Five Lumberjacks Earn Southland Superlatives; Seven Named to First Team All-Southland; One Named to Second Team All-Southland
11/4/2024 11:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
FRISCO, Texas- After winning their 12th Southland regular season championship in program history, the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks earned a plethora of season awards that the conference announced on Monday morning.
Head Coach Ben Williams was named Southland Coach of the Year and has completely turned the program around as the 'Jacks finished last season last in the WAC with a 2-14-2 record, but they finished the regular season with an 11-3-2 record. This season SFA outscored their opponents 54-8 and averaged 3.38 goals per game which is the second highest scoring offense in the nation. The 'Jacks also outshot their opponents 331-105 and averaged 20.7 shots per game which ranks them sixth in the nation in that category. SFA leads the conference in assists per game, corner kicks per game, goal differential, goals against average, points per game, scoring offense, shots on goal per game, shutout percentage, total goals, and total points. On the defensive side, SFA was the only Southland team to not allow double-digit goals as the 'Jacks only allowed eight this season and have a 0.50 goals-against average.
Alex Bayouth earned Freshman of the Year and has made an incredible impact in her first collegiate season as the 'Jacks secured their 12th Southland Regular Season Championship. She recorded four goals, three assists, 11 points, and 16 shots this season with two of those goals being game-winning-goals against Southeastern Louisiana and TAMU-Corpus Christi. Bayouth appeared in 16 matches this season and made one start with 516 minutes played. She is tied for second in the conference in GWGs. Bayouth earned offensive player of the week honors once this season.
Ava Shannon was named Midfielder of the Year and earned a spot on the First Team All-Southland. She started in all 15 games she appeared in for SFA and had a breakout season that saw her record six goals, three assists, 15 points, 28 shots, and two game-winning-goals. She scored two goals against SMU for her first career brace and had the game-winning-goals against Houston Christian and Northwestern State as the 'Jacks claimed their 12th Regular Season Southland Championship. Shannon averaged 1.87 shots per game, 0.40 goals per game, and 1.00 points per game in 1093 minutes of play. She is tied for second in the conference with 17 shots on goal, tied for seventh in points, and tied for fourth with two GWGs.
Ella Morgan earned Defensive Player of the Year and also earned a spot on First Team All-Southland. She has been the workhorse for the SFA defense this year as she started in 15 of the 'Jacks 16 games and played 1388 minutes en route to securing the 12th Southland Regular Season Championship in program history. There were only three games this season that Morgan did not play the full 90 minutes of the match. Morgan was also involved on the offensive end as she scored a goal against Sam Houston and recorded 14 shots this season. As team captain, she led the defensive line to 10 shutout victories and only allowed eight goals this season. Morgan was also named defensive player of the week twice this season.
Maddie Bowers earned a spot on First Team All-Southland and was one of the most impactful players on the 'Jacks roster this season on their way to their 12th Southland Regular Season Championship. Bowers started in 15 of the 'Jacks 16 games this season and recorded six goals, nine assists, 21 points, 43 shots, and two game-winning-goals in 977 minutes of play. She led the conference in shots with 43, shots per game with 2.69, assists with nine, assists per game with .563, points with 21, and points per game with 1.31. Bowers is tied for fourth with two GWGs, and tied for sixth in the conference with six goals this season. She is also ranked nationally in assists per game (20th), points per game (58th), total assists (20th), and total points (103rd).
Jayme Bailey also earned a spot on First Team All-Southland as she returned to the 'Jacks for her senior season after being the leading goal scorer in 2023 and returned to her scoring ways as she led SFA with eight goals this season which ties her for first in the conference and 89th in the nation in total goals. Bailey has also recorded five assists, 21 points, and 36 shots with three game-winning-goals in 893 minutes played in 14 starts. She is tied for third in the conference in shots and shots per game, tied for second with 17 shots on goal, tied for fourth in assists, tied for first in GWGs, and tied for first in points and points per game. Bailey has been a huge factor in SFA's second-highest scoring offense in the nation and clinching their 12th Southland Regular Season Championship.
