Soccer's Simons, Obert Earn All-Conference USA Honors
Nov 4, 2003 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 4, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane University soccer standouts Asia Simons and Jackie Obert were named to the All-Conference USA team, the league announced Tuesday on the eve of the 2003 C-USA Championship.
Simons, a senior defender from Bradenton, Fla., was named to the first team while Obert, a freshman midfielder from Cincinnati, Ohio, claimed both third-team and All-Freshman Team recognition. Simons becomes the first player in the history of the Green Wave program to earn a first-team all-conference title, and the duo become the first pair of Tulane players to earn all-league honors in the same year since Ally Martin and Christine Camelio both earned third-team distinction in 1996.
Simons was the heart and soul of the Green Wave team in 2003, serving as captain of a squad that incorporated 14 freshmen this season and still went on to post a school record for victories after going 11-6-1 during the regular season, including a 6-4-0 mark in league action. Despite playing center back, she finished the regular season tied for the team lead with five goals, added an assist and ranks third on the squad with 11 points.
She earned a spot on both the Soccer Buzz National Elite Team and Soccer America National Team of the Week following the weekend of Oct. 10-12, becoming the only C-USA player to earn the honor from both organizations this season. One of just two players on the team to start all 17 games, Simons scored twice - including the game-winner in overtime - in Tulane's 4-3 win over UAB, and netted another goal in the Green Wave's 2-1 win over South Florida.
Obert, meanwhile, tied Simons for the team lead in goals scored and ranks second on the team with 12 points. She lead the team in goals scored against league opponents, ranking 10th in the conference in C-USA points scored. Obert scored both goals in Tulane's 2-1 win at Marquette - the Green Wave's first-ever win over the Golden Eagles - and had the game-winner in the team's win over in-state rival Nicholls State.
She added a goal and an assist in Tulane's 3-0 shutout of C-USA foe East Carolina, added another goal in the 3-0 win at UL-Lafayette, and had an assists in the Wave's victory over South Florida.
Simons, Obert and the rest of the Green Wave squad return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 5 when they open Conference USA Tournament play against second-seeded TCU at 2:30 p.m. at TransAmerica Field in Charlotte, N.C.
Tulane dropped a 2-0 decision to the Horned Frogs during the regular season, and if the Green Wave can exact some revenge in the tournament, will advance to play the winner of third-seeded Marquette and sixth-seeded DePaul on Thursday at 5 p.m. The winner of that contest will play again on Saturday at 2 p.m. for the C-USA Tournament title and the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Women's College Cup.
