Brian and Swanson Named VaSID State Player and Coach of the Year

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Dec. 19, 2014

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia senior midfielder Morgan Brian (St. Simons Island, Ga.) and head coach Steve Swanson earned top honors as the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) announced the 2014 All-State Women’s Soccer Team on Friday. Brian was named State Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and Swanson received State Coach of the Year honors.

Brian was one of six Cavaliers named to the All-State first team, joined by senior midfielder Danielle Colaprico (Freehold, N.J.), junior forwards Makenzy Doniak (Chino Hills, Calif.) and Brittany Ratcliffe (Williamstown, N.J.), junior defender Emily Sonnett (Marietta, Ga.) and sophomore goalkeeper Morgan Stearns (San Antonio, Texas). Sophomore midfielder Alexis Shaffer (Cary, N.C.) and sophomore defenders Tina Iordanou (Upper Brookville, N.Y.) and Kristen McNabb (Montville, N.J.) were named to the second team.

Brian, who was named the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Player of the Year, is also a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy and the Honda Award. She had 10 goals and 14 assists this season, appearing in 18 games. The first three-time NSCAA First-Team All-American in Virginia history, she was named the 2014 U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year. Brian missed eight games this season because of international duty as she was the only collegiate player on the United States Women’s National Team for the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying tournament in October. Upon her return to the lineup, she was the leading scorer in this year’s NCAA Tournament with four goals and nine assists, including tying the NCAA Tournament single-game record with five assists in the 8-0 first-round victory over High Point.

Swanson was named VaSID State Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career. He led Virginia to a 23-3-0 record and a No. 2 final ranking after reaching the NCAA College Cup final.