Morgan Brian Named TopDrawerSoccer.com Player of the Year

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Dec. 19, 2013

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia junior midfielder Morgan Brian (St. Simons Island, Ga.) was named the TopDrawerSoccer.com Player of the Year Thursday as the site announced its 2013 awards. Brian becomes the first Cavalier to be named a national player of the year in the history of the program.

Brian, who is a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy and the Honda Award, was the leading scorer in the ACC this season with 46 points on 16 goals and a league-high 14 assists. A first-team NSCAA All-American, she tied the Virginia single-season assist record. Brian scored in all four of the Cavaliers’ NCAA Tournament victories as she led the team to its first College Cup appearance in 22 years. Brian was a first-team All-ACC selection for the third consecutive season, in addition to being named to the ACC All-Tournament Team and the All-NCAA Tournament Team. She has also made three appearances for the United States Women’s National Team this year, scoring her first international goal against Mexico on Sept. 3.

Brian was one of three Cavaliers recognized by TopDrawerSoccer.com on the site’s Team of the Season. Sophomore forward Makenzy Doniak (Chino Hills, Calif.) joined Brian on the Best XI of upperclassmen, while sophomore defender Emily Sonnett (Marietta, Ga.) was named to the second team.

Doniak, who was also a NSCAA first-team All-American, tied the school single-season record with 20 goals this year. Sonnett was a first-team All-ACC selection as she anchored a Cavalier defense that posted a school-record 16 shutouts.