The South Atlantic Conference Announces Women's Soccer Annual Awards

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSac.com) – Carson-Newman forward Julianne Herrity was voted the 2015 South Atlantic Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Year, while teammate Varin Ness was voted the Conference's Freshman of the Year.  In addition, Carson-Newman mentor Richard Moodie was tabbed the Coach of the Year, the League announced today.

Herrity, a junior from Donegal, Ireland, finished the season as one of the nation's top scorers as she closed the regular season ranked No. 22 in the nation with 14 total goals.  She found the back of the net for six game-winning goals on the year to rank No. 9 in Division II.  Herrity averaged 2.0 points per game to rank No. 21 in the nation, while her 30 total points during the 2015 campaign was good for No. 31 in the country.  Herrity turned in four multi-goal games this season and was tabbed the Astroturf Player of the Week a League-high three times.  The award marked Carson-Newman's first women's soccer Player of the Year since the 2006 season.

Ness, a midfielder from Sognal, Norway, started 14 games for the Eagles during the 2015 season and pounded in 10 goals for the blue and orange.  She notched four assists in 2015 and finished the regular season with 24 points.  Ness scored three game-winning goals this season to go along with a pair of multi-goal outings.  She saw action in 15 of the Eagles' 17 matches this season as she became Carson-Newman's first Freshman of the Year since the 2008 campaign.

Moodie earns his first-ever Coach of the Year honor after leading the Eagles to their first Regular Season Championship since the 2010 season.  The Eagles are currently ranked No. 15 in the nation by the Nation Soccer Coach's Association of America and boast one the nation's most prolific offenses.  The Eagles are No. 16 in Division II with 7.71 points per game and are No. 18 in the country with 2.82 goals per game.  Carson-Newman also ranks No. 20 in the country with 48 total goals and 131 total points.

Idoia Agirre of Anderson and Lenoir-Rhyne's Leah Mullins and Garcelle Alequine joined Herrity on the list of first-team forwards.  Emmi Dunn of Lenoir-Rhyne, Wingate's Kaitlyn Brusnworth, and Heida Ragney and Ness of Carson-Newman were tabbed the first-team midfielders.

On the defensive side, Macy Franklin of Wingate, Mariah Lewis from Queens and Lenoir-Rhyne's Amber Madriage and Brianna Belsky were tabbed the first-team defenders.  Wingate's Alexis Jones was voted the League's first-team goalkeeper.

First Team All-Conference
F – Julianne Herrity, Carson-Newman
F – Idoia Agirre, Anderson
F – Leah Mullins, Lenoir-Rhyne
F – Garcelle Alequine, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Emmi Dunn, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Kaitlyn Brunworth, Wingate
MF – Varin Ness, Carson-Newman
MF – Heida Ragney, Carson-Newman
D – Macy Franklin, Wingate
D – Amber Madriaga, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Brianna Belsky, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Mariah Lewis, Queens
GK – Alexis Jones, Wingate

Soccer Player of the Year
Julianne Herrity, F, Carson-Newman 

Freshman of the Year
Varin Ness, Carson-Newman

2015 Women's Soccer Statistical Champions
Goals per Match: Idoia Agirre, Anderson (1.18)
Points per Match: Idoia Agirre, Anderson (2.76)
Assists per Match: Heida Ragney, Carson-Newman (0.47)
Goals Against Average: Alexis Jones, Wingate (0.256)
Save Percentage: Alexis Jones, Wingate (0.918)
Shutouts: Alexis Jones, Wingate (8)
Team Points per Match: Anderson (8.47)
Team Goals per Match: Anderson (3.06)
Team Assists per Match: Anderson (2.35)
Team Shutouts: Lenoir-Rhyne/Wingate (10)
Team Goals Against Average: Wingate (0.355)
Team Winning Percentage: Carson-Newman (.882)
Fair Play Award: Coker