GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2 CCA) released its 2024 All-Southeast Region men’s and women’s soccer teams on Tuesday and 16 Conference Carolinas student-athletes were recognized.

Nine men and seven women were honored, representing eight different institutions in Barton College, Belmont Abbey College, Chowan University, Converse University, Francis Marion University, Lees-McRae College, UNC Pembroke and Young Harris College.

FULL MEN’S ALL-REGION TEAMS

The Conference Carolinas women’s soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, Chowan’s Junior Smith and Converse’s Gabriel Verona both garnered first team recognition. Also earning first team all-region honors were first team all-conference performers Thomas Kleinpenning of Young Harris and Mario Buelga of Francis Marion.

The league also placed five first team all-conference honorees on the all-region second team. Guilherme Fontes of Converse, Francis Marion’s, Juan Salazar Lopez, Gabriel Slemer Lopes of Barton, Ivar Na Aga of Young Harris and Chowan’s Harry Baker.

Verona earns all-region honors for the second straight season after garnering second team honors a season ago.

FULL WOMEN’S ALL-REGION TEAMS

The Conference Carolinas women’s soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, Kristina Syragakis of Francis Marion and Chiara Coppin of Lees-McRae both earned first team honors. They were joined by first team all-conference selection Anna Grossheim of UNC Pembroke.

Conference Carolinas added four first team all-conference performers on the all-region second team, Young Harris’ Shania Harris, Tehya Dave’ of Francis Marion, Mia Muckenthaler of Belmont Abbey and UNC Pembroke’s Freya Lodge Whitham.

Grossheim earns all-region honors for the fourth time while this marks the second straight season Muckenthaler has been honored.

The D2 CCA Player of the Year award and all-region teams are nominated and selected by the region’s sports information directors.

The D2 CCA encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The D2 CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact NCAA Division II athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.
 
The 16 members of the All-Southeast Region first team will now be placed on the national ballot for All-America consideration. The All-America teams will be released Tuesday, December 10.

MEN’S SOCCER
First Team
F – Junior Smith, Chowan
M – Thomas Kleinpenning, Young Harris
M – Mario Buelga, Francis Marion
D – Gabriel Verona, Converse
Second Team
F – Guilherme Fontes, Converse
F – Juan Salazar Lopez, Francis Marion
M – Gabriel Slemer Lopes, Barton
D - Ivar Na Aga, Young Harris
D - Harry Baker, Chowan

WOMEN’S SOCCER
First Team
GK – Chiara Coppin, Lees-McRae
F – Kristina Syragakis, Francis Marion
M – Anna Grossheim, UNC Pembroke
Second Team
F – Shania Harris, Young Harris
M – Tehya Dave’, Francis Marion
D - Mia Muckenthaler, Belmont Abbey
D - Freya Lodge Whitham, UNC Pembroke