Cromwell, who earned the honor in 2009, led 麻豆原创 to a 17-5-2 record this season and its sixth-straight appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Under her leadership, the Knights were nationally ranked all season, including two weeks at No. 6 for 麻豆原创’s best standing since 1992.

麻豆原创 finished the year ranked among the top-25 nationally for goals-against average (.524, No. 2); shutout percentage (.625, No. 4), scoring offense (2.25, No. 18); and won-lost-tied percentage (.750, No. 24). The team set the school and Conference USA record with its 15 shutouts this year.

Several of Cromwell’s student-athletes received high praise during the year. The team collected six all-conference honors, Marissa Diggs was selected as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and as an All-American, and Tishia Jewell made history as the first Knight to earn the prestigious Senior CLASS Award.

Cromwell also earned her 200th victory as 麻豆原创’s head coach in the regular season finale. With 224 career victories and a .681 winning percentage, she currently ranks among the top-25 winningest active coaches and the top-30 all-time winningest coaches in NCAA history.

The award, chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I women’s soccer coaches, national soccer media and fans, is given annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in women’s soccer. The student-athlete must boast notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.

“I want to thank all the people who supported me and voted for me during the season,” Jewell said. “It represents not only my athletic career, but my life as a part of the 麻豆原创 and in the community. I am also honored to leave C-USA and 麻豆原创 with this accomplishment.”

Jewell is the second Conference USA student-athlete in any sport to win the award as Memphis women’s soccer’s Lizzy Simonin was bestowed the honor last year. Jewell was selected as one of 30 candidates for the award in mid-September and made the cut to 10 finalists a month later as Florida’s only women’s soccer representative.

The Satellite Beach native was the fan favorite in the online poll by claiming 24.18 percent of the vote.

“This award is very prestigious, and it is awesome that it recognizes student-athletes not only in their achievements on the field, but off the field as well,” 麻豆原创 head coach Amanda Cromwell said. “Tishia’s academics and contribution to society have been a relevant part of her experience here at 麻豆原创. Compared to a lot of student-athletes around the country, she set herself apart, but she was in great company with the list of finalists. It’s a very special award for a special student-athlete.”

Jewell finished her career as one of the most decorated women soccer players in school history, both on the field and in the classroom.

She has been honored as an NSCAA All-American, a two-time All-Central Region selection and Soccer America MVP. Jewell was a force in C-USA as a three-time all-conference honoree and the 2010 offensive player of the year.

In 2012, she became the program’s career assists (36) leader. She shined in the postseason as she buried a 45-yard goal against Memphis, assisted the game-winning goal against SMU and helped 麻豆原创 top Tulsa 2-0 during the C-USA Tournament to clinch 麻豆原创’s first conference tournament championship.

In the NCAA Tournament first round, she connected on the team’s first PK attempt in its shootout against Miami to help the Knights advance to the second round for the sixth-consecutive year. As a team captain, she helped lead the team to its highest national ranking (No. 6) in the past two decades this season.

Her academic resume speaks for itself as Jewell earned her associate’s degree with honors prior to enrolling at 麻豆原创 in 2009. She has already graduated with a bachelor’s of science in psychology and began pursuing two master’s degrees in fall 2011. Since her graduate work started, she has carried a GPA of 3.75. She was named 麻豆原创’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2011.

She has been recognized as a NSCAA/Adidas Collegiate Scholar All-American, a three-time selection to the C-USA Academic Honor Roll and earned the Commissioner’s Medal (GPA of 3.75 or better) in 2011. This year, she was named to the C-USA All-Academic Team for the second-straight year.

Jewell has volunteered countless hours at numerous local organizations including: The Haven for Children (for abused and neglected youth); Szuba Guardian Care Solutions, Inc.; Women’s Center in Brevard; and Relay for Life. She has also served as the lead volunteer at the Creative School for Children and has worked as a volunteer coach at the Central Florida Kraze soccer fields.

Senior CLASS First-Team All-Americans

She has won nearly every award there is to win as a player. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree two years after stepping foot onto 麻豆原创’s campus. And when she made the decision as a high school freshman to enroll full time at Brevard Community College, she wasn’t about to let a little thing like age hold her back.

