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Eastern Illinois Athletics wrapped up its 20th year as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference in May.  As a way to celebrate the many accomplishments, both team and individual during that time period, EIU conducted an online poll during the month of May for fans to help select the Top 20 athletes of the Panthers OVC Era.  During the month of June we will unveil the top 20 athletes as selected by the more than 2,500 fan votes submitted.  The original list of 40 athletes was comprised by a committee looking at a variety of criteria including Player of the Year, All-American selection and multiple time first-team All-OVC honors.  
 
#15 Cara LeMaster (1999-02)
 
LeMaster was a part of the Eastern Illinois women's soccer domination of the OVC in the early 2000's.   She was named the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in 1999 helping EIU win the first of back-to-back OVC regular season championships.  She also earned first team All-OVC honors and All-Great Lakes Freshman Team honors in 1999.  As a junior LeMaster helped EIU win the OVC Tournament to make the first of what would be four straight trips to the NCAA College Cup.   She would help EIU return to the NCAA Tournament her senior season earning third team All-Great Lakes Region honors.  LeMaster was a three-time first team All-OVC selection earning second team honors as a sophomore.  She finished her career ranked in the EIU top ten for goals (22), assists (22), points (66) and game winning goals (8).
 
LeMaster is currently a homemaker and in the process of relocating to Mississippi where he husband, Jason Trufant, was hired as the Director of Athletics at the Mississippi University for Women.

EIU OVC Era Top 20 Countdown
#20 - Meleah Cutler (Volleyball / 1996-99)
#19 - Sean Lyons (Baseball / 1996-99)
#18 – Rick Kaye (Men's Basketball / 1995-98)
#17 – Jade Riebold (W Track / 2012-14)
#16 – Rachel Galligan (W Basketball / 2006-09)

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