Dec. 29, 2010

STANFORD, Calif. - For the second consecutive year a Stanford woman has earned Soccer America's Player of the Year as Christen Press was given the honor by the publication this week.

Press joins Kelley O'Hara (2009) and Julie Foudy (1991) as Stanford's winners since the award was first given in 1985.

Press has won several awards this season after leading the Cardinal into the NCAA championship final. She is the Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and has earned first-team All-America honors and first-team All-Academic honors.

She also is one of three finalists -- along with Henderson and Morgan -- for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, which will be awarded on Jan. 7.

Press had an outstanding season for the 23-1-2 Cardinal. She led the nation in goals (26) and points (60), and broke every Stanford career scoring record.

For her career, she has scored 71 goals, had 41 assists and scored 183 points -- all Stanford records.

Press was the only Stanford player named to the Soccer America MVPs first team. However, teammate Teresa Noyola, a junior midfielder, was named to the second team. Noyola had collegiate bests of 10 goals and 12 assists for 32 points.

Stanford goalkeeper Emily Oliver, who made a number of spectacular saves in the NCAA final, was named to the Soccer America All-Freshman first team. Oliver had a 0.31 goals-against average and 10 shutouts.