South Florida's Tia Opliger Named Soccer Buzz All-Southeast Region

Tampa, Fla. - The University of South Florida women's soccer team's senior midfielder Tia Opliger (Riverview, Fla.) was named to the Soccer Buzz All-Southeast Region Third-Team, Tuesday, for her outstanding play as the Bulls' field general this season.

Having also earned third-team freshman All-American honors in 1998, the award is the second that Opliger and the USF program have garnered from Soccer Buzz.

As one of only three Bulls to start in all 18 games in the fall (2002), Opliger finishes her career tied as USF's "most experienced" player, ranking first all-time in games played with 71. She finished the season with eight goals, including two game-winners, and an assist, for a career total of 67 points on 25 goals and 17 assists, all of which rank third among all-time Bulls.

Opliger helped USF finish its regular season tied as the fifth-most-improved team in the nation. At 8-7-2, this season's Bulls finished their regular season five games better than the 2001 squad that posted a 4-13-2 mark without her services (red shirt, due to a foot injury). Graduating as one of the most decorated players in the history of the program, she earned both first and second team All-Conference USA honors (twice each), and was named C-USA Freshman of the Year in 1998.

With a brilliant collegiate career to build on, Opliger aspires to follow in the footsteps of former Bulls Kristine Edner (1996-98), Siri Nordby (1997-2000) and Carlene Stinson (Wawrzonek, 1998), all of who have gone on to play at the highest level. Edner and Nordby currently play for club ROA of the Norwegian First Division, and have both had stints with the Norwegian National Team, while Wawrzonek was drafted by the New York Power of the WUSA in 2001.