Brielle Buchanan was also named to First Team All-Southland in her first season with the 'Jacks and started in six of the 16 games she appeared in this season. Buchanan played in 740 minutes and recorded seven goals, two assists, 16 points, and 36 shots. She recorded her first two career braces against TAMU-San Antonio and TAMU-Corpus Christi. Buchanan is ranked third in the conference with 36 shots and 2.25 shots per game, tied for third in goals with seven and .438 goals per game, and sixth in points with 16 and 1.00 points per game.
Avery Brandt was named to First Team All-Southland in her senior season. Brandt has been a part of the Lumberjacks for two seasons and has been one of the reliable starters on the defensive line. Brandt started in 15 of the 16 games for SFA this year and played 1100 minutes on the way to securing the 12th Southland Regular Season Conference Championship for the 'Jacks. She recorded one goal, one assist, and 13 shots on the offensive side. Brandt was an integral part of the SFA defensive line that only allowed eight goals and recorded 10 shutout victories this season.
Hadley Williams was the final 'Jack to be named to First Team All-Southland and has been a stellar addition to the defensive line for the 'Jacks. The grad transfer from Kentucky started in all 11 games she appeared in and played 777 minutes as SFA secured their 12th Southland Regular Season Championship. Williams recorded two goals in nine shots this season. Her goal against UAPB was the game-winning-goal, and her second goal came off a free kick against TAMU-Corpus Christi. Williams experience coupled with Ella Morgan has been an influential reason that the 'Jacks only allowed eight goals this season and recorded 10 shutout victories.
Sawyer Kohutek was named to Second Team All-Southland after a phenominal freshman season. Despite being the only freshman on the starting defensive line, Sawyer Kohutek has quickly made a name for herself as she started in 15 of the 16 games she appeared in for SFA this season. She played 1054 minutes as she helped the 'Jacks secure their 12th Southland Regular Season Championship. Kohutek was also involved on the offensive side of the ball as she recorded three assists and three shots. Her lightning-quick speed paired with Maddie Bowers is a lethal combination and has impacted the defensive stand for the 'Jacks as they only allowed eight goals this season and recorded 10 shutout victories.
Superlatives
Player of the Year — Kaydence Ramirez, Texas A&M-Commerce
Freshman of the Year — Alex Bayouth, SFA
Coach of the Year — Ben Williams, SFA
Forward of the Year — Kaydence Ramirez, Texas A&M-Commerce
Midfielder of the Year — Ava Shannon, SFA
Defender of the Year — Ella Morgan, SFA
Goalkeeper of the Year — Erica Defferding, UIW
First Team
F – Kaydence Ramirez, Texas A&M-Commerce
F – Maddie Bowers, SFA
F – Jayme Bailey, SFA
F – Taylor Spitzer, Northwestern State
M – Ava Shannon, SFA
M – Emily Senatore, Northwestern State
M – Alexa Huerta, HCU
M – Brielle Buchanan, SFA
D – Ella Morgan, SFA
D – Arely Alaniz, Lamar
D – Avery Brandt, SFA
D – Hadley Williams, SFA
GK – Erica Defferding, UIW
Second Team
F – Sierra Wannamaker, UIW
F – Hannah Bell, Texas A&M-Commerce
F – Isela Ramirez, Lamar
F – Olivia Rossman, HCU
M – Mai-Lisa Atis, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
M – Hannah McCord, Southeastern
M – Rachel Loetzer, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
M – Melissa Storey, Texas A&M-Commerce
D – Jessica Spitzer, Northwestern State
D – Mindy Shoffit, Texas A&M-Commerce
D – Sawyer Kohutek, SFA
D – Ellie Mai Sanford, UIW
GK – Zoe Theriot, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
SFA will begin their Southland Conference Tournament run on Tuesday, November 5th at 10 a.m. against UTRGV on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS:
For all the latest information on SFA Soccer, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Head Coach Ben Williams was named Southland Coach of the Year and has completely turned the program around as the 'Jacks finished last season last in the WAC with a 2-14-2 record, but they finished the regular season with an 11-3-2 record. This season SFA outscored their opponents 54-8 and averaged 3.38 goals per game which is the second highest scoring offense in the nation. The 'Jacks also outshot their opponents 331-105 and averaged 20.7 shots per game which ranks them sixth in the nation in that category. SFA leads the conference in assists per game, corner kicks per game, goal differential, goals against average, points per game, scoring offense, shots on goal per game, shutout percentage, total goals, and total points. On the defensive side, SFA was the only Southland team to not allow double-digit goals as the 'Jacks only allowed eight this season and have a 0.50 goals-against average.
