Hardin-Simmons Picked to Win 2016 ASC Women's Soccer Championship
8/17/2016 9:30:00 AM
RICHARDSON, Texas – Hardin-Simmons has been picked to win the 2016 American Southwest Conference Women's Soccer championship after a vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors, the ASC office announced Wednesday (Aug. 17).
Hardin-Simmons junior forward Kami Jones and UT Tyler senior defender Shelby Valdepena were named the ASC Offensive and Defensive Preseason Players of the Year, respectively.
Hardin-Simmons (19-2-2 / 9-1-0 ASC) received 280 points in the preseason poll and recorded 16 out of a possible 24 first-place votes. Coach Marcus Wood and the Cowgirls won their 13th consecutive ASC championship in 2015 and made their seventh appearance in the sectional round of the NCAA tournament. Ranked No. 17 in the NSCAA Top 25 Preseason Poll, Hardin-Simmons returns junior forward Kami Jones, the ASC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, and sophomore forward Kenne Kessler, the ASC Offensive Freshman of the Year. Jones led the ASC in shots (104), points (66), goals (25) and ranked second in assists (15). Kessler ranked second in goals (20) and points (51), ranked third in shots (95) and tied for fourth in assists (11).
UT Tyler (17-2-1 / 9-0-0 ASC) came in a close second with 266 points in the preseason poll and picked up eight first-place votes. Coach Stefani Webb was named ASC Coach of the Year in 2015 after UT Tyler won its first regular season title in team history. The Patriots have finished as the ASC runner-up in three of the last four seasons and competed in the last two NCAA tournaments. Ranked No. 22 in the NSCAA Preseason Top 25 Poll, UT Tyler holds the distinction as the only ASC team to defeat Hardin-Simmons in each of the last two regular season contests. The Patriots are also the only team to not lose a regular season game to a conference opponent over the last two years (16-0-2). Senior defender Shelby Valdepena returns to anchor a Patriots’ defense that led the ASC in goals allowed (9), goals against average (0.44) and ranked second in shutouts (13).
Thirty-eight student-athletes were named to the ASC Women’s Soccer Players to Watch List. The list is composed of up to three players from each institution nominated by the head coaches. Eighteen of the 33 players submitted are returning all-conference selections including two award winners.
The 2016 season will get underway Thursday, September 1 as 11 ASC teams take the field in their season openers.
The ASC Championship Tournament is scheduled for November 1, 4 and 6. The quarterfinals will be hosted by the top four seeds with the semifinals and championship game at the overall No. 1 seed. An automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship will be on the line.
ASC Women's Soccer Preseason Players of the Year
Offense: Kami Jones, Jr., F, Hardin-Simmons
Defense: Shelby Valdepena, Sr., D, UT Tyler
ASC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
(First-Place Votes)
| Rank |
Team |
Pts. |
2015 Record (ASC) |
| 1. |
Hardin-Simmons (16) |
280 |
19-2-2 (9-1-0) |
| 2. |
UT Tyler (8) |
266 |
17-2-1 (9-0-0) |
| 3. |
UT Dallas |
229 |
14-8-0 (6-4-0) |
| 4. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
221 |
12-4-1 (8-1-0) |
| 5. |
LeTourneau |
175 |
8-8-1 (4-4-1) |
| 6. |
Concordia Texas |
152 |
4-11-1 (3-5-0) |
| 7. |
East Texas Baptist |
134 |
5-13-0 (3-7-0) |
| 8. |
Univ. of Ozarks |
107 |
5-11-2 (4-5-0) |
| 9. |
Howard Payne |
97 |
3-10-2 (2-7-1) |
| 10. |
Sul Ross State |
72 |
3-13-0 (2-8-0) |
| 11. |
Louisiana College |
64 |
5-14-0 (1-9-0) |
| 12. |
McMurry % |
60 |
2-13-2 (N/A) |
| |
Belhaven # |
|
4-10-1 (N/A) |
# Ineligible for 2016 ASC Championship / NCAA Championship (NCAA Div. III Provisional)
% Ineligible for 2016 ASC Championship / NCAA Championship (NCAA Div. III Reclassifying)
ASC Women’s Soccer Players to Watch List
2015 All-Conference Selection*
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
Team |
| Jessica Mahoney |
Jr. |
MF |
Belhaven |
| Savannah Raines |
Sr. |
F |
Belhaven |
| Samantha Incaprera |
Sr. |
D |
Belhaven |
| Lindy Mendoza |
Sr. |
D |
Concordia Texas |
| Skylar Larkin |
So. |
D |
Concordia Texas |
| Maria Vela |
So. |
MF |
Concordia Texas |
| Heather Brady* |
Jr. |
F |
East Texas Baptist |
| Erin Miller* |
Sr. |
F |
East Texas Baptist |
| Nathalia Lomax* |
Sr. |
D |
East Texas Baptist |
| Kami Jones* |
Jr. |
F |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Kenne Kessler* |
So. |
MF |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Jordan Lara* |
Sr. |
F |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Lynsie Anderson |
Sr. |
MF |
Howard Payne |
| Taylor Bicknell |
Sr. |
F |
Howard Payne |
| Kaitlyn Harrison |
So. |
D |
Howard Payne |
| Stephanie Vana* |
Sr. |
MF |
LeTourneau |
| Kennedy Keer* |
Jr. |
MF |
LeTourneau |
| Kristen Wunder |
So. |
MF |
LeTourneau |
| Haley Clark |
So. |
GK |
Louisiana College |
| Jaime Trahan |
Jr. |
D |
Louisiana College |
| Sarah Rempe* |
Jr. |
MF |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Madison Link* |
So. |
D |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Kathryn Parker* |
Sr. |
F |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Cristen Lumbreras |
So. |
MF |
McMurry |
| Jordan Gregory |
Fr. |
GK |
McMurry |
| Mason Malone |
So. |
D |
McMurry |
| Brittanie Gragg* |
Jr. |
F |
Univ. of Ozarks |
| Katherine Zamora* |
So. |
D |
Univ. of Ozarks |
| Tiffany Robinson* |
Sr. |
MF |
Univ. of Ozarks |
| Valeria Rey* |
So. |
F |
Sul Ross State |
| Rachel Hamilton |
So. |
MF |
Sul Ross State |
| Ashley Coody |
So. |
D |
Sul Ross State |
| Jacqueline Kaufman* |
So. |
F |
UT Dallas |
| Meagan Chavez* |
So. |
D |
UT Dallas |
| Melissa Fulfer* |
So. |
F |
UT Dallas |
| Brittany Matthews |
Sr. |
F |
UT Tyler |
| Shelby Valdepena |
Sr. |
D |
UT Tyler |
| Caroline Williams |
Jr. |
D |
UT Tyler |