11/11/2008
Rizzo and Clark Earn Women's Soccer NEWMAC Annual Honors

WORCESTER, MASS. 11/11/08 - For the second consecutive year, Clark University's Julia Rizzo and Joanna Clark were named to the women's soccer New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-Conference second teams, it was announced by the conference office on Tuesday.

Rizzo has anchored Clark's backfield this season, helping the team to seven victories - all by shutout - which tied them for third in the conference in the category. The senior co-captain has proven to be one of the team's most versatile players, as she has helped in both the forward and midfield positions this fall. Rizzo, a native of Westboro, Mass., leads the team in assists (4) and is ranked in the top-10 in helpers in the NEWMAC.

In just her second season as the team's starting goalie, Clark led the Cougars to a career-high eight shutouts and tied for third in the conference in scoreless games. In overall statistics in the NEWMAC, the Windham, Me. product finished second in shutouts and is ranked in the top-five in goals against average (1.35) and top-six in save percentage (.780). Clark has posted shutouts in four of the nine NEWMAC teams she's faced, and stopped a career-high 12 shots in the Cougars' penalty kick advantage (4-3) over Babson College in the quarterfinals of the NEWMAC Tournament.

Clark advanced to the conference tournament semifinals for the first time in three years and concluded the season at 7-10-1.