kennesaw State offense for her entire career. She registered a career-high three points in her junior season by recording a goal and an assist in the Owls 2-0 win over Belmont. Shelby also scored her first collegiate goal in her first career game, which was an 8-0 win over Alabama A&M. She finished her freshman season tied for fourth on the team in goals with four. In her career at Kennesaw State she totaled 18 points on seven goals and four assists.
Duet, who graduates with a degree in communications, played in 67 games in her time at KSU, starting eight of them. She finished her career as an Owl after the 2010 season. In her career at Kennesaw State she totaled 10 points on one goal and eight assists.
Mahan, who graduates Magna Cum Laude with a degree in psychology, played in 68 games in her career, starting in 36 of them. She was a hard worker on and off the field for the Black and Gold as her point total increased in each of her first three seasons. She tallied a career-high six points in KSU’s 8-0 win over Alabama A&M this season recording two goals and two assists in the game. Alyssa also won an A-Sun Player of the Week award, and was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference Second Team in her junior season. In her career at Kennesaw State she totaled 42 points on 11 goals and 20 assists. Her 20 assists puts her in 10th place on the all-time Kennesaw State assists list.
Marietta, who graduates with a degree in early childhood education, played in 54 games in her career as an Owl, starting in 30 of them. She had her best season in her sophomore year finishing with 11 points, and was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference Second Team. She also tallied a career-high five points in KSU’s 7-0 win over Lipscomb in her sophomore season recording two goals and an assist in the game. In her career at Kennesaw State she totaled 25 points on nine goals and seven assists.
Ruffini, who graduates Cum Laude with a degree in criminal justice, played in 70 games in her career, starting in 42 of them. She was a key member of the Kennesaw State midfield for her entire career. She had a career-high of four points in a game twice against Alabama A&M in her freshman and junior seasons scoring two goals on each occasion. In her career at Kennesaw State she totaled 15 points on six goals and three assists.
Schwartz, who will graduate this summer with a degree in biology, played in 66 games in her career as an Owl, starting in 22 of them. She recorded a career-high three points in the Owls 4-0 win over Lipscomb this season tallying a goal and an assist in the game. Katie also won an A-Sun Player of the Week award in her freshman season for scoring the game-winning goal against Mercer. In her career at Kennesaw State she totaled 13 points on three goals and seven assists.
Scott, who graduates with a degree in psychology, played in 71 games in her career at KSU, starting in 67 of them. She had her best season in her freshman year finishing with 10 points, and was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Freshman Team. She also tallied a career-high three points in KSU’s 5-1 win over North Florida in her freshman season recording a goal and an assist in the game. In her career at Kennesaw State she totaled 25 points on six goals and 13 assists.
Vining, who graduates with a degree in communications, played in 72 games in her career as an Owl, starting in 69 of them. She was a consistent force for the KSU attack for her entire career as she recorded double-digit point totals in each of her first three seasons. She recorded a career-high five points with a goal and three assists in the Owls win over Lipscomb in her sophomore season. Brittany was named to the A-Sun All-Freshman Team, she won an A-Sun Player of the Week award as a sophomore and she was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference Second Team in her junior year. In her career at Kennesaw State she totaled 44 points on 13 goals and 18 assists. Her 13 goals put her in ninth place on the all-time Kennesaw State goals list.
Williams, who graduates with a degree in communications, played in 78 games in her time at KSU, starting in 77 of them. She finished her career as an Owl after the 2010 season. In her career at Kennesaw State she totaled five points on five assists.
