. -- Tyler Carr, a senior defender on the Nazareth women's soccer team, has been named Empire 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Carr also is one of five Nazareth players named to the E8 first team as the all-conference teams were revealed Nov. 6. The teams were chosen through voting by the league's head coaches.

In addition to Carr, junior forward Briana Vibbard, sophomore midfielder Michaela Soules, grad student midfielder Christine Belding and senior defender Kaitlyn Sowyrda were selected to the first team. Sophomore goalie Allison Dobles was named to the second team and the Golden Flyers' coaching staff, headed by Gail Mann, was named E8 Coaching Staff of the Year. Senior Ashtin Argentieri was Nazareth's representative as E8 Sportswoman of the Year.

Carr, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., has been a fixture on defense for the Golden Flyers for the past three seasons. She has started 17 games in 2014 and has spearheaded a defensive unit that has yielded just 14 goals (0.77 per game) this season.

Sowyrda, of Grafton, Mass., has started every game for the Golden Flyers over the past two seasons and has helped the team post eight shutout wins. She has contributed one goal and two assists this season and six goals and eight assists for her career.

Vibbard, of Sherburne, N.Y., has started regularly for the Golden Flyers in 2014 and is tied for second on teh team in scoring with 17 points on seven goals and three assists. Her career numbers include 11 goals and six assists.

Soules, of Camden, N.Y., has started regularly the past two seasons and leads the Golden Flyers in scoring in 2014 with 20 points on five goals and 10 assists. She was a second-team all-conference pick in 2013.

Belding, of Rochester, N.Y., returned to the Golden Flyers' roster in 2014 after sitting out the 2013 season. She is tied for second on the team in scoring with 17 points on seven goals and three assists. She has 15 goals and 11 assists for her career and was a second-team all-conference selection in 2011 and 2012.

Dobles, of Spencerport, N.Y. has been a steady player in goal for the Golden Flyers in 2014. She's yielded only eight goals in 15 games with 53 saves for a 0.58 goals-against average and a .869 save percentage with five shutouts.

Nazareth's coaching staff, which includes Billy Stojanovski, Dave Giordano and Kara Eaker in addition to Mann, was recognized after a second-place finish in the regular-season standings and a 13-3-2 overall record heading into this weekend's conference tournament. The 13 victories are the most by a Nazareth women's soccer team since 2007.

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