University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Four Golden Eagles Named To United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Teams
12/3/2021 2:44:00 PM | Women's Soccer
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Four Southern Miss Soccer student-athletes were named to All-South Region Teams by the United Soccer Coaches. The selections include forwards Ariel Diaz and Blessing Kingsley, midfielder Ilana Izquierdo, and defender Macie Pennington.
Fifth-year senior Ariel Diaz was named to the All-South First Team after earning First Team Conference USA. She ended the season leading the Golden Eagles and second overall in the C-USA with eight assists. Her assists per game average was also good for second in the C-USA at a .50. During the season, Diaz captured a moment of brilliance as she scored the game winning goal in the Conference USA Championship Semifinals in the 87th minute to send the Golden Eagles to the Finals. She completed the campaign with 16 points, four goals, and eight assists.
Izquierdo earned a selection to the All-South Second Team. The Colombian became the first Golden Eagle to be named C-USA Freshman of the Year in one of the most spectacular rookie seasons. She finished the season leading all Conference USA freshman in every offensive statistical category that counted towards the points tally, racking up 21 points, seven goals, and seven assists.
Defensive captain and fifth-year senior Macie Pennington earned an All-South Third Team honor. Throughout the season, Pennington was a defensive for in the backline, helping the Black and Gold to seven clean sheets. The Delaware native provided the assist for the game winning goal against Charlotte, to give the Golden Eagles its first victory in the 49ers home stadium. Finishing the season, she competed in 16 matches and saw 1491 minutes of play.
Sophomore Blessing Kingsley was selected as an All-South Third Team member. The Ireland native was second on the Golden Eagles team for goals scored with six, and tallied two assists for 14 points. She scored the game winner against FAU in the C-USA Quarterfinals this season, advancing Southern Miss to the Semi's. Kingsley competed in all 17 matches for the Black and Gold, seeing 1100 minutes of action and grabbed 30 shots along the way.
For Southern Miss Soccer updates through the offseason, follow the team's Twitter account, @SouthernMissSoc, and check the main athletics site at SouthernMiss.com.
