Tiernan and Cephers earn VaSID all-state recognition

Tiernan earned first team honors, while Cephers landed on the second team ballot

December 20, 2016

BLACKSBURG – Seniors Murielle Tiernan and Candace Cephers of the Virginia Tech women’s soccer team have been named to the 2016 Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Women’s Soccer University Division All-State lists, announced by the organization on Tuesday.

Tiernan earned first team honors for the fourth year in a row, while Cephers landed on the second team ballot for the first time in her career.

Tiernan, a native of Ashburn, Virginia, appeared in all 19 of the team’s matches this season, earning 15 starts at the forward position. She paced the Hokie offense with a team-leading 10 goals and 20 points and tallied a team-high five game-winning goals this season.

A three-time All-ACC First Team nominee, Tiernan completed her Hokie career with 49 goals and 112 points, both atop the all-time lists at Virginia Tech. She also leads the all-time lists in game-winning goals (23) and multiple goal games (9) and is tied for seventh in assists (14).

Of note, Tiernan was most recently named to the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. She also earned NSCAA All-Southeast Region honors for the third year in a row, landing on the third team ballot. Tiernan was listed as a first team member her sophomore and junior season.

Cephers, a native of Aurora, Colorado, has played a pivotal role at the midfield position, starting every match for the Hokies’ since 2014. She finished third on the team with seven points, tallying three goals and one assist on the year. Additionally, Cephers hit her fifth game-winning goal of her career in the team’s 2-1 win over Mississippi State at the 2016 College of Charleston Tournament, scoring back-to-back goals in 87 seconds to secure the victory.

A two-time All-ACC Third Team honoree, Cephers ended her Hokie career with 16 goals and 33 points. She also is tied for fifth on the all-time list in games played (88).

Of note, Cephers also was most recently named to the NSCAA All-Southeast Region Second Team list for the first time in her career.

A total of 11 different schools had players recognized on the 2016 VaSID Women’s Soccer University Division All-State team. The University of Virginia had six players recognized, while Liberty and the College of William & Mary had three apiece to lead the list. Virginia’s Alexis Shaffer earned Player of the Year honors, while Liberty’s Gabrielle Farrell was named the Rookie of the Year alongside her head coach Nate Norman as Coach of the Year.

Player of the Year

Alexis Shaffer, University of Virginia

Coach of the Year

Nate Norman, Liberty University

Rookie of the Year

Gabrielle Farrell, Liberty University

All-State First Team

Forwards

Murielle Tiernan, Virginia Tech

Veronica Latsko, University of Virginia

Lexi Prillaman, University of Richmond

Gabrielle Farrell, Liberty University

Midfielders

Alexis Shaffer, University of Virginia

Ashley Herndon, James Madison University

Isabella Habuda, Liberty University

Defenders

Kristen McNabb, University of Virginia

Clara Logsdon, College of William & Mary

Meghan Cox, University of Virginia

Goalie

Morgan Stearns, University of Virginia

All-State Second Team

Forwards

Meaghan Carrigan, University of Richmond

Sarah Segan, College of William & Mary

Taylor Ziemer, University of Virginia

Midfielders

Alex Myers, George Mason University

Rachel Moore, College of William & Mary

Candace Cephers, Virginia Tech

Jasmine Casarez, Radford University

Defenders

Abby Downey, George Mason University

Jackie Stroud, Old Dominion University

Sydney Wallace, Longwood University

Goalie

Holly Van Noord, Liberty University

For updates on Virginia Tech women's soccer, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_WSoccer