Stephen F. Austin Sweeps Individual Honors
FRISCO, Texas – Stephen F. Austin senior midfielder Zuri Prince was named the 2014 Southland Conference Soccer Player of the Year by a vote of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors, the conference office announced Tuesday in conjunction with the release of the all-conference soccer teams.
A native of Beaumont, Texas, Prince finished the regular season leading the league with game-winning goals (six), five of which coming in league play. She tied for lead in conference games in goals with seven while finishing third in shots (34) and points (16). Prince is one of five Stephen F. Austin athletes to earn a spot on the all-conference first team.
Prince is the second player in school history to earn player of the year after former Ladyjack Kylie Louw claimed the honor three consecutive seasons (2011-13). Prince helped her team to a perfect 11-0 league record while SFA tied its regular-season program record of 15 wins for the third straight season. The Ladyjacks finished undefeated at home for the third time in the last four years (2011, 2012, 2014).
Stephen F. Austin is the first school is Southland history to sweep all four individual honors as the Ladyjacks claimed player of the year, freshman of the year, newcomer of the year and coach of the year.
Freshman forward Hanna Barker finished eighth in league play with 31 shots, sixth in assists with three and 10th in points per game with 0.83 points, to finish as the league’s top freshman. The forward helped the Ladyjacks lead the league in goals (23), goals per game (2.09) and ranked second in shot (185) and points (63) through conference action.
Stephen F. Austin senior defender Christa Robinson was tabbed newcomer of the year. The transfer from William Carey helped the Ladyjacks allow opponents to just three goals throughout league play. The team’s defense lead the conference in shutouts through all games with 12.
Wally Crittenden was voted as coach of the year by his peers and the league’s sports information directors. Crittenden has earned the honors two years in a row after taking over the program for the 2013 season. SFA ended its regular season with its 13th consecutive win to tie the 2011 Ladyjack squad for the longest winning streak in program history and the longest active win streak in the country.
The Ladyjacks, who enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed after earning the regular season title, lead all teams with six all-conference selections, five of which were first-team picks. Sam Houston State and Houston Baptist each claimed four all-conference selections. The Bearkats had three athletes voted to the first team and one to the second team while HBU’s four players were on the second team. Southeastern Louisiana had three members voted to all-conference teams with one the first team and two on the second team. Nicholls placed two members on the first team while McNeese State had two members on the second team. Lamar rounded out the second team with one selection.
Headlining first-team all-conference for Stephen F. Austin alongside Prince are senior forward Chelsea Raymond, who is a four-time first-team selection, sister defenders Megan and Brooke Dunnigan, and goalkeeper Morgan Glick. Raymond finished the season first in shots (50), second in goals (nine), an fifth in assists (five). Sophomore defender Brooke Dunnigan made her first appearance as an all-conference selection while Megan Dunnigan is a three-time first-team selection. Glick completed the regular season 11th in the nation in goal-against average (.503) while leading the league in shutouts (eight) and save percentage (.889).
Nicholls’ Spencer Valdespino, last season’s player of the year, was named to the first team for the second time, finishing second in the league with nine goals. Nicholls midfielder Jess Coates made her first appearance as an all-conference selection along with Sam Houston State’s Allie Johnson, Shelby McDaniel and Ashley Alonzo. Southeastern Louisiana defender Chelsea Villaescusa became a two-time first-team selection.
Southeastern Louisiana sophomore forward Bri Singh was voted to the second team alongside sophomore teammate Katie Noonan. Stephen F. Austin and Lamar each had one representative on the second team in sophomore midfielder Amanda Doyle and Kimberly Albeno, respectively. McNeese State sophomore forward Savannah LaRicci and junior defender Haley Lyons represent McNeese State the second team while Sam Houston State midfield junior Mariah Titus is the lone Bearkat on the second team.
Houston Baptist’s roster helped round out the second team with four selections senior forward Natalie Hager, sophomore defender Kristi O’Brien, senior defender Lindsey Matlock and senior goalkeeper Patty Walrath.
The 2014 Southland Soccer All-Conference teams are comprised of 11 first-team members and 11 second-team members and are chosen by vote of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. The recipients are grouped by position and are placed by the number of votes received.
