University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Women's Soccer Claim Three All-Conference Honors
10/31/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
IRVING, Texas. – Ola Akinniyi, Becky McMullan and Miah Zuazua from the Southern Miss soccer team earned All-Conference USA Honors Tuesday afternoon.
This is the first time in school history three players earned All-Conference honors in the same season. Akinniyi was named to the first team, McMullan to the second and Zuazua to the All-Freshman team.
Akinniyi earned All-Conference First team honors after leading the Golden Eagles in goals scored with seven as a defender. The Denton, Texas junior hadn't scored in her first two seasons with Southern Miss but scored her first two goals in a 4-1 win against Grambling on Aug. 31.
Akinniyi's speed allowed her to play a versatile role for the Golden Eagles making long runs from defense to the attack. Her two goals against Marshall sparked a 3-0 comeback and forced overtime on the road. Akinniyi scored four of the team's last 10 goals.
Akinniyi is the first Golden Eagle to be placed on the All-First Team since Sarah McFadden made the team in 2007. In the last 10 years, the Golden Eagles have placed 10 players on an All-Conference team.
McMullan earned All-Conference Second team honors. McMullan was one of two players to start all 18 games for the Golden Eagles. McMullan scored five goals and totaled three assists earning 13 points this season.
After the opening weekend, McMullan landed the Golden Eagles only C-USA Player of the Week honor. McMullan was named the Offensive Player of the Week after her two goals against Nicholls. This award is McMullan's second time being named to an All-Conference team. Last season, she was named to the Third team after scoring four goals and four assists.
The senior from Northern Ireland ends her career with 13 goals.
Zuazua earned C-USA All-Freshman team honors after starting all but one game and led the team in shots with 59 and was third in C-USA. Zuazua finished her freshman campaign with two goals and five assists. Her first collegiate goal came by a penalty kick to win the game against SFA.
This is the seventh time in school history a Golden Eagle has been named to the All-Freshman team and third time under El-Zare. Kierstin Bradley made the team in 2015 and Brittany Taylor in 2013.
"I'm not surprised to see them receive this recognition," head coach Mohammed El-Zare said. "All three of them deserve it. They're all hard-working and dedicated to the game. They're fierce competitors who continuously seek to improve themselves on and off the field. I'm very proud of all of them."
First Team
GK: Kelsey Daugherty, UAB
D: Jackie Stroud, ODU
D: Dominique James, North Texas
D: Ebba Blomqvist, Florida Atlantic
D: Ola Akinniyi, Southern Miss
MF: Samantha Chaiken, Rice
MF: Amy Brewer, UAB
MF: Nomvula Kgoale, LA Tech
F: Martha Thomas, Charlotte
F: Nia Stallings, Rice
F: Megan Greene, Charlotte
F: Annie Walker, Rice
GK: Maya Hoyer, Rice
D: Haley Laque, LA Tech
D: Sydney Navarro, Middle Tennessee
D: Ashely Seltzer, Marshall
MF: Asta Arnadottir, Florida Atlantic
MF: Rachel Green, UAB
MF: Becky McMullan, Southern Miss
MF: Hannah Chua, WKU
F: Peyton DePriest, Middle Tennessee
F: Aaliyah Nolan, North Texas
F: Victoria Bohdan, UTEP
F: Jordan Sackaris, Marshall
Third Team
GK: Allison Leone, WKU
D: Lauren Crenshaw, UTEP
D: Louise Stephens, Rice
D: Audria Wood, UAB
D: Brittnye Lawson, North Texas
MF: Nicole Roseland, WKUU
MF: Rebecca Keane, Rice
MF: Kelley Suggs, Charlotte
MF: Cameron Cox, Middle Tennessee
F: Elisha Holmes, Florida Atlantic
F: Iris Ashterhof, ODU
F: Natalie Johnson, ODU
Freshman Team
Rebecca Keane, Rice
Miah Zuazua, Southern Miss
Peyton DePriest, Middle Tennessee
Victoria Bohdan, UTEP
Audria Wood, UAB
Carla Morich, ODU
Meredith Hamby, Charlotte
Gabi Clark, LA Tech
Abby Stapleton, Charlotte
Tally Bishop, WKU
Ashlyn Kitterman, Florida Atlantic
Regan Kommor, UAB
Rene Ross, Marshall
Sierra Moss, FIU
Offensive Player of the Year
Martha Thomas, F, Charlotte
Midfielder of the Year
Samantha Chaiken, MF, Rice
Defensive Player of the Year
Jackie Stroud, D, ODU
Goalkeeper of the Year
Maya Hoyer, Rice
Freshman of the Year
Peyton DePriest, F, Middle Tennessee
Coach of the Year
Nicky Adams, Rice
