Coach Wedemeyer Named ASUN Coach of the Year; Liberty Garners Eight All-Conference Honors
4/23/2021 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
After a thrilling run through the ASUN Championship, Liberty had seven players earn ASUN All-Conference honors and head coach Lang Wedemeyer was named the ASUN Coach of the Year. Highlighting the ASUN All-Conference honors is Meredith King who was named the ASUN Freshman of the Year. Liberty's Cora Duininck was an ASUN First Team All-Conference selection while Kasey Jamieson and McKinley Burkett were ASUN Second Team All-Conference honorees. Rounding out the honors is a trio of freshmen as King, Rachel DeRuby and Sophia Palladino were named to the ASUN All-Freshmen Team.
Wedemeyer is just the third coach in program history to earn a conference Coach of the Year honor and first since 2009. Wedemeyer had the Lady Flames peaking at the end of the season as Liberty won its first ASUN Tournament games this season. Liberty went on a sensational run during the ASUN Tournament, allowing just one goal in the four tournament games to clinch the automatic bid to the NCAA College Cup.
King is the first player since 2016 (Gabrielle Farrell) to receive Freshman of the Year honors and first since joining the ASUN Conference. The freshman from Virginia Beach, Va. was impressive in her first season at Liberty, recording five points, scoring two goals, and recording an assist. King's most important goal of the season was in the final 10 minutes of the ASUN Semifinals, scoring the game-winning goal that sent Liberty to the ASUN Championship. King was tied for the team-lead this season with two game-winning goals.
Duininck has had one of the most impressive resumes in program history as Duininck earned all-conference honors in all four seasons at Liberty. Duininck has had a sensational senior season where she has played and started in all 17 games at centerback. Duininck has led a backline that posted eight shutouts, including not allowing a goal in the last three games as Liberty claimed the ASUN Championship. Duininck scored one goal this season and has spearheaded a backline that has limited 13 opponents to one goal or less this season. Duininck was also named to the ASUN Women's Soccer All-Academic Team, posting a 3.81 GPA, majoring in biomedical sciences with minors in psychology and global studies. Duininck also has a graduate certificate in global health.
Jamieson picks up another postseason honor as Jamieson was named the ASUN Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The junior from Lansing, Mich. Has a 3.99 grade point average (GPA), majoring in exercise science with an emphasis in therapeutic while also minoring in business. Jamieson has had an exceptional junior campaign, where she led Liberty with seven goals scored this season and 15 points.
In her first season at Liberty after transferring from Tennessee, Burkett made a big impact in the midfield, scoring two goals this season. Burkett was tied for the team-lead this season with two game-winning goals including the penalty kick in the ASUN Championship that sent Liberty to the NCAA College Cup. Burkett ranked third on the team with 19 shots in just 13 games this season.
Three freshmen on an All-Freshmen Team is the most for Liberty in a single season. Joining King on the ASUN All-Freshman is DeRuby who played in 16 games, scoring one goal as a midfielder. DeRuby's lone goal was the game-winner on the road against Kenensaw State. Rounding out the All-Freshman Team is Palladino, who played and started in all 17 games this season. Palladino and Duininck proved to be an exceptional backline that posted eight shutouts this season.
The Lady Flames will return to the pitch on Tuesday, April 27, when they face Washington in the First Round of the NCAA College Cup. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and can be seen on NCAA.com.
