Women's Soccer | 7/24/2017 11:47:00 AM

STATESBORO, Ga. – The 2017 season will be a special one for the women's soccer team, as this marks the 25^th anniversary of the programs beginning. The Eagles have appeared in 14 conference tournaments, had 23 All-Conference award winners, and a conference championship in 2012.

Many players have worn the Blue and White for the Eagles and created a legacy and tradition for those who came after to follow. From the beginning season in 1993, to the 2012 conference championship, we take a look back at some of the all-time greats in Georgia Southern history.
 
NORA EL-SHAMI – (2012 – 2015)
2012 First-Team All-SOCON Freshman Team
2012 First-Team All-SOCON Tournament Team
2013 First-Team All-SOCON
2014 First-Team All-Sun Belt
2015 First-Team All-Sun Belt
 
Nora El-Shami has her name sprinkled throughout the record book at Georgia Southern. A forward during the 2012-15 seasons, El-Shami sits No. 6 in the record books with 25 career goals and No. 5 with 28 career assists. During her four years with the Eagles she totaled 211 shots and 78 points, adding multiple postseason and conference awards. She was a two time First-Team All-Sun Belt recipient, First-Team All-SOCON Freshman Team and Tournament team in the same season, as well as First-Team All-SOCON. El-Shami joins fellow teammate, Katie Merson, as the only two Eagles to ever win conference awards in both the Sun Belt and the SOCON for the program.
 
TARA CHAISSON – (1996 – 1999)
1996 First-Team All-SOCON
1996 SOCON Player of the Week (Week 6)
1996 SOCON Player of the Week (Week 9)
1996 SOCON Freshman of the Year
1997 First-Team All-SOCON
1998 First-Team All-SOCON
1998 SOCON Player of the Week (Week 4)
1998 SOCON Player of the Week (Week 9)
1999 First-Team All-SOCON
1999 SOCON Player of the Week (Week 5)
1999 SOCON Player of the Year
 
Tara Chaisson holds the record in the four main statistical categories during her career with the Eagles. A striker during the 1996-99 seasons, Chaisson recorded 279 shots, 161 points, 59 goals, and 43 assists. Her 59 goals during her career stands 17 goals clear of Debbie Hensley in second place with 42. In 1998 and 1999 Chaisson scored 17 goals the most ever scored in back to back season by an Eagle. She was a four time First-Team All-SOCON recipient, five time SOCON Player of the Week, the 1996 SOCON Freshman of the Year, and 1999 SOCON Player of the Year.
 
ROBIN THIRSK – (1997 – 2000)
1997 First-Team All-SOCON
1997 First-Team All-SOCON Tournament Team
1998 First-Team All-SOCON
1998 SOCON Player of the Week (Week 9)
1999 First-Team All-SOCON
2000 First-Team All-SOCON
2000 SOCON Player of the Week (S11)
 
Robin Thirsk nipped at the heels of teammate Tara Chaisson in almost all the records. A striker during the 1997-00 seasons, Thirsk finished her career with 158 shots, 112 points, 37 goals, and 38 Assists. The 1997-1999 teams produced an impressive 32-27-3 record, with three conference tournament appearances. Thirsk was a part of the 2000 Eagle team who opened the season on an 11 game winning streak, while outscoring their opponents 41 to 5 during that stretch. Winning conference awards and tournament awards all four seasons, Thirsk dominated during 2000.
 
DEBBIE HENSLEY – (1993 – 1995)
1994 First-Team All-SOCON
1994 SOCON Player of the Week (Week 2)
1995 First-Team All-SOCON
1995 SOCON Player of the Week (Week 5)
 
Debbie Hensley helped mold the Eagles program into what it is today. A striker during the inaugural seasons, 1993-95, Hensley helped start the women's soccer program in 1993, after etching her name into the record books and creating a culture for fellow Eagles to follow. Hensley posted 171 shots, with 107 points, and 42 assists in her career wearing the Blue and White. Hensley was the first player to produce 7 points in a game three years in a row, as well as be a part of the 1995 team which scored 13 goals against Jacksonville.
 
