Top Defender, Leading Scorer Make All-Landmark Team

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher placed its leading scorer and its top defender from the past season on the 2015 All-Landmark Conference Women's Soccer Team, which was released to the public this afternoon.

Lexi Solazzo (Tolland, Conn./Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts), a junior defender who started all 18 games for the Gophers, was one of 12 players that were placed on this year's All-Landmark first team through balloting by the conference's eight head coaches. An equal number of players made the second team, including junior midfielder Samantha Turner (Vineland, N.J./Vineland).

Solazzo is a three-year starter for head coach Tati Korba and represented Goucher on the Landmark Conference Women's Soccer All-Sportsmanship Team as a freshman in 2013. She picked up the first point of her career back on Sept. 13 when she assisted a goal scored by Turner that put the Gophers ahead to stay in their 4-3 victory over Randolph at the 2015 D.C. Women's Soccer Classic.

"Lexi Solazzo had an outstanding season for us, playing every minute of every game this fall," according to Korba. "She is an anchor of our backline, incredibly fast and athletic and very hard to beat on the turn, one v. one or in a footrace. Being named as one of the top four defenders in the conference is certainly fitting."

Turner, who appeared in 16 of this season's 18 games, supplied the Gophers with five goals and an assist. Her unassisted goal in the 77th minute accounted for all of the scoring in a 1-0 triumph over Moravian on Sept. 26, and she tacked on the second goal during 2-0 wins over Marymount on Sept. 12 and Juniata on Oct. 24.

"Sam Turner is such an important member of our team," said Korba, who guided the Gophers to an 8-7-3 record in 2015. "She played every field position, but one, for us this season, and despite moving around in different positions she was still able to lead the team in goals, points and shots taken. Sam is a dynamic and smart player and I think her best games are yet to come."

For the complete 2015 All-Landmark Conference Women's Soccer Team, click HERE.