SE Tennessee News

The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) announced the season awards for women's soccer near the end of the 2022 season. The awards include individual awards along with the All-AAC Teams, Champions of Character Team, and All-Academic Team. Tennessee Wesleyan had five players named to one of the All-AAC Teams and 15 players earned a spot on the All-Academic Team.

Krista Eik Hardardottir (forward), Lauryn Smith (defender), and Laia Roch Font (goalkeeper) were named to the All-AAC First Team while Jamie York (defender) and Jill De Waal (midfielder) were named to the All-AAC Second Team. 

Hardardottir finished the season with the second-most goals and points in the conference. Hardardottir led the team with 21 goals and assisted on four other goals to give her a team-high 46 points. The sophomore scored two or more goals six times this season, including back-to-back hat tricks. The Husavik, Iceland native was named AAC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week three times this season, earning the award in two consecutive weeks during the season. Hardardottir had five game-winning goals this season. 

Smith anchored a defense that only gave up 14 goals on the season, the lowest in the AAC. The team's 0.78 goals-against average was also the lowest in the AAC. The Knoxville, Tenn., native helped the team record 11 shutouts this season, the third most in the AAC. The junior also scored one goal for the Lady Bulldogs. 

Font earned her spot on the team with her play in the net. The 0.78 goals-against average Font held was second in the AAC while the 14 goals allowed were the third least in the AAC. The Vic, Spain native posted 11 shutouts this season, the most among goalies in the conference. The sophomore finished the season with 62 saves and was named AAC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week two times this season.

De Waal, a one-time winner of the AAC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week award, was second on the team in goals with ten. The Gorichem, Netherlands native added a team-high six assists to finish with the second-most points on the team at 26. De Waal finished the season with three game-winning goals.

While helping the defense hold opponents to just 14 goals this season and 11 shutouts, York also played a part on offense as well. While being one of the many players to help initiate the offense, the Akron, Ohio native also recorded an assist this season.

 Austen Meyers was named the team's representative to the AAC Champions of Character Team. To be named to the Champions of Character Team, a player must exhibit the NAIA's Five Core Values of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, and Servant Leadership. 

Karanna Bailey, Mackenzie Bunch, Callie Chaffinch, Aliyah Collins, Malene Duus, Sara Gluch, Whitney Gross, Krista Eik Hardardottir, Malea Inman, Tessa Lewis, Austen Meyers, Emma Pulley, Allison Seiber, Lauryn Smith, and Marte Stokseth all earned spots on the AAC All-Academic Team. To be selected to the All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must be in sophomore in academic standing and maintain a 3.25 grade-point average

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