Southland Conference Announces 2015 Soccer Preseason Teams
FRISCO, Texas – Sam Houston State leads all teams with six student-athletes on the 2015 preseason all-conference teams, including four on the first team, the league office announced Tuesday.
Sam Houston State entered last season’s conference tournament as the second seed after posting an 8-2-1 conference record. The Bearkats place a league-high four student-athletes on the preseason all-conference first team led by junior forward Allie Johnson, senior midfielders Shelby McDaniel and Mariah Titus, and at-large selection, senior Ashley Alonzo. Earning a spot on the second team for the Bearkats are senior defender Caitlin Schwartz and senior goalkeeper Kylie Hambleton.
Johnson will lead the Sam Houston offense, scoring a team-high nine goals followed by teammate Alonzo who scored seven goals for the Bearkats last season. Sam Houston took two of the three the midfield position for first-team selections as McDaniel and Titus rounded out first-team selection for the Bearkats. Schwartz will anchor the defense while Hambleton leads all returning members with five conference saves from the 2014 season.
Stephen F. Austin places five Ladyjacks on the preseason all-conference teams with two first-team selections and three second-team selections. Sophomore Brooke Dunnigan and senior Chantal Curry will anchor the SFA defense, which helped the Ladyjacks complete an 11-0 mark in conference action last season. The Ladyjacks claimed two of the three midfield positions on the second team with junior Amanda Doyle and senior Rachel Owens. Second-team selection sophomore forward Hanna Barker returns as SFA’s top forward with seven goals and four assists in the 2014 season.
Southeastern Louisiana also places five student-athletes on the preseason teams with two first-team selections and three second-team selections. The Lady Lions’ offense will be led by first-team selection junior forward Bri Singh and second-team selection senior forward Kayla Vera. Junior goalkeeper Hope Sabadash, the league’s 2013 freshman of the year was named to the first-team. Sabadash shutout her first five opponents of the 2014 season while the team was 9-3 with her in the goal during conference play. Junior midfielder Katie Noonan and senior defender Cheyenne Maxwell were second-team selections for the Lady Lions.
Nicholls’ junior Spencer Valdespino highlights the preseason first team. The 2013 conference player of the year returns after leading the league in goals (14), points (29), goals per game (0.74) and points per game (1.53). The Colonels’ senior midfielder Jess Coats was also named to the first-team as the league’s top returner in assists per game with 0.45.
Rounding out the 2015 first-team all-conference selections is Houston Baptist junior defender Kristi O’Brien who helped hold opponents to one goal per game last season.
Sam Houston State led all teams with six preseason all-conference selections. Stephen F. Austin and Southeastern Louisiana each placed five members on the two teams. Nicholls and Houston Baptist each had two selections while McNeese State and Lamar each claimed one spot on the preseason teams.
Players named to the 2014 All-Southland Conference soccer teams who are returning for the 2015 season are automatic selections to the 2015 preseason all-conference soccer teams. The remaining positions are nominated and voted on by league head coaches.
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2015 All-Southland Conference Soccer Preseason Teams |
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First Team |
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Name |
University |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
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Allie Johnson1 |
Sam Houston State |
Forward |
Jr. |
Allen, Texas |
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Spencer Valdespino1 |
Nicholls |
Forward |
Sr. |
Spring Hill, Fla. |
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Bri Singh1 |
Southeastern La. |
Forward |
Jr. |
Lancaster, Calif. |
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Jess Coates1 |
Nicholls |
Midfielder |
Sr. |
Sydney, Australia |
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Shelby McDaniel1 |
Sam Houston State |
Midfielder |
Sr. |
League City, Texas |
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Mariah Titus1 |
Sam Houston State |
Midfielder |
Sr. |
Bedford, Texas |
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Brooke Dunnigan1 |
Stephen F. Austin |
Defender |
Jr. |
Round Rock, Texas |
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Kristi O’Brien1 |
Houston Baptist |
Defender |
Jr. |
Eden Prairie, Minn. |
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Chantal Curry |
Stephen F. Austin |
Defender |
Sr. |
Austin, Texas |
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Hope Sabadash |
Southeastern La. |
Goalkeeper |
Jr. |
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
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Ashley Alonzo*1 |
Sam Houston State |
At-Large |
Sr. |
Little Elm, Texas |
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Second Team |
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Name |
University |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
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Savannah LaRicci1 |
McNeese State |
Forward |
Jr. |
Sugar Land, Texas |
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Hanna Barker |
Stephen F. Austin |
Forward |
So. |
Farmers Branch, Texas |
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Kayla Vera |
Southeastern La. |
Forward |
Sr. |
Vancouver, Wash. |
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Katie Noonan1 |
Southeastern La. |
Midfielder |
Jr. |
Renton, Wash. |
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Amanda Doyle1 |
Stephen F. Austin |
Midfielder |
Jr. |
Carrollton, Texas |
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Rachel Owens |
Stephen F. Austin |
Midfielder |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
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Blake Martin |
Houston Baptist |
Defender |
Sr. |
College Station, Texas |
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Caitlin Schwartz |
Sam Houston State |
Defender |
So. |
San Antonio, Texas |
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Cheyenne Maxwell |
Southeastern La. |
Defender |
Sr. |
Sacramento, Calif. |
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Kylie Hambleton |
Sam Houston State |
Goalkeeper |
Sr. |
Katy, Texas |
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Jannet Hernandez* |
Lamar |
At-Large |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
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*At-large selections
1Returning All-Conference Southland Selection |
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