Southland Announces 2019 Preseason All-Conference Soccer Teams

Southland Announces 2019 Preseason All-Conference Soccer Teams

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FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference announced its 2019 Soccer Preseason All-Conference Teams on Wednesday. Defending league tournament champion Abilene Christian leads the way with eight selections.
 
The Wildcats have four automatic first-team selections in returning all-conference players Michelle Mulrooney, Shay Johnson, Christina Arteaga and Rachel Johnson, and senior defender Brooke Lenz was voted to her first team spot. ACU had a trio voted to the second team in graduate midfielder Sophie Standifer, senior forward Sam Vestal and sophomore defender Alyssia Anuat, the 2018 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year.
 
McNeese and Central Arkansas each placed two on the first team. The Cowgirls earned two automatic first-team spots in senior midfielder Rachel Palet and junior forward Havana Johnson. The Bears are represented by returning all-league honorees Hadley Dickinson, a junior defender, and senior forward Connie Awuku-Darkoh, the 2018 Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year.
 
Conference tournament finalist Stephen F. Austin has one automatic first-team nod in junior midfielder Sophia Fondren. Senior defender Carli Arthurs was voted on to the squad to also represent the Ladyjacks. The preseason all-conference first team was rounded out by Houston Baptist’s Megan Rickert and Lamar’s Madison Ledet.
 
McNeese garnered six spots on the teams, including four voted on to the second team. Central Arkansas followed with five total picks and three selections on the second team. Stephen F. Austin placed two on each squad, and Lamar placed one on each team.
 
The 2019 season gets underway Thursday, Aug. 22, with four matches: Houston at Sam Houston State (6:30 p.m.), Prairie View A&M at Houston Baptist (7 p.m.), Northwestern State at North Texas (7 p.m.) and Oklahoma State at Lamar (7:30 p.m.). Central Arkansas is set to host the 2019 Southland Conference Soccer Tournament Nov. 6-10 at the Bill Stephens Track & Soccer Complex in Conway, Ark.
 
Returning players from the 2018 All-Conference First and Second teams are automatically named to the 2019 Preseason All-Conference teams at their same positions. Second team players are elevated to first team if the first team slot is vacated by a non-returning player at their same position. Vacant positions are nominated and voted upon by the conference’s head coaches. Voting for one’s own player is not permitted.
 
First Team
Pos. Name School Class Hometown
D Michelle Mulrooney* Abilene Christian Sr. Lodi, Calif.
D Carli Arthurs Stephen F. Austin Sr. Lewisville, Texas
D Brooke Lenz Abilene Christian Sr. Spring, Texas
D Megan Rickert Houston Baptist R-Jr. Round Rock, Texas
MF Hadley Dickinson* Central Arkansas Jr. Cabot, Ark.
MF Shay Johnson* Abilene Christian Sr. Coppell, Texas
MF Sophia Fondren* Stephen F. Austin Jr. Frisco, Texas
MF Rachel Palet* McNeese Sr. Plano, Texas
F Connie Awuku-Darkoh* Central Arkansas Sr. Surrey, British Columbia
F Christina Arteaga* Abilene Christian Jr. Pflugerville, Texas
F Havana Johnson* McNeese Jr. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
F Madison Ledet Lamar Jr. Nederland, Texas
GK Rachel Johnson* Abilene Christian R-Sr. Coppell, Texas
 
Second Team
Pos. Name School Class Hometown
D Keely Morrow McNeese Jr. Nevada, Texas
D Rebecca Adcock McNeese Sr. Bryan, Texas
D Alyssia Anuat Abilene Christian So. San Diego, Calif.
D Gracie Hair Central Arkansas So. Tulsa, Okla.
MF Katelyn Termini Stephen F. Austin Jr. Frisco, Texas
MF Sophie Standifer Abilene Christian Gr. Southlake, Texas
MF Anika Sultan Central Arkansas Jr. Dallas, Texas
MF Taylor Webb Central Arkansas So. Lindale, Texas
F Lucy Ashworth Lamar Jr. Wigan, England
F Anna Watson McNeese Jr. Spring, Texas
F Sam Vestal Abilene Christian Sr. Odessa, Texas
F Katie Jennings Stephen F. Austin Sr. Austin, Texas
GK Emma Roccaforte McNeese Jr. Nederland, Texas
 
* Automatic selection – Returning 2018 all-conference member