By Mason Nesbitt, TMU Sports Information Director

TMU’s Stephanie Soares became only the second freshman in the last 30 years to be named Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year on Tuesday when the conference released its end-of-year awards.

Soares, a 6-foot-6 center who leads the nation in multiple statistical categories, was also named GSAC Defensive Player of the Year.

“She’s just scratching the surface of her development,” said TMU coach Dan Waldeck, “and I know there’s more great things to come.”

Waldeck made for a clean sweep in the conference’s major honors. The 11th-year head coach was tabbed Coach of the Year for the first time.

TMU sophomore Anika Neuman, who was named to the All-GSAC team Monday, said she appreciated the high standard Waldeck holds everyone to.

“I was talking about that with a few of the girls this morning when we heard,” Neuman said. “We’re so grateful to have a coach that expects nothing but our best every night. If we didn’t have him there constantly pushing us to be our best, we wouldn’t be where we are, for sure.”

Neuman has averaged 10.3 points this season, helping the Mustangs win the first GSAC regular-season title in program history and compile a 25-5 overall record.

Master’s received a bye through the first round of this week’s GSAC tournament in Atherton, Calif. and will play the winner of William Jessup and Vanguard on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

After playing mostly center as a freshman, Neuman gives the Mustangs a versatile weapon at the four, a player who can dribble, shoot and handle herself in the paint. Neuman is shooting 37% from beyond the arc.

“She’s blossomed being able to play her true position this year,” Waldeck said, “and I’m thrilled that she’s receiving this honor. She is a tireless worker who improved immensely from a year ago. She has great years ahead.”

Ostensibly playing alongside Soares to form one of the NAIA’s most daunting front courts for the next two-plus years.

As of Tuesday, Soares led all NAIA Division 1 players in blocks (149), rebounds per game (12.6) and double doubles (25).

She’s averaging a team-high 16.7 points a night.

Neuman said she could tell from the first time she played with Soares this fall that the freshman would transition seamlessly to college ball.

“It felt like she’d already been here for however many years,” Neuman said. “She fit right in.”

Something else stood out to Neuman: Soares’ humor.

“She has the driest sense of humor, and to me that’s hysterical,” Neuman said. “I can’t stay serious when I tell a joke and she can. She’s easy to be around and makes life fun.”

And, she’s humble, constantly shifting credit and praise toward her teammates, a group that has matched the program’s most wins since 2005-06 when it went 28-8.

“Stephanie’s had a tremendous year so far, but what most don’t see is the humble, hard-working approach she brings every day,” Waldeck said. “I’m so proud of how she’s grown.”