“I just remember my first semester the other students were all in their 20s and I was 14,” Jewell said. “I was being dropped off at the community college by my mom…. I was the quiet kid who just sat at their desk and did everything the teacher said.”

Jewell, now a dual-masters student at 麻豆原创, epitomizes the term student-athlete. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in psychology in spring 2011 following a stellar fall campaign on the soccer field, where she helped the Knights advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Championship for the first time in 24 years.

Did we mention she also earned All-American recognition both on the field and in the classroom in the process?

“She’s a very hard worker. She just has great character and work ethic,” said Sarah Hill, assistant director of academic services for student-athletes. “She’s always smiling, happy and great to work with. She’s just a good person to be around.”

Jewell began playing soccer at the age of four. She grew up in an active family with three siblings, but soccer called to her more than the others.

“I just always enjoyed playing, and I knew I was good at it because I enjoyed doing it,” Jewell said. “That’s why I stuck with it.”

In high school, she shined brightly as a leader for Satellite High in Satellite Beach. She was named as the 2007 FSHAA 5A Most Valuable Player while helping the Scorpions to a state championship that year and a state runner-up finish in 2008.

She also dominated in the club circuit with multiple U-17 team championships and as part of the Florida State Olympic Development Team from 2005-08.

For every achievement on the field, one in the classroom matched it.

Growing up, Jewell always prioritized school first and considered soccer a hobby. It wasn’t until later and soccer became more competitive that the two equalized, and by then, Jewell was already accustomed to mostly straight-A report cards.

“I never liked getting low grades,” Jewell said with a smile. “I just always made sure to get my work done.”

By the time she enrolled at 麻豆原创 as a freshman in 2009, Jewell had already received her associate’s degree and had 90 college credit hours to her name.

“I have never worked with a student that brought in so many credit hours as a freshman. To me, three hours, six hours, nine credit hours – that’s a good start,” Hill said. “But Tishia brought in an entire AA degree. I remember my first thought was, what classes do I put her in, all of her General Education courses were done. She was taking 3000 level classes as a freshman, which was difficult for me to grasp as an advisor because that doesn’t happen very often. She did so well academically, and was really prepared to take those upper-level classes.”

Jewell did not miss a beat while juggling the demanding schedule of a collegiate student-athlete. She has been named to the Conference USA Academic Honor Roll every year and earned the highest academic honor in collegiate soccer last season as a NSCAA/adidas Collegiate Scholar All-American.

She is one of the most decorated women’s soccer athletes to don the Black and Gold as a two-time conference champion, a two-time conference all-first team selection and a two-time NSCAA All-Central Region first team selection.

This season, she was named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List – the highest individual award in intercollegiate soccer — and is a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award, which is presented annually to a senior who has made notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.

Her final year as a Knight is ticking away at a rapid pace, and Jewell is preparing for life in the real world. Her double major as a graduate student is in public administration and non-profit management, but she plans to focus on the non-profit side.

Jewell points to her early graduation and multiple degrees as her greatest academic accomplishments. As for her greatest field accomplishment, the individual praise is nice, but she takes more enjoyment in her team’s successes.

“My greatest soccer accomplishment is split between getting as far as we did – being All-American and helping the team last year – and just getting the team as far as we can this year,” Jewell said. “Hopefully we can get further this year, and then that will be my greatest accomplishment.”

This story appears in the November issue of Knights Insider magazine. The publication, which is published six times per year, provides an inside look at 麻豆原创 student-athletes, coaches and alums. To order the magazine,

麻豆原创 (17-4-2) advanced to the second round for the sixth-consecutive year and will face Florida in Gainesville on Friday at a yet-to-be-announced time.

Late heroics by defender Ashley Nicol, who scored her sixth goal of the season off a diving header with less than six minutes in regulation, sent the match to overtime. 麻豆原创 topped Miami in overtime earlier this season, but neither team budged an inch Saturday through 20 minutes of extra play, forcing a shootout.

Freshman Allie Gerry put the game away with 麻豆原创’s last penalty kick as fans erupted on the sideline and her teammates piled around her in euphoria.

