Fayetteville, N.C. - The 2013-14 season serves as the 50th for the USA South Athletic Conference. In an effort to relive 50 Years of great student-athlete performances, each current league institution was given the opportunity to submit names of student-athletes who competed within the Conference and excelled not only on their campuses, but in the Conference as a whole. The league has continued its recognition of these teams with  the sport of women's soccer, and N.C. Wesleyan is proud to have placed 22 Bishop players on the squad.

The USA South began sponsoring a regular season championship in the sport of women's soccer in 1984, and in 2000, the Conference's annual women's soccer tournament was first conducted. The competition within the Conference has always been very competitive as seven different members have captured regular season championships. The same could be said about the Conference Tournament, as seven different teams have claimed titles in the tournament's 13 years.

N.C. Wesleyan has experienced much success within the league, beginning with a 1984 season that saw the Bishops earn the inaugural regular season crown... the first of nine conference championships the program has won, which includes a run of six straight from 1996 to 2001. Additionally, the program has earned ten NCAA Tournament berths, highlighted by a Final Four appearance in 1994.

Below are the names and a brief summary of accolades for those Battling Bishops named to the 50th Anniversary Team. On behalf of the Department of Athletics, we congratulate each of these women on this noteworthy recognition.

• Jennifer Gardner (three-time All-Conference; second all-time in shutouts; '92 MVP)
• Laura Gilbert (two-time All-Conference; '90 MVP)
• Julie Duerler (four-time All-Conference; three-time All-American; '92 DIAC Player of the Year; retired jersey; Hall of Famer)
• Tina Riley (three-time All-Conference; two-time First Teamer)
• Amy Tolley (three-time All-Conference; First Teamer on Final Four team)
• Trish Parker (four-time All-Conference; two-time All-American; '94 National Player of the Year; retired jersey; Hall of Famer)
• Chris Webb (four-time All-Conference; all-time leading scorer; Hall of Famer)
• Alyson Patrick ('95 All-American; '96 DIAC Player of the Year; two-time First Team All-Conference; season record for goals)
• Kim Olsen ('97 All-American; '97 DIAC Player of the Year; two-time MVP; Hall of Famer)
• Gwen Gordon (two-time First Team All-Conference defender)
• Kelly Walters (two-time All-Conference; '96 MVP; two-time league Coach of the Year)
• Jennifer Foreman ('99 All-American; two-time MVP; four-time All-Conference; all-time leader in shutouts; Hall of Famer)
• Alexa Kapetanakis (four-time All-Conference; '96 DIAC Rookie & '99 DIAC Player of the Year; '99 All-American; 2nd all-time leading scorer)
• Alison Kirch (four-time All-Conference defender; second all-time in games played)
• Betsy Jones (three-time All-Conference midfielder)
• Jamie Funk (three-time All-Conference; third all-time in assists; tied fifth all-time in games played)
• Shannon St. George (four-time First Team All-Conference; '98 DIAC ROY)
• Caitlin Sanderson ('00 All-American; four-time All-Conference; third all-time leading scorer)
• Kristi McGuire (three-time All-Conference from; fifth all-time leading scorer)
• Katie Hodge (three-time First Team All-Conference defender from '00 to '02)
• Meredith Hester (four-time All-Conference; three-time MVP; fourth all-time leading scorer)
• Reva McCloud (three-time All-Conference; '08 MVP; season record for assists [fifth all-time])

To view the complete USA South 50th Anniversary Team in women's soccer, please click HERE!

To view more ways the USA South is celebrating its 50th Anniversary, please click HERE!