Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Jones Earns Second Team All-Region
12/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Dec. 16, 2002
Florida Atlantic University's women's soccer teams continued its record-breaking season even after season's end with the selection of junior Rhonda Jones to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region Second Team. Jones becomes the first player in program history to earn NCAA All-Region second team honors after receiving third team consideration in 2001. She is the first player that the Lady Owls have had selected to the All-Region team in consecutive years.
"I think Rhonda is finally getting the recognition that a player of her level deserves," said head coach Brian Dooley. "Her role on this year's team was different; her contribution to this year's team was even more significant. A lot of the things she does doesn't show up on a stat sheet. She scored a couple of critical goals when we needed them but most importantly she is the engine of the team, there's no question about that. She drives the team, pushes the team and she became a smarter overall player this year."
Jones, a N. Lanarkshire, Scotland native, has been the heart and soul of FAU since arriving in 2000. Just this past year, she helped lead the Lady Owls to first time wins over Florida International and Miami, ended a six game losing streak to Jacksonville University and helped capture the schools first ever regular season title in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
For the second consecutive year Jones finished with double digit points as she tallied 15 points (third on the team) on four goals (third on the team) and seven assists (third on the team and tied for ninth in the A-Sun). She now ranks seventh on the all-time points leaders list with 39.
FAU was in good company as Florida State, Florida and UCF each placed members on the second team with Florida and Jacksonville each placing one on the first team and third teams respectively. Overall, 11 selections came from the state of Florida with six coming from the A-Sun.