ASHLEY TOUSSAINT – (2005 – 2008)
2006 First-Team All-SOCON
2006 SOCON Player of the Week (O3)
2007 First-Team All-SOCON
2008 First-Team All-SOCON
 
Ashley Toussaint also has her name sprinkled through the record books at Georgia Southern. A striker during the 2005-08 seasons, Toussaint concluded her career with 171 shots, 70 points, 30 goals, and 30 assists. During all four years with the Eagles, Toussaint was able to lead the team in single season points, goals, assists, and shots all four years. In her senior season Toussaint posted career bests in shots (56) and goals (13). She finished her career with First-Team All-SOCON awards from 2006-2008, as well as adding a SOCON Player of the Week award in 2006.
 
AMANDA BERNARD – (1999 – 2003)
1999 Freshman of the Year
2001 First-Team All-SOCON
2002 First-Team All-SOCON
2003 First-Team All-SOCON
 
Amanda Bernard was a premiere midfielder during the 1999-2003 seasons. Bernard wrapped up a great career producing 186 shots, 86 points, 30 goals, and 26 assists. Bernard finished the 2000 season with 34 points, 12 assists, and 59 shots. During that 2000 season the Eagles won 11 straight games on route to a 14-3 season, best for the program all-time. Bernard collected First-Team All-SOCON honors three straight seasons from 2001-03.
 
RACHEL TOLLIVER – (1994 – 1996)
1994 First-Team All-SOCON
1995 First-Team All-SOCON
1996 First-Team All-SOCON
1996 First-Team All-SOCON Tournament Team
1996 SOCON Player of the Week (Week 3)
 
Rachel Tolliver began her career wearing the Blue and White only a year into the programs beginning. A midfielder for the Eagles from 1994-96, Tolliver remains on the top of the record books 25 years later. After finishing her career with 165 shots, 67 points, 21 goals, and 25 assists, Tolliver helped lead the Eagles to a 35-25 record in the three seasons she played. During her time at Georgia Southern, she collected First-Team All-SOCON honors from 1994-1996, a First-Team All-SOCON Tournament Team in 1996, and a SOCON Player of the Week award in 1996 for the third week.
 
LINDSEY GROSSMAN – (1995 – 1998)
1995 First-Team All-SOCON Tournament Team
1996 First-Team All-SOCON
1998 First-Team All-SOCON
 
Lindsey Grossman was a solid defender for the Eagles during the 1995-98 seasons. Grossman helped the Eagles lock up a 47-32-2 record, during her career. The defensive core along with goalie play, led the Eagles to 23 shutouts over those four years. A First-Team All-SOCON recipient in 1996 and 1998, as well as First-Team All-SOCON Tournament in 1995.
 
CHRISTIE NIPAVER – (2001 – 2004)
2001 First-Team All-SOCON Tournament Team
2002 First-Team All-SOCON
2003 First-Team All-SOCON
 
Christie Nipaver was a defender for the Eagles during the 2001-04 campaign. Nipaver started 53 of the 55 games she appeared in, scoring 4 goals and accounting for 4 assists. The Eagles had two above .500 seasons during these four years placing third in 2003 in the Southern Conference. Nipaver was awarded First-Team All-SOCON from 2002-03, as well as a First-Team All-SOCON Tournament Team honor in 2001.
 
JODI BERTO – (1994 – 1997)
1996 First-Team All-SOCON Tournament Team
1997 First-Team All-SOCON
1997 First-Team All-SOCON Tournament Team
 
Jodi Berto is the final Eagle defender on our list, playing a year after the program began. From 1994-97, Berto helped the Blue and White begin the Women's Soccer program, posting a 47-32-2 record. The Eagles placed second in the Southern Conference three of the four years. Berto was awarded First-Team All-SOCON in 1997, as well as being a First-Team All-SOCON Tournament Team recipient in 1996 and 1997.
 
KATIE MERSON – (2010 – 2014)
2012 SOCON Player of the Week (S4)
2012 SOCON Tournament Most Outstanding Player
2014 First-Team All-Sun Belt

Katie Merson was an elite goalkeeper for the Eagles during the 2010-14 seasons. Merson was one of two former Eagles who won awards in both the Southern Conference and the Sun Belt Conference. In 2012, Merson was awarded SOCON Tournament Most Outstanding Player, after helping lead the Eagles to their first conference title. During her career at Georgia Southern, Merson faced 937 shots, making 346 saves, with 20 career shutouts, and posting a 1.75 goals against average. Katie also holds the record for most Shutouts in a season with 10 during that championship run. Her goals against average in 2012 was 0.95 tied for the best all-time in program history. Merson was the recipient of a First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference award, as well as SOCON player of the Week in 2012 and a Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2012.

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