NEWARK, DE -- University of Delaware senior midfielder Shannon Alger (at right) has been named to the Adidas/National Soccer Coaches Association of America Mid-Atlantic All-Region third team, the NSCAA has announced.

Alger, a senior from Hopatcong, NJ (Morris Catholic High School), was one of 33 NCAA Division I players named to the three teams. The Mid-Atlantic Region includes all schools in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey.

She becomes the first University of Delaware women’s soccer player to earn all-region honors since Beth Hatt earned first team honors in 1996.

The honor is the second post-season award for Alger, who was named to the Colonial Athletic Association first team back in November. She also earned first team All-CAA honors as a junior in 2004.

A three-year starter for the Hens after transferring from UNC Greensboro, Alger started all 20 games this past fall and ranked sixth on the team in scoring with four points on two goals. She had 23 shots on the goal and recorded scores in wins over Northern Iowa and Old Dominion.

She led the Blue Hens and CAA Coach of the Year Scott Grzenda to an overall record of 10-6-4, a third place finish in the CAA regular season standings with a record of 7-3-1, and a berth in the CAA semifinals before falling to league champion Hofstra. Delaware recorded a .500 or better record for the sixth straight year and advanced to the league semifinals for the first time since 2001.

For her career, Alger started in all 57 games, scored seven goals, and dished out five assists for 19 points. She is an elementary education major with a minor in coaching science.

AGATE:

NSCAA 1st team All-Region: Goalkeeper: Erin McLeod (Penn State); Back: Lindsay Bach (Penn State), Laura Koch (Villanova), Becky Sauerbrunn (Virginia); Midfield: Sandra Anger (VCU), Sarah Huffman (Virginia), Noelle Keselica (Virginia), Ali Kreiger (Penn State); Forward: Kim Argy (James Madison), Jessica Rostedt (Virginia), Tiffany Weimer (Penn State).

2nd team All-Region: Goalkeeper: Jillian Loyden (Villanova); Back: Natalie Jacobs (Penn State), Kambria Riggins (West Virginia), Robin Watson (Penn); Midfield: Marisa Kanela (West Virginia), Gina Lewandowski (Lehigh), Diana Matheson (Princeton), Stephanie Power (VCU); Forward: Laura Beeman (Old Dominion), Emily Behncke (Princeton), Annie Lowry (James Madison).

3rd team All-Region: Goalkeeper: Jessica Hussey (James Madison); Back: Sarra Moller (Loyola), Hillary Prince (Loyola), Jennifer Woodie (VCU); Midfield: Shannon Alger (Delaware), Amanda Cicchini (West Virginia), Allie Long (Penn State), Sheree Gray (Penn State); Forward: Margaret Curran (Navy), Kimmy Francis (Maryland), Alisha Paine (Saint Joseph’s).