NEED TO KNOW:
USA South Goalkeeper of the Year: Laila Allen
USA South Coach of the Year: Timmy McCormack
All-USA South First Team: Allen, Kaylee King, Abby Judge
All-USA South West Division First Team: Allen, King, Judge,
All-USA South West Division Second Team: Gabbie Hayes, Victoria Sierra, Kaity Hemperly, Anya Olson, Katelyn Smith
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Piedmont women's soccer team dominated the postseason USA South awards, with eight Lady Lions being honored in addition to head coach Timmy McCormack earning USA South Coach of the Year honors for the first time in his career.
Freshman goalkeeper Laila Allen took home Goalkeeper of the Year while joining Kaylee King and Abby Judge on the All-Conference First Team and West Division First Team. Rounding out the listing were Gabbie Hayes, Victoria Sierra, Anya Olson and Katelyn Smith, who were each named to the West Division Second Team.
Laila Allen, Goalkeeper of the Year, All-USA South First Team, All-USA South West Division Second Team
The freshman from Marietta, Georgia enjoyed an outstanding debut season for the Lady Lions, delivering a 9-2-1 record in goal and four total shutouts. Allen started 13 games total in goal for Piedmont and totaled a 0.88 goals against average. Making her first career start in the team's season opener against Berry, Allen made a season-high seven saves and preserved the shutout in a 1-0 win for Piedmont.
Timmy McCormack, USA South Coach of the Year
McCormack continued his winning ways in his fifth season at the helm of the program, leading the team to an 11-4-3 overall record and a 7-1 mark in conference play. Piedmont's 7-1 USA South record gave it its first outright regular season conference title in the team's USA South history. During the season, McCormack led the Lady Lions to three conference wins in overtime, over Maryville, Covenant and Huntingdon. McCormacks' overall record at Piedmont now sits at 67-22-10.
Kaylee King, All-USA South First Team, All-USA South West Division First Team
For the second consecutive season, King led the Lady Lions in total points (11). Her three goals ranked second on the team behind only Gabbie Hayes while her five assists were tops on the squad. The junior from Loganville earns her first career All-Conference honor. King tallied an assist in three of Piedmont's last four games. She tallied two of her three goals in back-to-back wins over Oglethorpe and Berea, also delivering her first assist of the campaign against the Mountaineers.
Abby Judge, All-USA South First Team, All-USA South West Division First Team
The junior from Belbrook, Ohio earns her first career All-Conference honor after anchoring a Piedmont defense that totaled 10 shutouts. She scored only once this season, but it was a big one. With the score knotted at 0-0, Judge's long strike found the top right corner of the net to help the Lady Lions emerge victorious over Covenant, 1-0, Then, in the team's next contest, Judge delivered a pair of assists in a 3-2 overtime road win against Huntingdon.
Gabbie Hayes, All-USA South West Division Second Team
The sophomore forward from Goodyear, Arizona earns All-Conference honors for the second time in two seasons competing for the Lady Lions. This season, Hayes led the team with four goals and scored in two of the team's final three contests of the regular season, in wins over Wesleyan and Agnes Scott. Three of her four goals this season were game-winners.
Victoria Sierra, All-USA South West Division Second Team
Despite playing in just 10 contests during her debut season, Sierra made her mark, tallying three goals while also adding an assist. Her lone assist of the season came on the game-winning goal by Kaity Hemperly in the team's 1-0 season-opening win against Berry. Like Hayes, Sierra found the back of the net in two of Piedmont's final three regular season contests, against Wesleyan and Agnes Scott.
Kaity Hemperly, All-USA Suth West Division Second Team
In her second season competing with the Lady Lions, Hemperly earns All-Conference honors for the first time in her career. Serving as an anchor in the midfield for the entire season, the senior from Highland Village, Texas made her lone goal of the season count, as it was a late game-winner to defeat Berry, 1-0, in the team's season opener.
Anya Olson, All-USA South West Division Second Team
The junior from San Diego, California enjoyed her best season yet in Demorest, earning All-USA South honors for the first time in her career. Olson served as a steady contributor in the midfield while also seeing time at forward. She tallied a pair of goals on the season and added an assist as well. Her second goal of the season was her most important, as it equalized the score at 1-1 earlier in the second half against Maryville, paving the way for Mandy Weinhart's game-winner in the final minutes of overtime.
Katelyn Smith, All-USA South West Division Second Team
In her final season for the Lady Lions, the senior defender from Alpharetta, Georgia earns All-USA South recognition for the first time. Helping anchor a defense that delivered 10 shutouts on the season, Smith also contributed offensively, with a pair of goals, both coming on penalty kicks. Her two goals came in wins against Averett and Berea.
Elissa Lotter, USA South All-Sportsmanship Team
