2018 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer All-Conference and Major Awards Announced
HIGH POINT, N.C. – Limestone College forward Megan O'Connor was voted the 2018 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year. Limestone defender Lea Hippauf was honored as the Conference's Defensive Player of the Year, while teammate Chloe Dunn was named Freshman of the Year. In addition, North Greenville University coach Andy Robinson was tabbed the Coach of the Year, the Conference announced today.
New to the Conference Carolinas postseason award offering is the Elite 23 Award. The Elite 23 Award is modeled after the NCAA's Elite 90 Award, which is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumlative GPA at their respective championship site. The inaugural winner for women's soccer is Limestone's Millie Shaw.
O'Connor, a senior out of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., earns her second Offensive Player of the Year award in three years, adding to her crown from 2016. Just as her teammate Hippauf was a terror to offensive players all season, O'Connor left lasting impressions on defenders as she was able to tally nine goals in league play during the season. She added two assists as well adding to her point total that reached 20 this season in conference play. Included in her nine goals were three game-winners on the year to help the Saints to their third-straight perfect season in league contests.
Hippauf, a senior from Borsfleth, Germany, was a terror to offenses all year long as the other half of the center back defense with Freshman of the Year Chloe Dunn. Starting 7 games in conference this season, Hippauf was able to record four shots from her defensive position. She was able to lockdown most every striker that came her way with the Saints only allowing a total of 79 shots on the year, 31 of which were on goal.
Dunn, a freshman out of Colchester, England, helped to solidify a Saints defense that only allowed 10 goals throughout the season, of which only five came in conference play. She logged over 1200 minutes on the pitch for the Saints while starting all 17 games in which she suited up in her center back role, many of which found her paired up with Defensive Player of the Year Lea Hippauf in that position. Dunn scored her first collegiate goal in Tuesday's quarterfinal win over Mount Olive.
Coach Robinson earns his second-straight Coach of the Year award after leading the Crusaders to their best record in Conference Carolinas play at 8-3-0. The record was good for a runner-up finish in the regular season standings.
Shaw, a senior history major from Halifax, England comes to the Women's Soccer Championship with an cumulative 4.0 GPA. The forward posted 17 points on 11 assists and three goals during the regular season.
O'Connor was joined at forward on the first team by Hannah Logue of Emmanuel College, and Ashley Romanowski of Southern Wesleyan University and Carolina Lucci of Chowan University. Holly Rawcliffe and Danielle Murray of Limestone were joined by Chowan's Sabrina Henderson in the middle as first team midfielders.
Hippauf is joined on defense by a stellar backline of first team defenders, which features Belmont Abbey's Rachel Coutinho and North Greenville's Asheton Robinson, while Lees-McRae College's Alexis Feely makes first team in goal.
Women's All-Conference First Team
Megan O'Connor, Limestone – Forward
Hannah Logue, Emmanuel – Forward
Ashley Romanowski, Southern Wesleyan – Forward
Carolina Lucci, Chowan – Forward
Holly Rawcliffe, Limestone – Midfielder
Sabrina Henderson, Chowan – Midfielder
Danielle Murray, Limestone – Midfielder
Rachel Coutinho, Belmont Abbey – Defender
Lea Hippauf, Limestone – Defender
Asheton Robinson, North Greenville – Defender
Alexis Feely, Lees-McRae – Goalkeeper
Women's All-Conference Second Team
Lindsay Lee, Emmanuel – Forward
Millie Shaw, Limestone – Forward
Morgan Patton, Belmont Abbey – Forward
Sydney Pluhacek, Belmont Abbey – Midfielder
Rebekah Beal, Barton – Midfielder
Jaelyn Brown, Mount Olive – Midfielder
Chloe Dunn, Limestone – Defender
Rebecca Coutinho, Belmont Abbey – Defender
Khyra Reese, Limestone – Defender
Sarah Hazelwood, North Greenville – Defender
Veronica Smeltzer, Limestone – Goalkeeper
Women's All-Conference Third Team
Rachel Curtis, Southern Wesleyan- Forward
Laisy Scardazzi, Barton - Forward
Alex Mathis, Limestone - Forward
Moriah Logue, Emmanuel - Midfielder
Abby Robinson, North Greenville - Midfielder
Kayla Brown, Emmanuel - Midfielder
Helen Schweiger, Southern Wesleyan - Midfielder
Sydney Henderson, Chowan - Defender
Emma Padgett, Limestone - Defender
Asia Fort, Chowan - Defender
Brianna Rowe, North Greenville - Goalkeeper
Offensive Player of the Year
Megan O'Connor, Limestone
Defensive Player of the Year
Lea Hippauf, Limestone
Freshman of the Year
Chloe Dunn, Limestone
Coach of the Year
Andy Robinson, North Greenville
Elite 23 Award
Millie Shaw, Limestone
Women's Soccer Regular Season Champions
Limestone College
2018 Women's Soccer Regular Season Statistical Champions
Points: Ashley Romanowski, Southern Wesleyan - 35
Goals: Hannah Logue, Emmanuel - 14
Assists: Millie Shaw, Limestone - 11
Points per Match: Megan O'Connor, Limestone - 2.42
Goals per Match: Megan O'Connor, Limestone - 1.08
Assists per Match: Millie Shaw, Limestone - 0.79
Goals Against Average: Lauryn Harding, Belmont Abbey - .42
Save Percentage: Lauryn Harding, Belmont Abbey - .921
Saves: Alexis Feely, Lees-McRae - 142
Shutouts: Veronica Smeltzer, Limestone - 8
Conference Carolinas is a NCAA Division II athletics conference made up of 11 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, and Southern Wesleyan University.