Maju Loza reacts to a great shot at the SoCon Championship.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.---It is an impressive start to a program for the Chattanooga women’s golf team. In just its second year, Chattanooga is ranked in the top 50 in the country and finished second in the Southern Conference Championship earlier this week.
The Lady Mocs also brought home some hardware led by SoCon Freshman of the Year Maria Salinas. Salinas is not only Freshman of the Year, but she also scored All-SoCon and All-Freshman honors. This is the second straight Freshman of the Year for Head Coach Colette Murray following Emma de Groot (2008).
de Groot joins Salinas on the all-conference squad. It is her second such honor is as many years. Maria Juliana Loza earned All-Freshman honors as well.
The Lady Mocs anxiously await word on Monday of its inclusion in the 2009 NCAA Regional field. The NCAA select 63 teams including automatic bids. The Lady Mocs fell just short last year of making the field although de Groot did compete as an individual finishing tied for 17th.
Chattanooga does not have a loss this season to any team outside the top 60 in the country. It does boast wins over No. 11 Wake Forest, No. 19 Denver, No. 22 Arizona, No. 26 Stanford, No. 29 Tennessee and No.31 Tulane.
“We played a difficult schedule for a reason,” said Head Coach Colette Murray. “It prepared us for what is to come and proved we belong.”
Coach of the Year: Jen Hanna, Furman
Player of the Year: Stefanie Kenoyer, Furman
Freshman of the Year: Maria Salinas, Chattanooga
All-SoCon Team
Emma de Groot, Chattanooga
Maria Salinas, Chattanooga
Steffi Kirchmayr, College of Charleston
Fiona Puyo, College of Charleston
Danielle Mills, Elon
Stefanie Kenoyer, Furman
Blair Lamb, Furman
Jackie Hilea, Furman
Katelyn Stanier, Samford
Blaire Minter, Western Carolina
All-Freshman Team
Maju Loza, Chattanooga
Maria Salinas, Chattanooga
Leigh Whittaker, College of Charleston
Blaire Minter, Western Carolina
Sarah Hurt, Wofford
