Ford Garners First Team All-America Honors By Soccer Buzz

DURHAM, N.C. ? The Soccer Buzz National Awards have been released with Duke senior Carolyn Ford becoming the first Blue Devil to be named first team All-America since 1994. Ford was one of 13 players selected to the first team by Soccer Buzz and became only the second player in Blue Devil history to garner first team All-America accolades.

Junior Rebecca Moros and freshman Christie McDonald each also brought home some hardware by Soccer Buzz as Moros was named Honorable Mention All-America and McDonald earned Honorable Mention Freshman All-America.

A native of Bethesda, Md., Ford led a Blue Devil defense which posted an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)-best 13 goals allowed and was second in goals against average (0.60). Duke finished the season with tied for the fewest goals allowed and lowest goals against average in school history, a mark previously set back in 1988 when the Blue Devils allowed 13 goals and posted a 0.74 GAA in their inaugural season.

The center back led Duke to 11 shutouts on the year, while posting two goals and three assists. She finished her career with 22 assists, which ranks third on the Blue Devil charts, and guided the Duke defense to a total of 39 shutouts over her four years. Ford was also named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-ACC in 2005.

Ford joined Kelly Walbert as the only other Blue Devil to earned first team All-America honors as Walbert was selected to the NSCAA first team in 1993 and 1994. Ford is also the first Duke player to ever be named to the first team by Soccer Buzz.

Moros, a junior native of Larchmont, N.Y, finished the season with four goals, four assists and 12 points with the two biggest goals coming against No. 1 ranked North Carolina on Oct. 9 in Chapel Hill, N.C., as the Blue Devils defeated the Tar Heels, 2-1.

McDonald, from Newnan, Ga., kicked off her collegiate career with a golden goal against UNC Greensboro in the season opener. She went on to finish with five goals, one assists and 11 points.

On the season, Duke finished with a 14-6-1 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils will return seven starters in 2006 including five of their top six scorers and sophomore Allison Lipsher in goal for Head Coach Robbie Church.

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