[SOCCER AMERICA AWARDS]  Soccer America's Freshman of the Year is the versatile Crystal Dunn, who was a key factor in North Carolina's success in 2010. She is the eighth Tar Heel to win the award.

Despite heavy graduation losses and injuries to veterans, the Tar Heels earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Dunn was the first freshman to be named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, but her contributions up front and middle were perhaps the most important for UNC.

Dunn, a defender in the U.S. girls national team program, often played up front -- she finished with five goals and five assists -- and was then pushed back into midfield as Coach Anson Dorrance tried to ride out games.

SOCCER AMERICA WOMEN'S FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR
2010 -- Crystal Dunn (North Carolina)
2009 -- Victoria DiMartino (Boston College)
2008 -- Lindsay Taylor (Stanford)
2007 -- Sanna Talonen (Florida State)
2006 -- Michele Weissenhofer (Notre Dame)
2005 -- Kerri Hanks (Notre Dame)
2004 -- Lara Dickenmann (Ohio State)
2003 -- Heather O'Reilly (North Carolina)
2002 -- Lindsay Tarpley (North Carolina)
2001 -- Christine Sinclair (Portland)
2000 -- Lindsay Browne (Clemson)
1999 -- Christie Welsh (Penn State)
1998 -- Mary-Frances Monroe (Connecticut)
1997 -- Anne Makinen (Notre Dame)
1996 -- Laurie Schwoy (North Carolina)
1995 -- Cindy Parlow (North Carolina)
1994 -- Staci Wilson (North Carolina)
1993 -- Cindy Daws (Notre Dame)
1992 -- Thori Staples (N.C. State)
1991 -- Tisha Venturini (North Carolina)
1990 -- Tiffeny Milbrett (Portland)
1989 -- Kristine Lilly (North Carolina)
1988 -- Heather Taggart (Wisconsin)
1986 -- Brandi Chastain (California)