University of North Carolina Athletics
O'Reilly & Averbuch Named Honda Soccer Award Finalists
December 6, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Dec. 6, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Senior forward Heather O'Reilly and sophomore midfielder Yael Averbuch are among the four nominees in women's soccer for the 2006-2007 Honda Sports Award to determine the top woman collegiate athlete in that sport. The winner after nationwide balloting will become a nominee for The Honda-Broderick Cup awarded annually to the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. In addition to the honor of this selection, American Honda Motor Co. Inc will donate $1,000 to the women's athletic fund of each nominee's university. The winner's program will receive $5,000.
The ballot will be emailed to all NCAA senior women administrators by Monday, December 11 with results of the balloting late Friday December 15.
2006-2007 Soccer Honda Award Nominees
Yael Averbuch North Carolina
KERRI HANKS Notre Dame
Heather O'Reilly North Carolina
INDIA TROTTER Florida State University
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Heather O'Reilly, Senior Forward, University of North Carolina
*Senior captain of 2006 NCAA championship team
*Member of U.S. National Team since 2002
*2004 Olympic Gold Medalist
*2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America of the Year
*2006 ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-America, 2005 ESPN The Magazine second-team Academic All-America
*Most Outstanding Offensive Player of 2003 and 2006 NCAA College Cup
*Member of 2003 & 2006 NCAA championship team and 2003, 2005, 2006 ACC championship team
*15 NCAA Tournament goals, third most in NCAA history, topped only by Christine Sinclair and Lindsay Tarpley
*44 NCAA Tournament points, third most in NCAA history, topped only by Christine Sinclair and Lindsay Tarpley
*2004 U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year
*2004 and 2006 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy finalist
*2004, 2005, 2006 Honda Award finalist
*2004, 2005, 2006 Soccer Buzz Player of the Year finalist
*2004, 2005, 2006 UNC leading scorer
*2004, 2005, 2006 consensus first-team All-America selection
*2004, 2005, 2006 first-team All-ACC
*2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 All-ACC Tournament
*2003 consensus National Freshman of the Year
*2005 ACC Offensive Player of the Year
*Scored game-winning goal in 2004 Olympic semifinals
*2002 gold medalist at U19 World Championships (4 goals, 7 assists in tournament)
*59 career goals (10 at UNC), 49 career assists (12th at UNC), 167 career points (11th at UNC)
*Active in community service (Carolina Dreams, Get Kids in Action, Adopt a Classroom, Katrina Relief Fund, Carolina Outreach, Share Your Holiday)
Yael Averbuch, Sophomore Midfielder, University of North Carolina
*2006 ACC Offensive Player of the Year
*2006 first-team All-ACC
*16 goals, 7 assists, 39 points in 2006
*2006 first-team NSCAA & Top Drawer Soccer All-America
*Scored fastest goal in NCAA history at start of game (4 seconds versus Yale 9/3/2006)
*2006 Top Drawer Soccer Player of the Season
*2006 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Finalist
*2006 All-ACC Tournament and All-Tournament at NCAA College Cup
*Member of U.S. Under 20 National Team
*2005 Soccer Buzz and Soccer America freshman All-America
