Bauböck Named GAC Defensive Player of the Year, Morris Named First Team All-GAC
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Wednesday, the Great American Conference announced its 2023 All-Conference teams and yearly award winners. Among the celebrated players, the East Central University soccer team saw two of their own talents receive recognition for their performance during the season.
Senior defender
Tanja Bauböck and junior midfielder
Abbie Morris both earned well-deserved spots on the
All-GAC First Team. Additionally,
Bauböck was also given the title of GAC Defensive Player of the Year.
2023 Women's Soccer ALL-GAC
Bauböck added yet another accolade to her impressive collection as her soccer journey has been punctuated with previous distinctions including Offensive Player and Freshman of the Year honors during the 2020-21 season. The
Munderfing, Austria native has been the anchor of the Tiger defense while also contributing quite a bit to the offensive efforts. She has played and started in all 18 games this year for an average of 88 minutes per game while adding 36 shots, 20 shots on goal, and two goals. In her career,
Bauböck leaves her name etched into several ECU Career Top-10 Records including No. 10 in minutes played (4,345), No. 8 in goals (15), No. 5 in game-winning goals (3), No. 3 in shots on goal (73), and the top spot in both penalty kicks made (4) and total shots (139).
Morris received
All-GAC First Team selections for the second consecutive season after her steady fixture in the midfield this year. Despite an early-season setback with an injury that kept her out of action for the first six games, the London, England native still made a significant impact on the ECU offense. She emerged as the leading scorer for the Tigers alongside
Bauböck, contributing two goals, and recorded 30 shots and 8 shots on goal. Morris is set to lead the Tigers to even greater heights in the upcoming season.
