BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its Spring 2021 Soccer postseason honors on Wednesday afternoon. The all-conference teams and individual award winners were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
Grambling State’s Kailey Pena was named Offensive Player of the Year. Alabama State’s Ashley Thomas was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year while fellow teammate Madison Roop was named Goalkeeper of the Year. Jackson State’s Annalise Brunson took home Freshman of the Year to round out the list of individual award winners.
 
Grambling State’s Pena was named first team all-conference and Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league in goals this season while serving as a key contributor for a Lady Tigers team that finished in second place in the league’s final regular season standings. Grambling State led the conference in goals this season and Pena was a significant factor behind that top ranking for GSU.
 
Alabama State’s Thomas was named first team all-conference and Defensive Player of the Year after playing a significant role in helping ASU record four shutouts in conference action this season. She has recorded one assist on the year for the Lady Hornets and has also contributed eight shot attempts with one on goal from her defender position.
 
Alabama State’s Roop was named first all-conference and Goalkeeper of the Year after giving up just three goals in conference play. The freshman recorded a pair of shutouts and combined for two more in her first collegiate season, while logging 702 minutes in goal. She finished the regular season with 35 total plays and finished unbeaten in goal in conference action.
 
Jackson State’s Brunson was named first all-conference and Freshman of the Year after quickly establishing her presence in the Lady Tigers lineup. She led JSU in goals this season. She played in nearly 500 minutes of action on the season and played a key role in helping JSU place third in the SWAC in shots on the season.
 
A complete listing of the all-conference teams and individual award winners is listed below.
 
First Team All-SWAC
Forward: Kailey Pena- Grambling State
Forward: Annalise Brunson- Jackson State
Forward: Iyannah Hicks- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Midfielder: Teaggan Ilela- Alabama State
Midfielder: Mckenna Lupori- Alabama State
Midfielder: Makayla Rushing- Alabama A&M
Midfielder: Haylee O’Leary- Grambling State
Defender: Ashley Thomas- Alabama State
Defender: Andrea Nugent- Prairie View A&M
Defender: D’Sanye Nugent- Prairie View A&M
Goalkeeper: Madison Roop- Alabama State
 
Second Team All-SWAC
Forward: McKenna Wiscombe- Alabama State
Forward: Jameela Barrett- Alabama A&M
Forward: Mireya Gonzales- Alcorn State
Midfielder: Brynn Walker- Jackson State
Midfielder: Paula Burillo-Blasco- Grambling State
Midfielder: Lauren Hermosa- Prairie View A&M
Midfielder: Cameron Rodriquez- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Defender: Mercedes Padilla- Alabama State
Defender: Kamaron Powell- Grambling State
Defender: Megan Howell- Jackson State
Goalkeeper: Jodi Medina- Alabama A&M
 
Offensive Player of the Year
Kailey Pena- Grambling State
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Ashley Thomas- Alabama State
 
Goalkeeper of the Year
Madison Roop-  Alabama State 
 
Freshman of the Year
Annalise Brunson- Jackson State
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.
 
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.

Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.