Frisco, Texas – The Texas State women's soccer team tied a league-high with six players named to the All-Southland Conference Team, Tuesday, as voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Earning honors on the team were Felicia Leask, Kelsey Bernard, Emma Staley, Michelle Bucy, Lauren Frazier and Taylor Person.
In addition to the team's six all-conference selections, Andrea Mauk was named Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year, making it the second straight year the Bobcats have had a player earn that distinction. Last season Lauren Frazier earned it for her work in net.
Leask, who earned first-team accolades, led the Bobcats this year with eight goals and five assists for 21 points. In conference only games, she ranked third in goals and fourth in points. Both marks were career-highs.
Bernard was named to the second-team for the second straight year. A team captain, Bernard started 17 games and contributed to an offensive attack that ranked third in the conference in goals scored with 39. .
Person, Staley and Bucy each helped to anchor a defensive line that has not allowed multiple goals in a game in 12 straight contests. En route to helping the Bobcats win 11 of their last 12 contests, the two defenders have taken part in helping the team to eight shutouts this season. Defensively, Texas State has stopped opposing teams from producing much in terms of an attack, owning a 272-171 advantage in shots, including just 60 shots on goal.
Offensively Staley helped the Bobcats to the No. 2 seed in the conference, with a 2-1 win over McNeese on Oct. 21. She scored the Bobcats' first goal of the year, with a goal in the first half, after kicking in a Taylor Kelley corner kick in the air.
Person, a co-captain on the team with Bernard, has filled in admirably for Alissa Scott at right defender. In 10 of her 11 starts this season, Texas State has allowed one or fewer goals. At Central Arkansas on Oct. 16, she helped jump start the Bobcat attack in the second half, breaking a 0-0 tie en route to a 2-0 win, launching three shots, including two on goal.
Bucy is a freshman defender who has earned accolades early in her career. Aside from her All-Conference nomination, Bucy also earned Southland Conference Defender of the Week on Sept. 20, for her performance in leading the Bobcats to an overtime shutout of Louisiana Tech, 1-0.
Frazier has bettered her performance from last season, which earned her Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year honors. This year she has improved her shutout total with 6.5, over last year's total of 4.0, giving her 10.5 for her career. That mark is third all-time in Texas State history. Of her six shutouts this season, three have come in overtime against the likes of La. Tech, UTEP and Southeastern Louisiana.
Along with the team's six all-conference selections, four players earned Honorable Mention, Erica Michaud, Kendell Webber, Taylor Kelley and Andrea Mauk.
These players will help to lead the Bobcats in their quest for a third appearance in four years in the Southland Conference Tournament Championship game. The tournament will be held from Nov. 3-6 in Natchitoches, La., at the Demon Soccer Complex.
2011 All-Southland Conference Soccer Teams
First Team
Name School Position Class Hometown/High School
Chelsea Raymond Stephen F. Austin Forward Fr. Irving, Texas/MacArthur
Maiya Cooper1 Southeastern La. Forward Jr. Hawthorne, Calif./Bishop Montgomery
Felicia Leask Texas State Forward So. Calgary, Alberta/Bishop McNally
Kylie Louw1 Stephen F. Austin Midfielder Jr. Discovery, South Africa/Univ. of Johannesburg
Laura Sadler Stephen F. Austin Midfielder Jr. Coppell, Texas/Coppell
Kelsey Salcido Southeastern La. Midfielder So. Lakewood, Calif./Los Alamitos
Jordan King Stephen F. Austin Defender Sr. McKinney, Texas/McKinney
Kyle MacIntosh1 Southeastern La. Defender Sr. St. Catharnies, Ontario/St. Francis
Anka Grotle1 UTSA Defender So. Bremanger, Norway/Flora
Lacey Lee Stephen F. Austin Goalkeeper So. Bedford, Texas/Euless Trinity
Breanne Vernon* Stephen F. Austin Defender Jr. Calgary, Alberta/Ernest Manning
Second Team
Name School Position Class Hometown/High School
Maria Jose Rojas UTSA Forward So. Santiago, Chile/Dagoberto Godoy
Lisa Hance Lamar Forward Sr. Grapevine, Texas/Grapevine
Liv Nyhegn UTSA Forward Fr. Middelfart, Denmark/Middelfart Gymnasium
Kelsey Bernard Texas State Midfielder Sr. The Colony, Texas/The Colony
Kirby Zak Sam Houston State Midfielder Jr. Weatherford, Texas/Aledo
Kristin Bos Lamar Midfielder Fr. Valencia, Calif./Valencia
Emma Staley Texas State Defender Jr. Austin, Texas/McNeil
Amber Thornhill Lamar Defender So. Katy, Texas/Morton Ranch
Michelle Bucy Texas State Defender Fr. McKinney, Texas/McKinney North
Lauren Frazier Texas State Goalkeeper Sr. Round Rock, Texas/Vista Ridge
Taylor Person* Texas State Defender Jr. Georgetown, Texas/Georgetown
1Repeat First-Team Selection
*At-large selection
Honorable Mention: Karly Dagys, F, SLU; Erica Michaud, F, TXST; Tricia Mallory, F, SHSU; Johna Germany, F, MCN; Kristin Pollard, F, UCA; Edwina Forbes, MF, SFA; Kendell Webber, MF, TXST; Audrey LaLanne, MF, MCN; Rachel O'Steen, MF, NWLA; Taylor Kelley, MF, TXST; Stefanie Miroballi, MF, LU; Kayla Anderson, D, SHSU; Jordan Picou, D, MCN; Nicole Frank, D, LU; Julie Foerster, D, UCA; Andrea Mauk, TXST; Jennifer Gibbs, GK, LU; Danielle Snyder, GK, UTSA; Jessica Danku, GK, NWLA.
Player of the Year – Kylie Louw, Stephen F. Austin
Freshman of the Year – Chelsea Raymond, Stephen F. Austin
Newcomer of the Year – Andrea Mauk, Texas State
Coach of the Year – Tony Amato, Stephen F. Austin
