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WVWC’s Queen and Fowler earn All-Honorable Mention MEC women’s soccer honors

BRIDGEPORT – The Mountain East Conference announced Friday morning its women’s soccer all-conference teams and major award winners following a vote of the league’s head coaches.

Concord’s Sydney Tucker was named the MEC Offensive Player of the Year. The 5-foot-7 senior forward from Raleigh, North Carolina, emerged in 2023 and followed up that strong campaign with a season worthy of top honors this year. Tucker has scored 16 goals in 18 games this season, which leads the MEC and is tied for fourth nationally.

Frostburg State’s Cat Smith was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. The 2023 D2CCA All-Region selection earned three Player of the Week honors this season — one each in September, October, and November. The Bobcats’ back line has surrendered only 10 goals this season, which is the best in the MEC and ranks in the Top 25 nationally.

Sara Parìs Filter of West Virginia State is the Freshman of the Year. She is one of six MEC players who have scored double-digit goals this season (10 in 18 appearances), which is tied for fourth in the conference. League coaches also voted her on the MEC all-conference second team and all-freshman team.

Sarah Leiby is the MEC Coach of the Year after leading the University of Charleston to the South Division title. UC is 14-4 overall and 13-2 in league play this season. Leiby was named the Golden Eagles’ head coach in March.

West Virginia Wesleyan’s Maggie Queen and Abby Fowler earned Honorable Mention honors.

The 2024 MEC All-Conference Teams are listed below.

2024 All-MEC First Team
Pos.NameCl.School
GKKatie Sterne            Sr.Frostburg State
FJuliette LucasSo.Charleston
FSydney TuckerSr.Concord
FSandra LinaresSr.West Virginia State
FSerenity ThomasSo.Fairmont State
MLina JaimeSr.Charleston
MMarika SvenssonFr.Concord
MCarly GilletteJr.Frostburg State
MMary DiFonzoSr.Wheeling
DIda MarhaugFr.Charleston
DLeah FlemingSr.Concord
DCat SmithSr.Frostburg State
DMaxima BellscheidtSr.West Virginia State
2024 All-MEC Second Team
Pos.NameCl.School
GKLaura Galindo    Sr.West Virginia State
FCaitlin WebsterJr.Concord
FSara Parìs FilterFr.West Virginia State
FLily HannaFr.Wheeling
MMichelle WengerSo.Charleston
MTiana CampbellFr.Concord
MAshley RainhoSr.Fairmont State
MKarissa VelaSr.West Virginia State
MAika TobaruJr.West Virginia State
DHannah GoesSo.Charleston
DFilippa StahlhammarSr.Fairmont State
DMei HommanSr.Frostburg State
DAlba ClosaSr.West Virginia State
2024 All-MEC Honorable Mention
GK: Jordan Maynard (UC)

F: Madi Allen (FROST), Vanessa Vazquez (PPU), Leila Karam (WVSU), Maggie Queen (WVWC)

M: Braylyn Sparks (FAIR), Marcelle Stoller (GSU)

D: Ella Rowell (CU), Mackenzie Hendrick (GSU), Abby Fowler (WVWC)
2024 All-MEC Freshman Team
Pos.NameSchool
DIda MarhaugCharleston
MMarika SvenssonConcord
FSam YuenFairmont State
FSara Paris FilterWest Virginia State
FLily HannaWheeling
Offensive Player of the Year: Sydney Tucker (Concord)
Defensive Player of the Year: Cat Smith (Frostburg State)
Freshman of the Year: Sara Parìs Filter (West Virginia State)
Coach of the Year: Sarah Leiby (Charleston)

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