Lion Soccer selected to finish second in the Southland, seven named to preseason all-SLC - Texas A&M University-Commerce Athletics (2024)

Soccer 8/9/2024 10:00:00 AM

FRISCO – The Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team is predicted to repeat history in 2024, being picked to finish second in the preseason Southland Conference poll, while seven Lions are named to preseason all-conference teams.

The Lions, who are coming off a second-place finish in the conference a year ago, received 177 points as well as two first-place votes to be selected to finish second in the preseason poll, while two-time defending conference champion Lamar is picked to three-peat with 200 points and 20 first-place votes.

The Southland Conference preseason poll is voted on by the coaches and sports information directors, who cannot vote for their own teams.

The preseason all-conference teams were also announced on Friday morning. For the Lions, defenders Nya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn) and Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Rider), midfielder Camila Montero (Houston – Langham Creek), and forwards Hannah Bell (Duncanville) and Kaydence Ramirez (Waxahachie) are named to the first team.

Midfielder Melissa Storey (Tyne and Wear, England) and forward Mya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn) are named to the second team.

The seven preseason all-conference honorees for the Lions in 2024 are the most for any team in the conference. The SLC preseason all-conference teams are voted on by the coaches, who cannot vote for their own players.

Nya Mitchell enters her junior season after playing all but three minutes in conference play with the Lions recording three shutouts in conference play and four overall last year. She was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Week once. She has been an all-conference honoree in each of her first two seasons as a Lion.

Montero was second in the conference in assists during conference play, appearing in and starting every match during conference play last season. She was part of the unit that was second in the conference in goals scored and finished conference play 10th overall in points.

Bell was named the conference's Freshman of the Year and Forward of the Year last year. In her freshman season, she totaled nine goals, which was second in the conference, four match-winning goals, and recorded 19 points, which was tied for third in the conference. She had a scoring streak of six matches as well.

Ramirez joined the Lions prior to last season for her redshirt freshman season and was named the SLC Newcomer of the Year. She finished the regular season leading the Southland in goals (10), points (24), and shots (69). She had a scoring streak of seven matches during conference play and had two multi-goal matches.

This season marks the fifth season in the blue and gold for Shoffit, who played the full 90 minutes in two of the four shutouts for the Lions. Her throw-in efforts were impactful throughout the season as she added five assists during conference play, which was second in conference play, and scored a goal as well. Shoffit has been named to the all-conference team twice in her career.

Storey is going into her graduate season after earning second team all-conference honors a year ago. She finished conference play being ranked seventh in assists (3), match-winning goals (1), and points (7). Storey appeared in 16 matches in the midfield for the Lions and was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Week once.

Mya Mitchell was sidelined due to injury after four matches last season. In 2022, she started 19 matches, scoring eight goals and tallied four assists during conference play, which was tops in the SLC. She also had a streak of scoring a goal in six straight matches, which was the second longest streak in NCAA Division I at the time.

2024 Southland Conference Preseason Soccer Poll
1. Lamar – 200 (20)
2. A&M-Commerce – 177 (2)
3. McNeese – 147
4. Northwestern State – 130
5. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – 112
6. Southeastern – 105
7. SFA – 98
8. HCU – 81
9. UTRGV – 67
10. UIW – 63
11. Nicholls – 30

2024 Southland Conference Preseason All-Conference Team
First Team
GK – Jackie Kelley, McNeese
D – Arely Alaniz, Lamar
D – Nya Mitchell, A&M-Commerce
D – Morgan Schooley, McNeese
D – Mindy Shoffit, A&M-Commerce
MF – Alana Clark, Lamar
MF – Kaile Kukaua, McNeese
MF – Camila Montero, A&M-Commerce
MF – Alexa Huerta, HCU
MF – Trinity Clark, Lamar
F – Isela Ramirez, Lamar
F – Hannah Bell, A&M-Commerce
F – Kaydence Ramirez, A&M-Commerce
F – Olivia Rossman, HCU

Second Team
GK – Erica Defferding, UIW
D – Caragan Childs, Lamar
D – Jessica Spitzer, Northwestern State
D – Caroline Hilliard, Northwestern State
D – Emma Crump, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
MF – Melissa Storey, A&M-Commerce
MF – Andre Lauren, Nicholls
MF – Rachel Loetzer, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
MF – Emily Senatore, Northwestern State
F – Sierra Wannamkaer, UIW
F – Taylor Spitzer, Northwestern State
F – Mya Mitchell, A&M-Commerce
F – Emily Jaimes, HCU

-TAMUC-