Nov. 7, 2002

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Junior midfielder Valerie Henderson and senior defender Jenny Hamilton both members of the Ohio Valley Conference regular season champion Southeast Missouri State Otahkians, earned top honors on the 2002 All-OVC women's soccer team, which was announced Thursday night on the eve of the OVC Women's Soccer Tournament. The team was selected by a vote of the league's seven head coaches.

Henderson was chosen as the OVC Player of the Year after helping the Otahkians post a perfect 6-0 conference record. The Florissant, Mo., native recorded a conference-best five game-winning goals on the year. She had six goals and four assists overall, and ranked among league leaders with 63 shots.

Hamilton was named the OVC Defender of the year for the second consecutive year after helping Southeast give up only 12 goals all season. A native of O'Fallon, Mo., Hamilton was the leader of a defense that allowed only three goals during conference play. She becomes the second player in OVC history to win back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Joining Henderson and Hamilton on All-OVC first team was Southeast sophomore defender Heather Reding. Other Southeast players to have All-OVC honors include sophomore midfielder Marla Gianino and sophomore forward Erin Slattery who were place on All-OVC second team. Sophomore goal keeper Amanda Wrzos was joined by sophomore defender Laura Hauskins, junior midfielder Julie Wunderlich, and junior forward Erika Todd on the All-OVC third team.

"I am very pleased and happy with the results of the voting," said Coach Heather Nelson. "I think that everything was very fair and the all-conference teams are a true representation of the talent in the OVC."

Southeast was also presented the regular season champion trophy for the second consecutive year. The Otahkians are undefeated in the OVC and have a 13-4-1 record overall.