Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Three Raiders Earn All-Conference, DePriest is Freshman of the Year
10/31/2017 3:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer
IRVING, Texas – Ahead of the postseason tournament, a trio of Blue Raiders received All-Conference USA recognition Tuesday as the conference office announced its superlative award winners and all-conference selections, which are voted on by the league's head coaches.
Freshman forward Peyton DePriest swept up three awards, being named as the C-USA Freshman of the Year as well as earning a spot on the All-Conference Second Team and the All-Freshman Team.
Additionally, junior defender Sydney Navarro was also named to the All-Conference Second Team while senior midfielder Cameron Cox was named to the All-Conference Third Team.
"I am very happy for all three all-CUSA selections for our program," said Head Coach Aston Rhoden. "All three players have worked extremely hard this season and are truly deserving of their awards."
In her freshman campaign, DePriest has been a huge offensive spark for MT. She started every game upfront and leads the squad in goals (13), shots (54), shots on goal (29), points (29) and game winning goals (four). She also currently leads the conference in points and goals and is tied for the nation's lead in goals scored amongst freshman.
"Peyton has been a stellar freshman for us," Rhoden shared. "She has been very consistent with her production as a forward and I'm happy the league's coaches voted her as Freshman of the Year with so many talented young players in our league."
After being named to the All-Conference Third Team in 2016, Navarro jumps up a spot following a dominant backline performance this season. She has started in 48 consecutive games and appeared in 49 straight, dating back to her freshman year.
Navarro also assisted the Blue Raiders offensively this season, recording two goals as she played all but four minutes on the field.
"Sydney has been very consistent all year and it's great for her to be recognized in a league with strong defenders and playing a position that doesn't generate a lot of statistics," Rhoden said.
Cameron Cox caps off a stellar career for the Blue Raider being the team's leader in the midfield. This season she kept the tempo of the game while also distributing balls to her teammates out wide. Cox also picked up her first career assist this season, on the game winning goal in overtime at FIU.
Cox currently has the longest active games streak, having started in the last 61 games and appearing in the last 73.
"Cameron has been a key figure in our midfield this season," said Rhoden. "She's a tireless worker and does a lot of the little things that help our play in the midfield."
DePriest, Navarro, Cox and the rest of the Blue Raiders will face off in the opening round of the C-USA Conference Tournament tomorrow, Wed., Nov. 1 against No. 2 seed North Texas at 3:30pm.
2017 C-USA WOMEN'S SOCCER AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year
Martha Thomas, Charlotte
Midfielder of the Year
Samantha Chaiken, Rice
Defensive Player of the Year
Jackie Stroud, Old Dominion
Goalkeeper of the Year
Maya Hoyer, Rice
Freshman of the Year
Peyton DePriest, Middle Tennessee
Coach of the Year
Nicky Adams, Rice
All-Conference USA First Team
F: Martha Thomas, Charlotte
F: Nia Stallings, Rice
F: Megan Greene, Charlotte
F: Annie Walker, Rice
MF: Samantha Chaiken, Rice
MF: Amy Brewer, UAB
MF: Nomvula Kgoale, Louisiana Tech
D: Jackie Stroud, Old Dominion
D: Dominique James, North Texas
D: Ebba Blomqvist, Florida Atlantic
D: Ola Akinniyi, Southern Miss
GK: Kelsey Daugherty, UAB
All-Conference USA Second Team
F: Peyton DePriest, Middle Tennessee
F: Aaliyah Nolan, North Texas
F: Victoria Bohdan, UTEP
F: Jordan Sackaris, Marshall
MF: Asta Arnadottir, Florida Atlantic
MF: Rachel Green, UAB
MF: Becky McMullan, Southern Miss
MF: Hannah Chua, WKU
D: Haley Laque, Louisiana Tech
D: Sydney Navarro, Middle Tennessee
D: Ashely Seltzer, Marshall
GK: Maya Hoyer, Rice
All-Conference USA Third Team
F: Elisha Holmes, Florida Atlantic
F: Iris Ashterhof, Old Dominion
F: Natalie Johnson, Old Dominion
MF: Nicole Roseland, WKUU
MF: Rebecca Keane, Rice
MF: Kelley Suggs, Charlotte
MF: Cameron Cox, Middle Tennessee
D: Lauren Crenshaw, UTEP
D: Louise Stephens, Rice
D: Audria Wood, UAB
D: Brittnye Lawson, North Texas
GK: Allison Leone, WKU
Conference USA All-Freshman Team
Rebecca Keane, MF, Rice
Miah Zuazua, MF, Southern Miss
Peyton DePriest, F, Middle Tennessee
Victoria Bohdan, F, UTEP
Audria Wood, D, UAB
Carla Morich, MF, Old Dominion
Meredith Hamby, D, Charlotte
Gabi Clark, MF, Louisiana Tech
Abby Stapleton, GK, Charlotte
Tally Bishop, F, WKU
Ashlyn Kitterman, D, Florida Atlantic
Regan Kommor, MF, UAB
Rene Ross, MF, Marshall
Sierra Moss, D, FIU
