SU's Brazilian trio garners Women's Soccer All-SSAC recognition

By Matt Green

ATLANTA -- Aline Bez Tamiosso, Helena Farinha and Cintia Lamas have earned women's soccer postseason honors from the Southern States Athletic Conference the league announced on Monday.

Tamiosso and Farinha were named to the All-SSAC second team while Lamas was voted onto the SSAC All-Freshman squad. The accolades are the first for Shorter's three Brazilian standouts -- all three hail from Campinas, Sao Paulo -- who led Shorter to a postseason appearance in 2011.

Tamiosso was one of the league's top strikers, ranking sixth in the SSAC in goals (13) and seventh in total points (33). She posted a pair of hat tricks in her first season with the Lady Hawks after transferring from Cowley Community College and also dished out seven assists to rank second on the team.

Her 13 goals represent the second-best single-season scoring output in school history, trailing only Candace Edwards and her 16 goals in 2009.

Farinha was arguably Shorter's most valuable player in 2011, helping to solidify a patchwork defense and midfield that was ravaged by season-ending injuries in the preseason.

A natural midfielder, Farinha played much of the season as a center back after scoring a goal and handing out two assists in her first season with the Lady Hawks in 2010. Her athleticism and decision making out of the back were critical to Shorter's late season run towards a conference tournament berth.

Lamas, who battled nagging injuries all season long, ended up with three goals and two assists for the Lady Hawks from her midfield position.

Lamas gained a reputation for a tireless work ethic, winning 50-50 balls and creating opportunities for her teammates. Lamas took only eight shots on goal on the year, but scored all three of her goals during a two-game span with two strikes against Brewton-Parker and another against Truett-McConnell. Her two assists came in Shorter's first win of the season against Spring Hill.

The Lady Hawks had eight student-athletes appear on the SSAC All-Academic team: Tamiosso, Kayla Bell, Kelli Davis, Blair Fine, Taylor Hays, Mary Kate Lollar, Samantha Stephens and Jessica Wright.