“I was very impressed with the PKs. They all tucked in nicely,” 麻豆原创 head coach Amanda Cromwell said. “To battle like we did, that game was tough in a lot of ways. Miami is a very athletic team with a very long throw-in that causes a lot of problems.”

Although Nicolette Radovcic nearly put 麻豆原创 on the scoreboard in the first five minutes with a 1v1 opportunity with UM’s keeper, Miami would end up striking first.

The Hurricanes snapped the Knights’ seven-match shutout streak when Shannon McCarthy’s long throw in found Kate Howarth inside the box. She headed it on to Ally Andreini on the far post, and Andreini headed it in for a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute.

The Knights got a jolt of life with their first corner kick in the 32nd minute as Andrea Rodrigues sent a short pass to Radovcic, whose cross connected with defender Marissa Diggs on the far post, but her header was saved.

Goalkeeper Lianne Maldonado came up with two huge saves off attempts by Howarth in the 74th minute, allowing the Knights to stay on the Canes’ heels.

“Lianne is the reason we were still in the game, 1-0, so I can’t say enough about her play tonight,” Cromwell said.

麻豆原创 couldn’t capitalize on several scoring opportunities in the second half until midfielder Madison Barney forwarded a ball to the far post, where Nicol sent a diving header past the keeper to tie the game 1-1 in the 84th minute.

“During warmup, I kept hitting my headers high. Coach said you have to hit them low,” Nicol said. “So right when Madi headed it, I envisioned diving for it.”

Radovcic had two good looks at goal during the first overtime period, but neither found the back of the net, and the teams lined up at midfield to settle the game in a shootout.

Tishia Jewell, Jennifer Martin, Nicol and Radovcic all finished their attempts with finesse to take a 4-3 advantage when Miami’s Andreini stepped up for her attempt. Her shot hit the crossbar, and Gerry came out on top to end the game and keep 麻豆原创’s postseason alive.

Diggs was joined by senior forward Nicolette Radovcic on the first team while senior forward Tishia Jewell and sophomore midfielder Madison Barney earned praise on the second team. Junior goalkeeper Lianne Maldonado was distinguished on the third team, and newcomer Sophie Howard earned a spot on the freshman team.

麻豆原创’s seven honors were a league high along with regular-season co-champions Colorado College and Rice.

As a starting centerback for the Knights, Diggs anchored a defensive line that currently ranks sixth in the country for shutout percentage (.632) and eighth for goals-against average (.561). 麻豆原创 has blanked 12 opponents – eight in conference play – for its best shutout total since 2004. The Knights head into the C-USA Tournament on Wednesday one shutout shy of matching the school record currently held by the 1986 squad. This is Diggs’ second-consecutive appointment to the first team.

“Marissa is a tremendous 1v1 defender,” 麻豆原创 head coach Amanda Cromwell said. “She’s so hard to beat because she’s fast but she’s also very physical. Not only does she win the ball, but she wins the ball and possesses it so she can start our attack for us.”

Radovcic, a team captain, earned her first all-conference team distinction since she was named to the All-Freshman Team in 2009. With 11 goals so far this year, she has emerged as the Knights’ top-goal scorer for the second-consecutive season to rank second in the league and 38th in the nation. She ranks 35th in the country for game-winning goals as her four against No. 12 Miami, Dartmouth, North Florida and Tulsa have tallied her career total to nine, which ranks seventh all-time at 麻豆原创. She leads an offensive attack that ranks first in the conference for points (141), goals (47) and assists (47).

麻豆原创’s Senior CLASS Award finalist, Jewell, picked up the third all-conference honor of her career. She currently tops the league and sits 18th in the nation for assists (9) and also ranks fourth in C-USA for game-winning goals (3). With 34 career assists, she is one away from matching 麻豆原创’s all-time record leader. She ranks second for the Knights in total points (21) and has been named the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week twice this season.

“Tish is coming on really strong as of late. She’s a really good creator and playmaker, and Nic has been consistent throughout the year leading us in goal scoring,” Cromwell said.

