University of Georgia Athletics
Ali Williams Named SEC Offensive Player Of The Year
November 03, 2005 | Soccer
Nov. 3, 2005
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. --- Senior forward Ali Williams of the University of Georgia soccer team was selected as the Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Year, announced by the conference at the SEC Tournament banquet Wednesday night. Williams becomes the first player at Georgia to ever receive the conference's Player of the Year award for either offense or defense.
"I am so excited for Ali and the type of senior season she is having," said head coach Patrick Baker. "We needed someone to step up and be a big time goal scorer for us this year and Ali has been that player. Without her offensive output, we would be in a heap of trouble this year. She and fellow senior forward Erin Sekerak have allowed us to have a remarkable season and everything starts with them. When they defend well, we defend as a team well. When they are playing well and being dynamic up top, we usually are playing our best soccer."
"Honestly, the best part about this award is making Mom, my Dad and my teammates proud," said Williams. "I think that my parents, friends, teammates and coaches have been really supportive and encouraging and I couldn't ask for anything better. They really helped me adjust to playing a new position and trying to be leader on the team. I feel like my parents have been `SuperFans' for the last four years and I'm really excited for them because I know they're excited for us. I'm really happy to make them proud."
Williams began her Bulldog career as a freshman walk-on. She came to Georgia having played forward in high school but was converted to a defender in college.
"I guess as a freshman I didn't expect anything, I didn't expect to make impact," said Williams. "But I feel like the last couple of years I worked really hard to earn spot on the field and it was a big deal for me to have opportunity to play. At times as a freshman it was really hard because you feel like you're really not contributing anything. "But now as a senior I am really proud that I can honestly say I've given 100 percent to the team and it has been a successful season."
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