CHICAGO
- ULM signee Katherine Cuntz (New Orleans, La.) was honored as the top prep
soccer player in the state of Louisiana Thursday, being named the 2010-11 Gatorade
Louisiana Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
Cuntz is
the 26th player all-time and the first future ULM player to receive the prestigious
award. She is now one of 51 finalists for the Gatorade National Girls Soccer
Player of the Year which will be announced in May.
"We
knew we were getting an outstanding player when we signed Kat, but she has
continued to elevate her game and is reaping the benefits of her hard work,"
ULM Head Coach Stacy Lamb said. "I'm excited for Kat and her family, but I'm
also excited about what her award brings to our University, program and
community.
Cuntz
continues to rack up postseason awards this season after helping St. Mary's
Dominican High School to the Louisiana Division I state championship. The 5-1
midfielder notched 12 goals and 15 assists during her senior season, including
a pair of goals in the state championship game.
In
addition to being named Gatorade Player of the Year, Cuntz also earned
Louisiana Division I Player of the Year, Most Outstanding Player of the state
championship game, first-team All-State, District 10-5A Offensive Player of the
Year and Times-Picayune Offensive
Player of the Year. She finished her four-year prep career with 79 goals and 66
assists.
Off
the field, Cuntz has maintained a 3.80 grade-point average and was named to the
Louisiana Division I All-Academic team earlier this year. She plans to major in
kinesiology and minor in exercise physiology once at ULM.
"Kat
epitomizes what we are looking for in the student-athletes we want to bring to
ULM," Lamb said. "She is a tremendous student, dedicated athlete and poised
young lady with solid morals and character. She works hard to better her
community and herself on a daily basis."
Cuntz
is part of a talented group of players joining the Warhawks in 2011, including incoming
freshmen Cerene Arsenault (Taverneir, Fla.), Taylor Bonetti (Las Vegas, Nev.), Caydence
Leber (Shreveport, La.), Bethany Park (Cave Creek, Ariz.), Alyssa Wooden
(Gilbert, Ariz.), Lexi Wilkerson (Dallas, Texas). Amanda Williams (Miami, Fla.)
and transfer Alex Neumann (Mississippi Valley State).
