Gears, Sutcliffe earn All-South Region honors

LIVINGSTON — The postseason honors continue to build for West Alabama women’s soccer juniors Nicki Gears and Lydia Sutcliffe as both were named to the 2013 Daktronics Women’s Soccer All-South Region team. Gears earned first team honors, while Sutcliffe earned second team.

Gears, a native of Ripon, England, was the first UWA women’s soccer player to earn Gulf South Conference Co-Player of the Year in the programs third year. She was also voted to the 2013 GSC All-Tournament team after posting three goals in the tournament and leading the Tigers to its first postseason win over North Alabama in the first round.

During the regular season, the striker led the conference in shots (84), shots per game (4.94), goals (12), goals per game (.706) and game-winning goals (5). This season is the second consecutive year she has led the conference in shots and is second in the conference in points (29) and points per game (1.71). Gears is the all-time scoring leader for UWA with 37 career goals.

Sutcliffe, a Brighouse, England native, was a first team All-GSC honoree following the regular season. She tied with Rebekah Craig as the Tigers second leading scorer with seven goals. The midfielder posted multiple goals in two matches as well as two game-winners. She ended the regular season with four assists as well as a .615 shot percentage.