BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) announced the 2017 Preseason All-SWAC Soccer teams and individual honors on Monday. Accolades were voted on by the league's Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors.
Texas Southern's Paige Hayward and Kayla Smith were both named to the All-SWAC Second Team at forward and midfielder respectively.
Howard was picked to win the regular season title in the predicted order of finish with 217 points, Alabama State (204 points) was projected to finish second, while Texas Southern (163 points) was predicted to finish third, followed by Arkansas Pine Bluff (156 points), Mississippi Valley State (131 points), Prairie View A&M (127 points) and Jackson State (122 points).
Southern (83 points), Alabama A&M (71 points), Grambling State (62 points) and Alcorn State (50 points) rounded out the standings.
The entire 2017 SWAC Preseason Awards and teams are listed below.
Preseason Co-Offensive Players of the Year
Ariela Lewis (Alabama State)
Laadi Issaka (Mississippi Valley State)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Kendall Hamilton (Howard)
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Gabrielle Emilien (Howard)
First Team All-SWAC
Forwards
Ariela Lewis (Alabama State)
Kela Gray (Howard)
Rita Okoro (Alcorn State)
Midfielders
Laadi Issaka (Mississippi Valley State)
Lexi Krieger (Alabama State)
Mila Bustos (Prairie View A&M)
Noelle McCullom (Howard)
Defenders
Mariah Johnson (Arkansas Pine Bluff)
Kendall Hamilton (Howard)
Marley Christian (Howard)
Goalkeeper
Gabrielle Emilien (Howard)
Second Team All-SWAC
Forwards
Sophia Zavala (Southern)
Paige Hayward (Texas Southern)
Karissa Fenwick (Arkansas Pine Bluff)
Midfielders
Inma Martinez (Alabama State)
Hollie Cartwright (Howard)
Whitney White (Howard)
Kayla Smith (Texas Southern)
Defenders
Alanna Manning (Alabama State)
Mercedes Padilla (Alabama State)
Ana Silverio (Arkansas Pine Bluff)
Goalkeeper
Gianna Guyot (Alabama State)
Predicted Order Of Finish Points
Howard 217
Alabama State 204
Texas Southern 163
Arkansas Pine Bluff 156
Mississippi Valley State 131
Prairie View A&M 127
Jackson State 122
Southern 83
Alabama A&M 71
Grambling State 62
Alcorn State 50
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
Texas Southern's Paige Hayward and Kayla Smith were both named to the All-SWAC Second Team at forward and midfielder respectively.
Howard was picked to win the regular season title in the predicted order of finish with 217 points, Alabama State (204 points) was projected to finish second, while Texas Southern (163 points) was predicted to finish third, followed by Arkansas Pine Bluff (156 points), Mississippi Valley State (131 points), Prairie View A&M (127 points) and Jackson State (122 points).
Southern (83 points), Alabama A&M (71 points), Grambling State (62 points) and Alcorn State (50 points) rounded out the standings.
The entire 2017 SWAC Preseason Awards and teams are listed below.
Preseason Co-Offensive Players of the Year
Ariela Lewis (Alabama State)
Laadi Issaka (Mississippi Valley State)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Kendall Hamilton (Howard)
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Gabrielle Emilien (Howard)
First Team All-SWAC
Forwards
Ariela Lewis (Alabama State)
Kela Gray (Howard)
Rita Okoro (Alcorn State)
Midfielders
Laadi Issaka (Mississippi Valley State)
Lexi Krieger (Alabama State)
Mila Bustos (Prairie View A&M)
Noelle McCullom (Howard)
Defenders
Mariah Johnson (Arkansas Pine Bluff)
Kendall Hamilton (Howard)
Marley Christian (Howard)
Goalkeeper
Gabrielle Emilien (Howard)
Second Team All-SWAC
Forwards
Sophia Zavala (Southern)
Paige Hayward (Texas Southern)
Karissa Fenwick (Arkansas Pine Bluff)
Midfielders
Inma Martinez (Alabama State)
Hollie Cartwright (Howard)
Whitney White (Howard)
Kayla Smith (Texas Southern)
Defenders
Alanna Manning (Alabama State)
Mercedes Padilla (Alabama State)
Ana Silverio (Arkansas Pine Bluff)
Goalkeeper
Gianna Guyot (Alabama State)
Predicted Order Of Finish Points
Howard 217
Alabama State 204
Texas Southern 163
Arkansas Pine Bluff 156
Mississippi Valley State 131
Prairie View A&M 127
Jackson State 122
Southern 83
Alabama A&M 71
Grambling State 62
Alcorn State 50
Courtesy: TSU Athletics