Gears, Sutcliffe make All-South Region Team

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The postseason honors continue for West Alabama women’s soccer juniors Nicki Gears and Lydia Sutcliffe as both were named to the 2013 National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire NCAA Division II Women’s All-South Region second team.

Gears, a native of Ripon, England, already earned Gulf South Conference Co-Player of the Year, 2013 GSC All-Tournament team and 2013 Daktronics All-South Region first team honors earlier in the post season.

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 and Daktronics All-South Region second team 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.