Harrison

CLARION — The only collegiate goal Stephanie Harrison ever scored was disallowed.

“I scored against Mansfield, but the play was whistled for offsides,” the Butler graduate and Clarion University women's soccer player said.

It didn't matter. She scored plenty of points with her teammates this year.

Harrison, a junior central defender, was the unanimous choice for team MVP in a vote of the players and coaches.

“We set a school record for fewest goals allowed this season — cutting last year's total in half — and Stephanie was a big reason for that,” first-year Clarion coach Rob Eaton said.

After struggling to get on the field in her first two seasons, Harrison played every minute of every game for the Golden Eagles in 2010.

Clarion women's soccer, which is in its 10th season of existence, never has posted a winning record. This year's team was 4-9-4, with all of its wins coming in PSAC play. The Golden Eagles had not won a conference game since 2007.

Clarion earned 15 points in PSAC play — the previous record was 10 — and expects to contend for its first conference playoff berth next year.

“We're losing eight starters, but Coach Eaton runs his own soccer club in eastern Pennsylvania and there's some incredible recruits coming in here,” Harrison said.

After playing defender at Butler, Harrison was switched to midfield at Clarion and played sparingly. She has yet to score a collegiate goal and was hampered throughout her sophomore season while recovering from surgery.

“I had my appendix and gall bladder taken out a week before summer camp opened,” she said. “I decided to give it a go, but I never really felt good.

“During the offseason, I worked hard on my ball striking and watched a lot of soccer on TV to learn more about the game. Those things made a big difference for me,” she added.

While she didn't score a point, she made sure the opposition scored few.

“Stephanie really plugged the gap,” Eaton said. “Her teammates saw the impact she had on the team from back there and voted to recognize her for it.”

With a teammate setting the squad's single-season goal-scoring record this season, Harrison admitted to feeling awkward about accepting the award.

“When my name was called at the banquet, I was shocked,” she said. “Any number of players on our team could have won this. I'm not successful unless my teammates are successful.”

Eaton, named PSAC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year for 2010, believes the team can create that success.

“If we do get to the playoffs, Stephanie Harrison will play a vital role. I can promise you that,” he said.