SWAC announces soccer preseason honors
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Kaylee Holt of Grambling State, Mercedes Padilla of Alabama State and Gianna Guyot also of Alabama State have been named the Southwestern Athletic Conference individual award winners as the league announced its 2018 preseason soccer honors on Tuesday. The honors were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Holt was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Holt totaled nine goals, while racking up four assists, for 22 points for the Lady Tigers in 2017.
Padilla was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Padilla helped lead a Lady Hornets back line that ranked first in goals against average in conference play last season. Alabama State totaled a 0.70 GAA as a team during the 2017 campaign. The Lady Hornets also allowed the fewest goals in conference play, letting just seven shots find the back of the net.
Guyot was voted as the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. Guyot led the league in goals against average in conference matches (.067) and save percentage (.875) during the 2017 season. Guyot also ranked tied for sixth in total saves in conference play, stopping 42 shots a season ago.
Alabama State was predicted to finish first in the conference, totaling 168 points. Grambling State was predicted to finish second (145) and Howard was predicted to finish third with 142 points. Texas Southern (129), Prairie View A&M (96), Alabama A&M (74), Mississippi Valley State (72), Jackson State (67), Alcorn State (57), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (54) and Southern (52) rounded out the standings.
Alabama State and Grambling State each had the most players earn preseason honors with four. Howard and Alabama A&M had three players earn preseason honors, while Mississippi Valley State, Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern and Arkansas Pine Bluff each had two players recognized.
The individual honors, All-SWAC teams and predicted order of finish are below:
Individual Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Kaylee Holt (Grambling State)
Preseason Defender of the Year
Mercedes Padilla (Alabama State)
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Gianna Guyot (Alabama State)
First Team All-SWAC
Forward
Kaylee Holt (Grambling State
Teaggan Ileia (Alabama State)
Whitney White (Howard)
Midfielder
Laadi Issaka (Mississippi Valley State)
Blair Lane (Prairie View A&M)
Kayla Smith (Texas Southern)
Karissa Fenwick (Arkansas Pine Bluff)
Defender
Mercedes Padilla (Alabama State)
Brittany Terry (Grambling State)
Brianna Norwood (Texas Southern)
Goalkeeper
Gianna Guyot (Alabama State)
Second Team All-SWAC
Forward
Jasmine Smith (Grambling State)
Ayanna Gooden (Alabama A&M)
Aleeya Sawyer (Howard)
Midfielder
Iris Torres (Alabama A&M)
Stephany Adomako (Mississippi Valley State)
Shyann Cordova (Alabama State)
Rebecca Holmes (Arkansas Pine Bluff
Defender
Kendall Hamilton (Howard)
Haileigh Adams (Grambling State)
Alex Fields (Prairie View A&M)
Goalkeeper
Jodi Medina (Alabama A&M)
Predicted Order of Finish
School (Points)
1. Alabama State (168)
2. Grambling State (145)
3. Howard (142)
4. Texas Southern (129)
5. Prairie View A&M (96)
6. Alabama A&M (74)
7. Mississippi Valley State (72)
8. Jackson State (67)
9. Alcorn State (57)
10. Arkansas Pine Bluff (54)
11. Southern (52)