Alex Bayouth earned Freshman of the Year and has made an incredible impact in her first collegiate season as the 'Jacks secured their 12th Southland Regular Season Championship. She recorded four goals, three assists, 11 points, and 16 shots this season with two of those goals being game-winning-goals against Southeastern Louisiana and TAMU-Corpus Christi. Bayouth appeared in 16 matches this season and made one start with 516 minutes played. She is tied for second in the conference in GWGs. Bayouth earned offensive player of the week honors once this season.
Ava Shannon was named Midfielder of the Year and earned a spot on the First Team All-Southland. She started in all 15 games she appeared in for SFA and had a breakout season that saw her record six goals, three assists, 15 points, 28 shots, and two game-winning-goals. She scored two goals against SMU for her first career brace and had the game-winning-goals against Houston Christian and Northwestern State as the 'Jacks claimed their 12th Regular Season Southland Championship. Shannon averaged 1.87 shots per game, 0.40 goals per game, and 1.00 points per game in 1093 minutes of play. She is tied for second in the conference with 17 shots on goal, tied for seventh in points, and tied for fourth with two GWGs.
Ella Morgan earned Defensive Player of the Year and also earned a spot on First Team All-Southland. She has been the workhorse for the SFA defense this year as she started in 15 of the 'Jacks 16 games and played 1388 minutes en route to securing the 12th Southland Regular Season Championship in program history. There were only three games this season that Morgan did not play the full 90 minutes of the match. Morgan was also involved on the offensive end as she scored a goal against Sam Houston and recorded 14 shots this season. As team captain, she led the defensive line to 10 shutout victories and only allowed eight goals this season. Morgan was also named defensive player of the week twice this season.
Maddie Bowers earned a spot on First Team All-Southland and was one of the most impactful players on the 'Jacks roster this season on their way to their 12th Southland Regular Season Championship. Bowers started in 15 of the 'Jacks 16 games this season and recorded six goals, nine assists, 21 points, 43 shots, and two game-winning-goals in 977 minutes of play. She led the conference in shots with 43, shots per game with 2.69, assists with nine, assists per game with .563, points with 21, and points per game with 1.31. Bowers is tied for fourth with two GWGs, and tied for sixth in the conference with six goals this season. She is also ranked nationally in assists per game (20th), points per game (58th), total assists (20th), and total points (103rd).
Jayme Bailey also earned a spot on First Team All-Southland as she returned to the 'Jacks for her senior season after being the leading goal scorer in 2023 and returned to her scoring ways as she led SFA with eight goals this season which ties her for first in the conference and 89th in the nation in total goals. Bailey has also recorded five assists, 21 points, and 36 shots with three game-winning-goals in 893 minutes played in 14 starts. She is tied for third in the conference in shots and shots per game, tied for second with 17 shots on goal, tied for fourth in assists, tied for first in GWGs, and tied for first in points and points per game. Bailey has been a huge factor in SFA's second-highest scoring offense in the nation and clinching their 12th Southland Regular Season Championship.
