2016 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer All-Conference and Major Awards Announced
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 athletics conference 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 Olive, North 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.