Women's Soccer Nabs AAC Awards

WALESKA, Ga.- The women's soccer team had multiple student-athletes win All-Conference awards. The awards were announced by the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) on Wednesday.

Stina Braun was named the AAC Freshman of the Year. The Gothenburg, Sweden native had nine goals during the regular season, all scored within AAC games. Braun also had five assists to accumulate 23 points. 

Earning a spot on the All-AAC First Team were Addison Smith, Valerie Koopman, Natascha Frei, and Samantha Holsenbeck. 

Smith, who took one of the forward spots, led the team in scoring in the regular season, scoring 11 goals. The Athens, Tenn., native added three assists to finish the regular season with 25 points. 

Koopman nabbed a midfielder spot on the All-AAC First Team. The Hamburg, Germany native led the team with seven assists during the regular season while scoring two goals. 

Frei and Holsenbeck were both named to the team as defenders. While helping out on defense, Frei contributed six goals and two assists to the offensive efforts, finishing with 12 points. The duo of Holsenbeck (Nashville, Tenn.) and Frei (St. Gallen, Switzerland) helped the defense allow just 10 goals, an average of .77 goals per game in conference play, the second best in the AAC. 

Braun, Iara Tello, Marta Hernan, and Ana Martinez were named to the All-AAC Second Team. 

Tello (Soria, Spain) and Hernan (Talavera de la Reina, Spain) took midfielders spots on the team. Tello had four goals and two assists for 10 points in conference play, while Hernan had two goals and three assists in conference play for seven points. 

Martinez had 32 saves during the season and a .842 save percentage in nabbing a goalkeeper spot. The Almeria, Spain native only allowed five goals in conference play and currently has a 9-0 record.

Alyssa Bridges was named the team's representative to the AAC Champions of Character Team. To be named to the Champions of Character Team, a player must exhibit the NAIA's Five Core Values of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, and Servant Leadership. 

Twelve student-athletes were named to the AAC All-Academic Team. To be named to the All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must be a sophomore or above and have a 3.25 GPA. Making the team were Bridges, Lucia Bonfante, Madelyn Bull, Rosie Dunkerton, Frei, Holsenbeck, Lisa Kirwan, Martinez, Lisa Schon, Ashbey Self, Smith, and Julia Starchl.