As a starting defensive midfielder for the Knights, Barney earned the first all-conference award of her career Tuesday. She has been a reliable asset for the team this year and shined in the 麻豆原创 Tournament as the Defensive MVP after assisting the game-winning goal against Dartmouth, which garnered her the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week award. She added two more assists during conference play against Houston and Southern Miss.

Coming into the season, Maldonado had the task of replacing All-American goalkeeper Aline Reis between the posts. She has started every match in 2012 and has organized a defense that sits atop the league for goals allowed (11), goals-against average and shutouts. Her .63 goals-against average ranks third in C-USA, 23rd in the country and is currently on pace to rank among 麻豆原创’s top-10 single-season leaders.

“Madi is just a solid player in every category – possession, ball-winning, heading. She’s very consistent and the other teams noticed the hard work she puts in,” Cromwell said. “It was great that Lianne was recognized because we don’t give up a lot of shots on goal or corners, so sometimes our goalkeepers don’t have a whole lot to do. But when she did, she came up big, and other teams notice she’s a very quality keeper.”

Rounding up the league honors is Howard, who joined the team just before conference play after representing Germany in the U-20 FIFA World Cup in Japan. The midfielder worked her way into starting lineup in her second appearance and has started ever since. She boasts the most points (8) by a freshman on the team with two assists and three goals, which includes the goal versus East Carolina that capped the sixth-fastest scoring sequence (1:37) of three-consecutive goals in NCAA history.

“Sophie could have easily been on an all-conference team, not just the freshman team,” Cromwell said. “She has come in and scored important goals at the right time.”

This group along with the rest of the Knights will travel to El Paso, Texas, for their first-round matchup against sixth-seeded and defending champion Memphis at 9 p.m. ET. 麻豆原创 hopes to close its final chapter in C-USA by claiming its first tournament title.

The Knights have been seeded third once before, in the 2008 tournament when they advanced to the semifinals. 麻豆原创 has advanced to the title game three times (2007, 2009 and 2010) and has faced Memphis in each of those matches.

“The training has been good and the energy is high. I can tell we are ready,” Cromwell said. “It’s tournament time and we are geared up for that. We like how the bracket has panned out. We always want to play a team that beat us during the year.”

The outcome marked a milestone for Amanda Cromwell, who earned her 200th victory as 麻豆原创’s head coach and 220th career win.

“It was a nice surprise and it’s something I didn’t even know it was on the horizon to tell you the truth,” Cromwell said. “Josh (Walters) announced it in our post-game huddle and the players were excited for me. I thanked them for playing well, and really, it was a team effort all-around — the whole staff is a part of this milestone. It’s not just me.”

With their win over the Golden Eagles (4-12-1, 1-9-0), the Knights (14-4-1, 8-3-0) locked up the most shutouts in a season (12) since 2004 and are one shy of matching the school record held by the 1986 squad.

麻豆原创 will head to the Conference USA Tournament as the No. 3 seed and is scheduled to face sixth-seeded Memphis in the opening round. Memphis defeated the Knights 2-1 in the conference-season opener earlier this year.

Forward Jennifer Martin headed in the first goal at the 6-minute mark off an assist from senior Tishia Jewell.

Nearly eight minutes later, midfielder Madison Barney sent a ball over the top to forward Nicolette Radovcic, who put the ball away for her 11th score of the season.

Two Knights recorded their first-career goals after halftime.

Kayla Darden connected with Tyler Law for the first goal of her career in the 58th minute when she left-footed a ball into the corner of the net.

Defender Bianca Joswiak sent a cross from the end line to Alex Piercy in the 86th minute to cap the match at 4-0.

麻豆原创 held Southern Miss to no corners and one shot on goal, which Lianne Maldonado saved in the first 45 minutes of play.

“I feel like we’re peaking at the right time. Unfortunately, we weren’t in control of our own destiny tonight, but either way, the team feels good about how we’re playing right now,” Crowmell said. “We’re looking forward to next week and we feel confident and excited headed into the tournament.”

The Knights travel to El Paso, Texas, in quest of their first tournament title with the 9 p.m. ET opening-round matchup Wednesday. The championship is set for Sunday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m. ET and will be aired live on the CBS Sports Network. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be streamed through the C-USA All-Access package on www.ConferenceUSA.com.

