SFA Lands Four Preseason All-SLC Selections
8/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 9, 2007
FRISCO, Texas - Four Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer players have been named to the 2007 Preseason All-Southland Conference Teams, announced by league officials Thursday. Juniors Amanda Alders and Lauren Fricks, along with sophomores Jenna Turner and Jessica Huggins were among those selected for this year's preseason squads, tying SFA with McNeese State and Texas-San Antonio for the most players chosen.
A year ago, the Ladyjacks put a league-high three players on the first team with four selections overall. This season, Alders and Fricks both made the first team, while Turner and Huggins were second-team selections.
Alders is making her second appearance on the first-team preseason squad. The junior from Colleyville, Texas, is well on her way to becoming one of the most prolific players in SLC history. She has led both the Ladyjacks and the Southland in points and goals each of her first two seasons and is already just 10 points and four goals shy of becoming SFA's all-time leader in both categories. With 27 goals and 60 points, Alders is roughly halfway to eclipsing the SLC career marks in both categories. She is a two-time First-Team All-SLC selection and a former SLC Freshman of the Year.
Fricks is a newcomer to the Preseason All-SLC list, but the rest of the Southland is already familiar with her. After transferring to SFA from Texas Tech following the fall semester of her freshman year, Fricks started every game but one last season and finished second on the squad in points and goals. The Mansfield, Texas, native scored seven goals and tied for the team lead with four assists to record 25 points on the season. The performance netted her SLC Newcomer of the Year honors, as well as a slot on the first-team all-conference list.
Turner, a third-year sophomore from Round Rock, Texas, is primed to deliver on the promise she showed as a rookie in 2005 before an injury ended her season. The defender returned to the SFA lineup last year and started 16 games on the way to earning Honorable Mention All-SLC honors. Turner posted two assists and helped lead a defense that put up three shutouts.
Huggins, another member of the Ladyjack back line, was also named to the honorable mention list following last season. The Frisco, Texas, native adjusted to the collegiate game quickly and started all but one game last season. Along with Turner, she helped guide a defense that posted three shutouts and held six other opponents to just one goal. At the other end of the field, Huggins finished the season with one goal and an assist.
The Ladyjacks will open exhibition play with a game at Centenary College in Shreveport, La., on Aug. 17. They'll follow that up with a home exhibition against TCU on Aug. 22, before opening regular-season action with back-to-back home games against St. Edward's and Creighton on Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, respectively.
-- SFA --
2007 Preseason All-Southland Conference Soccer TeamsFIRST TEAM
Name Class Pos. University Amanda Alders Jr. F Stephen F. Austin Danielle Shank Sr. F Southeastern La. Erin Hebert Sr. F Northwestern State Chelsea Zimmerman So. MF UTSA Lauren Fricks Jr. MF Stephen F. Austin Kamryn Koch Jr. MF McNeese State Amanda Bishop Jr. D Central Arkansas Ezinne Okpo So. D UTSA Chea Pajak So. D UTSA Shelby Money Jr. GK McNeese State
SECOND TEAM
Name Class Pos. University Ja'Nae Powell Jr. F McNeese State Raquel Bueno Jr. F Sam Houston State Veronica Najera So. F UTSA Candice Wallace So. MF Southeastern La. Tofi Chavez So. MF Sam Houston State Cynthia Torres Sr. MF McNeese State Jessica Huggins So. D Stephen F. Austin Jenna Turner So. D Stephen F. Austin Marty Wright Jr. D Texas State Heather Joye Jr. GK Central Arkansas