Brielle Buchanan was also named to First Team All-Southland in her first season with the 'Jacks and started in six of the 16 games she appeared in this season. Buchanan played in 740 minutes and recorded seven goals, two assists, 16 points, and 36 shots. She recorded her first two career braces against TAMU-San Antonio and TAMU-Corpus Christi. Buchanan is ranked third in the conference with 36 shots and 2.25 shots per game, tied for third in goals with seven and .438 goals per game, and sixth in points with 16 and 1.00 points per game.
Avery Brandt was named to First Team All-Southland in her senior season. Brandt has been a part of the Lumberjacks for two seasons and has been one of the reliable starters on the defensive line. Brandt started in 15 of the 16 games for SFA this year and played 1100 minutes on the way to securing the 12th Southland Regular Season Conference Championship for the 'Jacks. She recorded one goal, one assist, and 13 shots on the offensive side. Brandt was an integral part of the SFA defensive line that only allowed eight goals and recorded 10 shutout victories this season.
Hadley Williams was the final 'Jack to be named to First Team All-Southland and has been a stellar addition to the defensive line for the 'Jacks. The grad transfer from Kentucky started in all 11 games she appeared in and played 777 minutes as SFA secured their 12th Southland Regular Season Championship. Williams recorded two goals in nine shots this season. Her goal against UAPB was the game-winning-goal, and her second goal came off a free kick against TAMU-Corpus Christi. Williams experience coupled with Ella Morgan has been an influential reason that the 'Jacks only allowed eight goals this season and recorded 10 shutout victories.
Sawyer Kohutek was named to Second Team All-Southland after a phenominal freshman season. Despite being the only freshman on the starting defensive line, Sawyer Kohutek has quickly made a name for herself as she started in 15 of the 16 games she appeared in for SFA this season. She played 1054 minutes as she helped the 'Jacks secure their 12th Southland Regular Season Championship. Kohutek was also involved on the offensive side of the ball as she recorded three assists and three shots. Her lightning-quick speed paired with Maddie Bowers is a lethal combination and has impacted the defensive stand for the 'Jacks as they only allowed eight goals this season and recorded 10 shutout victories.
Superlatives
Player of the Year — Kaydence Ramirez, Texas A&M-Commerce
Freshman of the Year — Alex Bayouth, SFA
Coach of the Year — Ben Williams, SFA
Forward of the Year — Kaydence Ramirez, Texas A&M-Commerce
Midfielder of the Year — Ava Shannon, SFA
Defender of the Year — Ella Morgan, SFA
Goalkeeper of the Year — Erica Defferding, UIW
First Team
F – Kaydence Ramirez, Texas A&M-Commerce
F – Maddie Bowers, SFA
F – Jayme Bailey, SFA
F – Taylor Spitzer, Northwestern State
M – Ava Shannon, SFA
M – Emily Senatore, Northwestern State
M – Alexa Huerta, HCU
M – Brielle Buchanan, SFA
D – Ella Morgan, SFA
D – Arely Alaniz, Lamar
D – Avery Brandt, SFA
D – Hadley Williams, SFA
GK – Erica Defferding, UIW
Second Team
F – Sierra Wannamaker, UIW
F – Hannah Bell, Texas A&M-Commerce
F – Isela Ramirez, Lamar
F – Olivia Rossman, HCU
M – Mai-Lisa Atis, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
M – Hannah McCord, Southeastern
M – Rachel Loetzer, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
M – Melissa Storey, Texas A&M-Commerce
D – Jessica Spitzer, Northwestern State
D – Mindy Shoffit, Texas A&M-Commerce
D – Sawyer Kohutek, SFA
D – Ellie Mai Sanford, UIW
GK – Zoe Theriot, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
SFA will begin their Southland Conference Tournament run on Tuesday, November 5th at 10 a.m. against UTRGV on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS:
For all the latest information on SFA Soccer, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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