NEED TO KNOW:
All-USA South West Division First Team: CASSIE KIRK and SARAH FISHER
All-USA South West Division Second Team: GABBIE HAYES

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The USA South released its annual women's soccer All-Conference list Friday afternoon and three Lady Lions were among those honored.

Senior midfielder CASSIE KIRK and sophomore defender SARAH FISHER were given All-USA South West Division First Team honors while freshman forward GABBIE HAYES was named to the West Division Second Team. Freshman ELISSA LOTTER was Piedmont's representative on the USA South All-Sportsmanship Team.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the shortening of seasons within the fall and winter sports, in addition to the cancelation of NCAA Championship events, the conference will be limiting the All-Conference honors to First and Second Team All-Divisional recognition. Additionally, for this season, there will be no individual "of the Year" awards.

CASSIE KIRK, All-USA South West Division First Team

The senior midfielder from Mims, Florida was a mainstay for the Lady Lions during the 2021 season, starting 13 of 14 games and finsihing fifth on the team with eight points. Kirk was one of just five Lady Lions with multiple goals and assists on the season, tallyiing three goals to go with two assists. In PC's conference-opening shutout over Huntingdon, Kirk notched the game-winner in the 1-0 triumph. Against LaGrange on March 3, she put the game away, giving the Lady Lions a 2-0 lead in the second half with her third goal of the season. Kirk also shared the wealth, adding assists in Piedmont wins at Southern Virginia and Berea. This marks her second career postseason honor from the league as she was named All-USA South First Team in 2019.

SARAH FISHER, All-USA South West Division First Team

Fisher served as a defensive anchor for the Lady Lions, who delivered shutouts in all five of their conferene victories this season. The defender from Lawrenceville, Georgia made nine starts and appeared in 13 contests in the spring season while also contributing on the offensive end. Fisher scored her first career goal in Piedmont's opening game of the season, a 3-2 double overtime loss at East Texas Baptist. Fisher then struck in the opening minutes of the Lady Lions' 2-0 home win over LaGrange on March 3, which served as the game winner. The sophomore saved her best performance for Piedmont's 7-0 rout at Berea, delivering a goal and two assists on March 6. Finally, in PC's final regular season contest, she scored the lone goal for the Lady Lions in a 1-1 draw at Covenant. Coming into postseason play, Fisher has delivered a point in four consecutive contests.

GABBIE HAYES, All-USA South West Division Second Team

The freshman from Goodyear, Arizona made her mark in USA South play this season, scoring four of her five goals against USA South foes. Hayes' 11 total points tied with Fisher for second on the Lady Lions while her five goals alone tied her for the team lead. Although it took Hayes until her seventh game of the season to find the back of the net, the floodgates opened when she did, scoring all five of her goals over PC's final seven contests. She struck first at Wesleyan, delivering the game-winner in Piedmont's 6-0 road win over the Wolves. Hayes then added a goal at Southern Virginia before tallying two more to go with her first career assist in the 7-0 win at Berea. Then, in PC's final home contest of the season, Hayes struck again in a 9-0 win over Agnes Scott. 

ELISSA LOTTER, All-Sportsmanship Team