Piedmont University Athletics

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Piedmont junior CASSIDY REICH was named USA South Women's Soccer Player of the Year on Thursday with the release of the 2017 conference awards. In addition to Reich's award, a total of eight players for the Lady Lions were recognized by the conference. 

The USA South announced an All-Conference listing containing athletes from both divisions as well as first team and second team honors in each division. All awards are voted on by the women's soccer coach at each institution with the divisional team voting completed only by those coaches in the particular division.

Reich, a native of Largo, Fla., has scored 14 goals this season which is tied for third in the conference and has a conference best 10 assists, giving her 38 points for the season.

Reich and SAVANNAH CASTLES were named first-team All-Conference after leading Piedmont to a 15-0-3 record this season. The duo was also named to first-team West Division.

Reich has been named an All-Conference player for three straight seasons and was named Player and Rookie of the Year as a freshman. Castles is making her third appearance as an All-Conference player in 2017. Castles has scored four goals and has four assists while playing a mix of midfield and defense.

Piedmont also took more than half the selections for the second-team West Division. Senior TORI GILLETT and junior JAZMIN PENADO earn their third All-Conference selection as midfielders. Gillett finished the season with nine assists which ranks second in the conference and scored three goals, two of which were gamewinners.

Penado finished the regular season with six goals and two assists.  

Senior ABBEY DUNLOP makes her third appearance on the All-Conference list as a defender while classmate ALEXIS GOTTKO and sophomore ALEEA BISHOP each earned their first All-Conference award as defenders.

Freshman MIRANDA MCNALLEY was named second-team West Division goalkeeper after recording eight shutouts in 16 starts and allowed only seven goals for the season.

Junior SAMANTHA ISHEE was Piedmont's All-Sportsmanship honoree joining one member from each of the 16 teams in the league. 

As the #2 seed out of the West Division, Piedmont will take on #3 Covenant on Saturday at 6 p.m.

The 2017 USA South Women's Soccer All-Conference Team:
 

First Team All-Conference Forward Brooke Bukas, Salem Shannon Reagan, Maryville CASSIDY REICH, Piedmont Bailey Sipos, Maryville Midfielder Ella Burkhart, N.C. Wesleyan SAVANNAH CASTLES, Piedmont Hannah Clothier, Maryville Defender Kirstie King, Meredith Miranda Lukas, Maryville Sydney Priest, Salem Goalkeeper Rachel Lemay, Covenant

First Team East Division	Second Team East Division	First Team West Division	Second Team West Division
Forward Brooke Bukas, Salem Capri Clark, Methodist Jessica Wallace, Meredith Midfielder Ella Burkhart, N.C. Wesleyan Morgan Jones, Salem Alex Mattson, Ferrum Cassie Padilla, Meredith Defender Victoria Burkhart, N.C. Wesleyan Kirstie King, Meredith Sydney Priest, Salem Goalkeeper Jaisa Loch, Meredith	Forward Mercedes Fisher, Greensboro Jordan Lanier, Salem Cydney Nichols, N.C. Wesleyan Katie Quinn, Meredith Midfielder Erin Cooke, Meredith Jasmine Newman, Methodist Samantha Whipp, Greensboro Defender Olivia DeBellis, Meredith Alyssa Denkovich, Salem Sierra Swasey, Methodist Goalkeeper Emily Benton, Methodist	Forward Addy Cronan, Covenant Shannon Reagan, Maryville CASSIDY REICH, Piedmont Bailey Sipos, Maryville Midfielder Callie Bader, Covenant SAVANNAH CASTLES, Piedmont Hannah Clothier, Maryville Defender Kelly Allen, Maryville Kendyll Freeman, Covenant Miranda Lukas, Maryville  Goalkeeper Rachel Lemay, Covenant	Forward Fetlework Blitch, Wesleyan Elena Guy, Huntingdon Zoey Perchaluk, Agnes Scott Midfielder Abbie Anderson, Maryville TORI GILLETT, Piedmont JAZMIN PENADO, Piedmont  Kara Tubb, Maryville  Defender ALEEA BISHOP, Piedmont ABBEY DUNLOP, Piedmont ALEXIS GOTTKO, Piedmont Goalkeeper MIRANDA MCNALLEY, Piedmont

 

All-Sportsmanship Nia Coates, Agnes Scott Nia Johnson, Averett Sierra Massucco, Berea Ashley Hughes, Brevard Callie Bader, Covenant Mac Cannaday, Ferrum Keeley Catarineau, Greensboro Madi Critcher, Huntingdon Taylor Vardeman, LaGrange Kara Tubb, Maryville Jaisa Loch, Meredith Morgan Albertson, Methodist Lucia Davids, N.C. Wesleyan Kaley Hyatt, Pfeiffer SAMANTHA ISHEE, Piedmont Amy Bounds, Salem Jessica Austell, Wesleyan Amber Arnold, William Peace