Rebecca Mateo plays at Ursuline High in 2007. (Photo by (Press Democrat file photo))

By MICHAEL COIT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A pair of former Sonoma County girls prep soccer players helped lead Belmont Abbey College to another successful season.

Rebecca Mateo, from Ursuline High, led the Crusaders in scoring. Kiera Woerner, out of Petaluma High, started on defense for all of the Belmont, N.C., school’s games.

Belmont Abbey is an NCAA Division II program that competes in the Conference Carolinas. The Crusaders women’s soccer team went 12-7-2 and reached the conference championship game for a seventh consecutive season this year. Belmont Abbey played in the NCAA Division II tournament in 2009 and 2010.

A four year standout at midfielder, Mateo this season led Belmont Abbey in points, was second in goals and game winners, and third in both shots and assists. A conference player of the week, Mateo was named to the All-Conference team.

Mateo, from Cotati, also earned all-conference honors as a freshman and junior.

A highlight for Woerner was being named to the conference All-Tournament team. The defender started all 21 games for Belmont Abbey.

Woerner, a Penngrove resident, attended Chico State out of Petaluma High before joining Mateo at Belmont Abbey.

Both seniors, Mateo and Woerner played club soccer for the Sonoma County Alliance.