FRISCO, Texas – Lamar's Arely Alaniz is the Southland Conference Soccer Student-Athlete of the Year, the league announced Thursday in conjunction with the All-Academic First and Second Teams.
Earning her second nod to the all-academic first team, Alaniz boasts a 3.53 GPA in exercise sciences. The senior was named Southland Tournamnet MVP, the Southland Defensive Player of the Year, and a First Team All-SLC selection.
Southland Conference All-Academic Teams are voted upon by the head coach, sports information director and an academic/compliance staff member from each school. Student-Athletes of the Year are voted upon by an awards committee which consists of one administrator from each member school. Voting for one’s own athletes is not permitted.
To be eligible for all-academic distinction, an athlete must hold a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade point average through the semester prior to the sport’s championship, completed at least one full academic year at the nominating school prior to the current season, and participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s competitions during the most recently completed season. Student-Athlete of the Year nominees must have held at least a 3.50 GPA and have completed at least two years of athletic competition at the nominating school, including the current season.
First Team All-Conference athletes who meet all-academic nomination criteria are automatically named all-academic.
Women's Soccer Student-Athlete of the Year: Arely Alaniz, Lamar
Women's Soccer All-Academic First Team
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
GPA |
Major |
| D |
Arely Alaniz *2 |
Lamar |
Sr. |
Deer Park, Texas |
3.53 |
Exercise Science |
| D |
Kaisa Juvonen * |
Lamar |
Gr. |
Tampere, Finland |
4.00 |
Master's of Business Administration |
| D |
Kat Lazor *2 |
HCU |
Sr. |
Missouri City, Texas |
3.722 |
Political Science |
| D |
Nya Mitchell * |
A&M-Commerce |
Jr. |
Dallas, Texas |
3.44 |
Business Administration |
| MF |
Kaile Kukaua * |
McNeese |
Jr. |
Valencia, Calif. |
3.29 |
Biology |
| MF |
Hollie Massey * |
Lamar |
Gr. |
Cheshire, England |
3.42 |
Master's of Business Administration |
| MF |
Mya Guillory 4 |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Prairieville, La. |
4.00 |
Health Science |
| MF |
Alexa Huerta |
HCU |
Jr. |
Austin, Texas |
3.929 |
Kinesiology |
| F |
Magalie Depot |
McNeese |
Gr. |
Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
3.80 |
Environmental & Chemical Studies |
| F |
Emmé Fernandez |
Northwestern State |
Gr. |
Van Alstyne, Texas |
4.00 |
Homeland Security |
| F |
Megan Guy |
A&M-Corpus Christi |
Jr. |
Roanoke, Texas |
4.00 |
Psychology |
| F |
Taylor Spitzer |
Northwestern State |
So. |
Allen, Texas |
3.745 |
Communications |
| GK |
Nicole Panis * |
Lamar |
Gr. |
Opmeer, The Netherlands |
3.39 |
Exercise Scince |
Women's Soccer All-Academic Second Team
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
GPA |
Major |
| D |
Jessica Spitzer |
Northwestern State |
So. |
Allen, Texas |
4.00 |
Biology |
| D |
Hailey Griffin 2 |
A&M-Commerce |
Jr. |
Trophy Club, Texas |
3.80 |
General Business |
| D |
Mia Salas 3 |
HCU |
Sr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
3.426 |
Kinesiology |
| D |
Martine Ellefsen |
McNeese |
Gr. |
Oslo, Norway |
4.00 |
Master's of Business Administration |
| D |
Morgan Schooley |
McNeese |
Sr. |
St. Augustine, Fla. |
3.25 |
Health & Human Performance |
| D |
Ellie Mai Sanford |
UIW |
Sr. |
Pontypool, Wales |
3.94 |
Rehabilitative Sciences |
| MF |
Mai-Lisa Atis |
A&M-Corpus Christi |
So. |
Miami, Fla. |
3.77 |
Computer Science |
| MF |
Trinity Clark |
Lamar |
Sr. |
Austin, Texas |
3.69 |
University Studies |
| MF |
Melissa Storey |
A&M-Commerce |
Sr. |
Tyne and Wear, England |
3.62 |
Business Administration |
| MF |
Emily Mougia |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Sasche, Texas |
3.870 |
Health & Exercise Science |
| MF |
Kiana Kukaua |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Valencia, Calif. |
3.26 |
Engineering |
| MF |
Katie Marker |
HCU |
Sr. |
Friendswood, Texas |
3.763 |
Biology |
| GK |
Jackie Kelly |
McNeese |
Jr. |
Benicia, Calif. |
3.64 |
Criminal Justice |
* Automatic selection; 2023 First Team All-Conference