CONWAY, SC — Coastal Carolina University freshman defender Marissa Kovacs has been honored by Soccer Buzz Magazine as the National Player of the Year and National Freshman of the Year for First Year Programs.

Kovacs, who was named the Big South Conference's Rookie of the Year and to the All-Conference squad, scored five goals and posted one assists from her defensive position. She helped the Lady Chanticleers to a 5-7-1 overall record and a #2 ranking among first year programs behind Murray State. The Lady Chanticleers also finished in a tie for third place in the Big South race.

Kovacs, a native of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, joins fellow Lady Chants Kristin Wisse (Wexford, Pennsylvania) and Tiffany Turner (Chesapeake, Virginia) on the All-National Team for First Year Programs. Wisse and Turner led Coastal's offensive attack from the forward positions.

Wisse, a junior transfer from the University of Alabama, led the Lady Chanticleers with 24 points on six goals and 12 assists. Her 12 assists ranked fifth in the NCAA Division I statistics and led the Big South Conference. She also ranked second in the conference in scoring and seventh in goals. As a freshman, Turner tied for seventh in the conference with seven goals.

This marks the fifth year that Soccer Buzz Magazine has honored first-year programs. This season, nine programs were eligible for honors in this category.