2016 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer All-Conference and Major Awards Announced

2016 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer All-Conference and Major Awards Announced

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HIGH POINT, N.C.Limestone College forward Megan O'Connor was voted the 2016 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Player of the Year, while teammate Ashton Bowles and Barton College's Brianna Boyd were named the Conference's Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, respectively. In addition, Limestone mentor Matt Smith was tabbed the Coach of the Year, the Conference announced today.

O'Connor, a sophomore from Mt. Pleasant, S.C., becomes just the third player in Limestone history to be named Conference Carolinas Player of the Year and the first since 2014. O'Connor has netted 17 of Limestone's 42 goals on the season, which leads Conference Carolinas and has tallied a conference-leading 36 points.

A junior from Evans, Ga., Bowles becomes the second Saint to be named Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year. She has led a Saints' defense that has tallied 11 total shutouts on the year, with seven of those coming in league play. Limestone has only allowed seven goals on the year, with four coming in conference play. Offensively, Bowles has tallied two points on a goal.

Boyd, a forward from Perrysburg, Ohio, was named the Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year after registering 13 points on five goals and three assists during her rookie campaign.

Smith was tabbed the Coach of the Year after taking Limestone to new heights in 2016, setting new program records for wins in a regular season (15), regular season record (15-1). He also led the Saints to their first regular season conference title with a perfect 11-0 mark in league play.

O'Connor was joined at forward on the first team by Cierra Skyers of Belmont Abbey and Kendyl Baird of King. Holly Rawcliffe of Limestone, Paula Doran of King and Sydney Pluhacek of Belmont Abbey were named first team midfielders.

Bowles headlines a stellar backline of first team defenders, featuring teammate Naiara Kapstein, Belmont Abbey's Rachel Coutinho and Pfeiffer's Madeline Gadd, while Meredith Bailey of Limestone was the first team goalie.

 

Women's All-Conference First Team

Megan O'Connor, Limestone - Forward

Cierra Skyers, Belmont Abbey – Forward

Kendyl Baird, King - Forward

Holly Rawcliffe, Limestone- Midfielder

Paula Doran, King – Midfielder

Sydney Pluhacek, Belmont Abbey - Midfielder

Ashton Bowles, Limestone - Defender

Rachel Coutinho, Belmont Abbey - Defender

Naiara Kapstein, Limestone - Defender

Madeline Gadd, Pfeiffer - Defender

Meredith Bailey, Limestone - Goalkeeper

 

Women's All-Conference Second Team

Ryanna Hammond, Pfeiffer - Forward

Aryana Harvey, Pfeiffer- Forward

Kara Garrett, King - Forward

Nicole Doolittle, Converse - Forward

Kooba Richard, Belmont Abbey - Midfielder

Alex Marquez, Converse - Midfielder

Cheyenne Warrick, Lees-McRae - Midfielder

Ali Bowles, Limestone - Defender

Haley Cook, King - Defender

Kat Laughlin, Belmont Abbey - Defender

Alexis Feely, Lees-McRae - Goalkeeper

 

Women's All-Conference Third Team

Alex Mathis, Limestone - Forward

Brae Buster, Pfeiffer - Forward

Brianna Boyd, Barton - Forward

Kat Kelley, Pfeiffer - Midfielder

Mary Beth Hervig, Limestone - Midfielder

Allie Winglosky, Limestone - Midfielder

Lily Troyano, Southern Wesleyan - Midfielder

Emily Barry, Converse - Defender

Rebecca Coutinho, Belmont Abbey - Defender

Lindsay Curtis, King - Defender

Kaitlyn Paul, Belmont Abbey - Goalkeeper

 

Player of the Year

Megan O'Connor, Limestone

Defensive Player of the Year

Ashton Bowles, Limestone

Freshman of the Year

Brianna Boyd, Barton

Coach of the Year

Matt Smith, Limestone

Women's Soccer Regular Season Champions

Limestone College

 


Conference Carolinas is a NCAA Division II athleticconference made up of 12 teams from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. These institutions consist of: Barton College, Belmont Abbey College, Converse College, Emmanuel College, Erskine College, King University, Lees-McRae College, Limestone College, University of Mount OliveNorth Greenville University, Pfeiffer University, and Southern Wesleyan University. Emmanuel College is currently completing the NCAA DII membership process and will be fully competing in league championships in the near future.