Bullock earns Big West Midfielder of the Year honors
11/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 9, 2010
IRVINE, Calif. - Long Beach State had seven players named to the 2010 All-Big West Women's Soccer Team the conference office announced Tuesday afternoon. Senior Lindsay Bullock highlighted the group as she was tabbed the league's Midfielder of the Year.
Bullock, sophomore Nadia Link and junior Shawna Gordon were first-team All-Big West selections, while sophomore Alex Balcer and senior Bo Rael were second-team honorees. Juniors Nicole Hubbard and Emily Kingsborough both garnered honorable mention recognition.
Bullock (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) leads The Beach on the year with 54 shot attempts, while she is also second in goals (7) and points (16). She has scored six of her goals in Big West games, including her first career hat trick at Cal State Fullerton on Oct. 17. Bullock has etched her name in the 49er record books, ranking third in shots (192) and game-winning goals (7), and fifth in goals (26) and points (56). This is Bullock's second Big West Midfielder of the Year award as she also earned the honor in 2008. It is also the third time she has been a first-team all-conference selection.
Link garnered her first career postseason honor after a breakout sophomore campaign. The Rowland Heights native is currently tops on the team with eight goals and 17 points. Link was tabbed the CollegeSoccer360.com Primetime Player of the Week and the Big West Offensive Player of the Week following a four-goal weekend in which she led The Beach to wins over Fresno State, Washington State and Virginia Tech (Aug. 23-29).
Gordon was named to the All-Big West first team for the second year in a row. The Rancho Cucamonga native has compiled four goals, a team-high seven assists and 15 points on the season. She ranks among the 49er career leaders in game-winning goals (4) and helpers (14). Gordon was also selected as one of CollegeSoccer360.com's Primetime Performers of the Week after recording a goal and an assist in a 2-1 victory over UC Santa Barbara on Oct. 3.
Balcer (Tucson, Ariz.) was named to the All-Big West second team as she has started every game on the back line, helping the 49er defense post a 1.02 goals against average. She also registered 11 shots and notched her first career assist in a 5-2 win at Cal State Fullerton on Oct. 17.
Rael, who has also started every match as a defender, was a second-team selection. In addition to anchoring the back line, Rael has scored two key goals. The Rancho Cucamonga native found the back of the net in a 2-1 win against Cal State Northridge to help The Beach clinch one of four spots in the Big West Tournament. Her second goal of the season came in the conference finals as she scored the game-winner in a 1-0 victory at 11th-ranked UC Irvine.
Hubbard and Kingsborough rounded out the 49ers on the all-conference team as they both garnered honorable mention recognition. Hubbard has compiled three goals and eight points, while Kingsborough has posted a career-best 0.95 goals against average, 72 saves and five shutouts. Kingsborough was also named the most valuable player of the Big West Tournament.
Long Beach State (14-5-2) recently won the Big West championship and will travel to Stanford for its second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years. The 49ers are set to take on No. 19 Santa Clara in a first-round match-up at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12.