2014 All-Southland Conference Soccer Teams
First Team
|
Name |
School |
Position |
Class |
Hometown/High School |
|
Chelsea Raymond4 |
Stephen F. Austin |
Forward |
Sr. |
Irving, Texas/MacArthur |
|
Allie Johnson |
Sam Houston State |
Forward |
So. |
Allen, Texas/Allen |
|
Spencer Valdespino2 |
Nicholls |
Forward |
Jr. |
Spring Hill, Fla./Bishop McLaughlin |
|
Zuri Prince |
Stephen F. Austin |
Midfielder |
Sr. |
Beaumont, Texas/Kelly |
|
Jess Coates |
Nicholls |
Midfielder |
Jr. |
Sydney, Australia/Bossley Park |
|
Shelby McDaniel |
Sam Houston State |
Midfielder |
Jr. |
League City, Texas/Clear Springs |
|
Megan Dunnigan3 |
Stephen F. Austin |
Defender |
Jr. |
Round Rock, Texas/Vista Ridge |
|
Chelsea Villaescusa2 |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Defender |
Jr. |
Cypress, Calif./St. Josephs |
|
Brooke Dunnigan |
Stephen F. Austin |
Defender |
So. |
Round Rock, Texas/Vista Ridge |
|
Morgan Glick |
Stephen F, Austin |
Goalkeeper |
Sr. |
Boerne, Texas/Champion |
|
Ashley Alonzo1 |
Sam Houston State |
Forward |
Jr. |
Little Elm, Texas/Little Elm |
Second Team
|
Name |
School |
Position |
Class |
Hometown/High School |
|
Bri Singh |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Forward |
So. |
Lancaster, Calif./Lancaster |
|
Savannah LaRicci |
McNeese State |
Forward |
So. |
Sugar Land, Texas/Clements |
|
Natalie Hager |
Houston Baptist |
Forward |
Sr. |
Port Neches, Texas/Port Neches |
|
Mariah Titus |
Sam Houston State |
Midfielder |
Jr. |
Bedford, Texas/Bell |
|
Katie Noonan |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Midfielder |
So. |
Renton, Wash./Liberty |
|
Amanda Doyle |
Stephen F. Austin |
Midfielder |
So. |
Carrollton, Texas/Hebron |
|
Kristi O’Brien |
Houston Baptist |
Defender |
So. |
Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie |
|
Lindsay Matlock |
Houston Baptist |
Defender |
Sr. |
Sacramento, Calif./St. Francis |
|
Haley Lyons |
McNeese State |
Defender |
Jr. |
Frisco, Texas/Wakeland |
|
Patty Walrath |
Houston Baptist |
Goalkeeper |
Sr. |
Cypress, Texas/Cypress Woods |
|
Kimberly Albeno1 |
Lamar |
Forward |
Sr. |
Bellflower, Calif./Long Beach Wilson |
1At-large selection
2Two-time first-team selection
3Three-time first-team selection
4Four-time first-team selection
Honorable mention: Yvette Franco, F, AMCC; Hanna Barker, F, SFA; Baylee Mitchell, F, ACU; Tiffany Ysassi, MF, ACU; Leslie Snider, MF, ACU; Allison Abendschein, MF, HBU; Rachel Owens, MF, SFA; Maggie Ramsey, MF, SLU; Gabi D’Alesandro, MF, MCN; Blake Martin, MF, HBU; Alyssa Gerner, D, ACU; Chantall Curry, D, SFA; Megan Bennett, D, SHSU; Caitlyn Schwartz, D, SHSU; Marie Lund, D, LU; Jen Babcock, D, SLU; Erin Christ, D, SLU; Ashley Crabbe, D, UIW; Jackie Strug, D, NWLA; Christa Robinson, D, SFA; Kylie Hambleton, GK, SHSU; Megan Delaney, GK, AMCC; Bailey Fontenot, GK,LU.
Player of the Year – Zuri Prince, Stephen F. Austin
Freshman of the Year – Hanna Barker, Stephen F. Austin
Newcomer of the Year – Christa Robinson, Stephen F. Austin
Coach of the Year – Wally Crittenden, Stephen F. Austin