Dec. 24, 2005

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Junior forward Heather O'Reilly of East Brunswick, N.J. and senior midfielder Lori Chalupny of St. Louis, Mo. were named Saturday as first-team All-America performers by Soccer Buzz magazine. Senior forward Lindsay Tarpley was named to the second team, senior midfielder Kacey White to the third team and senior defender Kendall Fletcher was an honorable mention selection.

Three Tar Heel players claimed their third All-America recognition from Soccer Buzz. Heather O'Reilly of North Carolina and Lindsay Tarpley joined Lori Chalupny who became just the 10th player in the history of the awards and third Tar Heel to receive three first-team All-America honors.

Chalupny was chosen as the Southeast Region Player of the Year by Soccer Buzz and freshman midfielder Yael Averbuch from Upper Montclair, N.J. was chosen as Soccer Buzz's Southeast Region Freshman of the Year. Averbuch was also named to the first-team Freshman All-America squad by the magazine.

The Tar Heels had five players on the All-Southeast Region first team as O'Reilly and Chalupny were joined by Lindsay Tarpley of Kalamazoo, Mich., Kacey White of Arlington, Texas and Kendall Fletcher of Cary, N.C. Averbuch was named to the All-Southeast Region second team and she was also named to the Southeast Region All-Freshman honor squad.

The 2005 season marked the 10th year that Soccer Buzz has released a full slate of national and regional award winners.