The Greensboro College women’s soccer team followed its most successful year with noteworthy accomplishments in 2002. The Pride won the Dixie Conference Tournament, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Both feats were the first in program history.
  
While GC went 10-10, The Pride played one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Greensboro faced four teams in the NCAA Division III top 10, and played three other clubs with regional rankings.
 
“The tough schedule paid dividends,” said GC Head Coach Doug Shank. “The strong opposition was preparation for our conference games and the DIAC tournament.”
   
In conference games, The Pride went 5-2 and earned the second seed in the conference tournament. The Pride saved perhaps its best soccer for the DIAC Tournament in Newport News, Va. GC outscored Methodist and North Carolina Wesleyan, 5-0, to capture the trophy.
   
“Our back line really stepped it up in the Dixie Tournament,” Shank said. “Adrienne Buttino played well in goal and got great support from Brooke DeWitt, Valerie Bailey, Yvette Jones and Kristin Senges.”

Offensively, two freshmen emerged as GC’s leading goal-scorers. Amanda McGlaughlin, the Dixie Conference rookie-of-the-year, led GC with 11 goals and 6 assists for 28 points. Fellow frosh Jessica Upchurch had 11 goals and one helper for The Pride.

The Pride drew a trip to Washington & Lee in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. The game was a rematch of an earlier Pride-Generals matchup. W&L entered the game ranked 14th in the nation and got on the scoreboard early. GC put pressure on late in the match, but the home club prevailed 2-0.

GC placed McGlaughlin and Shannon Kelly on the Dixie first team. Lindsey Selsmeyer and freshman Justina Sharkey earned second team recognition.
 
“We took another big step in building our program this season,” said Shank. “Playing strong competition and advancing to the NCAA Tournament were milestones. The next step will be beating those teams and advancing in the post season.”

2002 GC Women’s Soccer Honors Adrienne Buttino, DIAC tournament team, Dixie WS player-of-week; Natalie Henderson, DIAC tournament team; Shannon Kelly, Dixie second team; Amanda McGlaughlin, 3rd Team All South, Dixie rookie-of-year,  Dixie first team, DIAC tournament team, Dixie WS rookie-of-week (4x); Justina Sharkey, Dixie first team, Dixie WS player-of-week, DIAC Tournament team; Lindsey Selsmeyer, Dixie second team; Jessica Upchurch, DIAC tournament MVP, DIAC tournament team.

Amanda McGlaughlin:  3rd Team All-South