Southland announces 2023 Preseason All-Conference Women’s Soccer teams, poll

FRISCO, Texas – Defending Southland Conference regular season and tournament champions, the Lamar Cardinals lead the way with seven players named to the preseason all-conference teams. The Cardinals are also predicted to win their second straight Southland Conference Women’s Soccer Championship, after receiving 126 points in the pre-season poll. The All-SLC teams and poll were announced by the league on Friday.

Coaches and SIDs from the Southland’s nine-member institutions cast their ballots, with Head Coach Nathan Kogut’s squad receiving 14 out of a possible 16 first-place votes.

Lamar placed a league-high six student-athletes on the preseason all-conference teams, including six on the first team. Reigning SLC Goalkeeper of the Year Nicole Panis, and reigning SLC Defender of the Year Arely Alaniz highlight a strong returning core for Lamar.

Last year, in his debut season in Beaumont, Kogut was named Southland Coach of the Year, and Tournament MVP Christine Kitaru led the Cardinals to glory, doing the double as both Regular Season and Tournament Champions. The Cardinals won a tight SLC Tournament semi-final game 1-0, thanks to a Laura Linares free kick before a come-from-behind victory saw Lamar defeat Texas A&M-Commerce 4-1 in the Championship game. Having punched their ticket to the postseason, Coach Kogut’s squad would go on to face LSU in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, ultimately falling 3-1 to the eighth-seeded Tigers, in what was Lamar’s 3rd ever appearance in the big dance.

The other first-place votes went to HCU and Northwestern State, with two each, though interestingly neither squad was picked to finish in the top three overall. Texas A&M-Commerce (97) had a stellar debut season at the Division I level and are projected to finish second in the Southland this time around, whilst Southeastern was picked to finish third overall. Just three points separated the third-ranked Lions (84) from the fifth-placed Demons (81), with the Huskies (82) sandwiched in between them. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (68) is slated to finish sixth, ahead of McNeese (53), UIW (33), and Nicholls (23) to round out the predicted order of finish.

The Southland Conference preseason poll is voted on by each school’s head coach and soccer sports information director. Each voter ranks their predicted order of regular-season finish, not including their own team. First-place votes are worth eight points, second-place votes are worth seven, and so on to one point for eighth place.

2023 Southland Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Lamar (14) 126
2. Texas A&M-Commerce 97
3. Southeastern 84
4. HCU (2) 83
5. Northwestern State (2) 81
6. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 68
7. McNeese 53
8. UIW 33
9. Nicholls 23

There are 17 repeat selections across the two All-SLC teams, including six defenders and seven of last year’s eight all-conference midfielders.

The Cardinals have six players on the first team, highlighted by 2022 SLC Goalkeeper of the Year Nicole Panis, and 2022 SLC Defender of the Year Arely Alaniz, both of whom were named to the United Soccer Coaches “Division I Players to Watch” list earlier this week. They’re joined by defender Kaisa Juvonen, midfielders Isela Ramirez and Trinity Clark, and forward Cariel Ellis, who scored 10 goals in 17 games last season, including a joint-league-leading four game-winning goals. Rounding out Lamar’s selections is graduate student Laura Linares, who is a first-time selection to the second team.

The Lions of Texas A&M-Commerce have earned five selections across the two teams, led on the first team by 2022 SLC Freshman of the Year Mya Mitchell, alongside sophomore midfielder Ashley Campuzano, and senior defender Mindy Shoffit. The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders garnered four selections, with forward tandem Megan Guy and Morgan Westbury landing on the top squad. The HCU Huskies have three selections overall, including senior defender Kat Lazor on the top team, whilst Southeastern’s honoree is the reigning SLC Soccer Student-Athlete of the Year Mya Guillory, who rounds out the 13 players named to the first team.

On the second team, a pair of Northwestern State Lady Demons – Caroline Hilliard and Taylor Spitzer – are joined by three selections from McNeese, with Kiana Kukaua, Rachel Young, and Magalie Depot representing the Cowgirls. UIW forward Sierra Wannamaker completes the second team.

Returning players from the 2022 All-Conference teams are automatically named to this year’s Preseason All-Conference teams at their same positions. Vacant positions are nominated and voted upon by the conference’s head coaches. Voting for one’s own player is not permitted.

2023 Southland Conference Preseason First Team

2023 Southland Conference Preseason Second Team

The 2023 season kicks off on Thursday, August 17th, with six SLC teams in action on that day, and another two playing their opening fixtures a day later. The 2023 Southland Conference Soccer Tournament will take place in Corpus Christi, Texas, on November 1st, 3rd, and 5th.