MONTEVALLO (12/21) -- University of Montevallo head coach Patricia Hughes has been named South Region Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, it has been announced.

The Dublin, Ireland native recently completed her seventh year as head coach of the Lady Falcons. UM posted a school record 15 victories, claimed the 2007 Gulf South Conference championship and made their first-ever appearance in an NCAA Division II national tournament, advancing to the South Region Championship match against eventual national champion University of Tampa.

In the post-season UM defeated four Top 25 teams, Ouachita Baptist, West Florida (twice) and Saint Leo. The GSC championship was the first-ever (NCAA) conference crown for a women's team at UM.

UM concluded the 2007 season with a record of 15-8 overall.