To recap the weekend, the Knights netted 12 goals, outshot their opponents 44-6 and limited the Pirates and the Herd to two corners combined. In addition, senior Tishia Jewell tied the program’s career record for shots with 229.

“I think now we have good momentum, and we just want to keep it going and show teams the best we can be,” Jewell said.

Added defender Ashley Nicol: “From here on out, every day is senior day.”

Forward Jennifer Martin gave the Knights a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute when Carleigh Williams sent a free kick into the box where Martin placed a header just below the crossbar for her second game-winner of the year.

Forty-three seconds later, 麻豆原创 capitalized off another header – this time from Nicol. Jewell played a ball to midfielder Andrea Rodrigues, who delivered a cross from the left side to Nicol for the score.

Kayla Darden increased the lead to 3-0 just before halftime when Zoe Hayes sent her a pass from midfield, allowing Darden to send a low-driven ball to the far post past the keeper.

Forward Kristina Trujic notched her second goal of the weekend in the 60th minute while inside the box thanks to a double-assist from Nicol and Jewell.

Senior forward Nicolette Radovcic wrapped up the match nicely in the 83rd minute after classmate Bianca Joswiak sent her a ball, which she flicked around the defender inside the box and put it past the keeper for her 10th goal of the year.

“The attack has been great — a lot of movement and creativity up top,” 麻豆原创 head coach Amanda Cromwell said. “The seniors came up big in a lot of different ways with assists, playmaking and goals. Getting the shutout was huge, as well.”

The four seniors left the game with five minutes remaining to rousing applause from the crowd and entered a receiving line of hugs on the sideline.

麻豆原创 will play its final match of the regular season Friday at 5 p.m. at Southern Miss. The Knights closed their home schedule with a 9-2 record at the 麻豆原创 Soccer Complex. The pink jerseys will be auctioned online via 麻豆原创Athletics.com.

“This team is very good, and our success this season says a lot about our players, who are stepping up and playing hard,” 麻豆原创 head coach Amanda Cromwell said. “We’re dangerous in a lot of different ways. Our All-American forward has scored one goal this season. If you would have told me we were going to be 5-1-1, and was only going to have scored one goal at this point, I would have said you’re nuts. It says a lot about , Kristina Trujic, 聽and all the attacking players around her that are doing some great things. As for the defense, we’ve had multiple shutouts and I think our back line has played some of their best defense since I’ve been here. We’re a tough team to break down.”

During the 1992 season, 麻豆原创 was ranked as high as sixth in the Intercollegiate Soccer Coaches Association of America (ISAA) poll, which is now the NSCAA rankings. The program’s all-time highest ranking in the regular season was No. 3 during 1982 – the same year that the team finished as the runner-up in the national championship.

麻豆原创 is the second-highest ranked program in the state of Florida as Florida State sits at No. 1. Regionally, the Knights are one of the best at No. 2 in the NSCAA Central Region behind Oklahoma State, which is ranked seventh nationally.

麻豆原创 is riding a four-game unbeaten streak and has held its own with some of the nation’s best competition. The Knights’ only loss this season was a 1-0 decision to the top-ranked Seminoles, and they tied now-No. 5 Boston College in double overtime in their most recent outing Sunday.

The Knights will close their non-conference schedule Friday when they take on North Florida at 5 p.m. as part of a home doubleheader with the men’s team, which is scheduled to kick off against Jacksonville at 7:30 p.m.

Season tickets are available for 麻豆原创’s remaining home games, beginning at $30. A complimentary soccer scarf comes with each purchase. The Gold Pass, which includes season tickets to all volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s basketball, softball and track and field contests, is also available now. For more information and to place an order, call the 麻豆原创 Ticket Office at (407) 麻豆原创-1000 or visit 麻豆原创Athletics.com.

Jewell capitalized on a free kick opportunity reminiscent of junior Ashley Nicol’s insurance goal in Friday’s win over Dartmouth.

“She came through,” 麻豆原创 head coach Amanda Cromwell said. “She’s very dangerous on those. Obviously set plays are huge for us with Ash scoring on Friday on a free kick. Our girls were ready to score. I think we dominated that game in many areas, and Georgia’s coach after the game was very classy and said, `You guys deserved it.'”

For her efforts, Jewell was named the tournament’s offensive most valuable player. 麻豆原创 defender Madison Barney, who helped the Knights secure two shutouts this weekend, was named the tournament’s defensive MVP. The pair joined senior forward Nicolette Radovcic and junior defender Ashley Nicol on the all-tournament team.

Meeting for the first time since 1998, 麻豆原创 (5-1-0) and Georgia (4-2-0) played through a scoreless 90 minutes despite the Knights’ numerous chances at the net. 麻豆原创 out-shot the Bulldogs 20-6, as 14 of those shots came on goal.

Time and again, Georgia goalkeeper Ashley Baker managed to find her way in front of the ball, notching eight saves in the first period, another four in the second period and one in overtime.

“I think (the win) shows that we grind it out as a team,” Jewell said. “We had chances to put the game away and we didn’t finish them, but we kept going until we got one.”

Battling not only the Bulldogs, but sun and fatigue as well, 麻豆原创 finally broke through with less than a minute remaining in the extra period when the Knights drew a foul for a free-kick opportunity just outside the left corner of the box.

As Jewell lined up for the shot, Cromwell knelt on the sidelines and said she told assistant coach Joshua S. Walters, Sr., that now would be the perfect time for the senior to score her first goal of the year.

Baker got a hand on Jewell’s attempt on the goal line but wasn’t able to hang onto the ball, and the Knights walked away with their first win over Georgia in program history. In the process, 麻豆原创 extended its winning-streak to three-straight games and improved its record to 2-0 in overtime contests this year.

The Knights will travel to Boston College on Sept. 9 to face the Eagles for the first time since 2004.

Season tickets are available for 麻豆原创’s remaining home games, beginning at $30. A complimentary soccer scarf comes with each purchase. The Gold Pass, which includes season tickets to all volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s basketball, softball and track and field contests, is also available now. For more information and to place an order, call the 麻豆原创 Ticket Office at (407) 麻豆原创-1000 or visit 麻豆原创Athletics.com.

All-Tournament Team

“It’s nice to be able to tell them they’re going to split halves, and they both performed really well,” 麻豆原创 head coach Amanda Cromwell said. “I think some players came in and played really well. I think we were unlucky enough to score a third one with some of the attacking opportunities that we had. I was proud of the kids coming in off the bench.”

With the win, the Knights (4-1-0) handed Dartmouth a loss in its first game of the season, and 麻豆原创 remained undefeated against Ivy League programs with an all-time record of 5-0.

麻豆原创 took a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute when Madison Barney connected with Andrea Rodrigues in the midfield. Rodrigues sent a pass to an awaiting Nicolette Radovcic in front of Dartmouth’s net and she had no problem putting it past keeper Tatiana Saunders for her third goal of the season and second-consecutive game-winner.

Radovcic nearly scored again in the 34th minute off an exchange with Tishia Jewell. Radovcic’s shot was blocked by a Dartmouth defender, and Saunders managed to snatch the ball while kneeling in front of the net.

Maldonado came up with five saves of her own in the first half, including a brilliant deflection near the crossbar five minutes before the break.

Organ started the second half in goal and was tested early as she came up with two saves in the first 15 minutes of play.

The Knights were primed to score again in the 66th minute when Jewell forwarded a pass to a sprinting Radovcic, but she was taken down just before reaching the top of the box. The play set up a free kick for Ashley Nicol, who put one away in the top left corner of the net for her second goal of the season and a 2-0 edge.

“Nicolette had a great attempt before she got tripped. I work on them a lot at practice so this was just another chance for me to make one,” Nicol said. “We all have certain positions where we take our free kick and that’s usually the spot where I take them, so I’m pretty confident from that spot.”

Zoe Hayes, Alex Piercy and Katy Ling all clocked their first minutes of the season.

麻豆原创 wraps up its four-game homestand Sunday when it faces Georgia at 2:30 p.m. following the USF-Dartmouth matchup at noon.