Texas A&M-Commerce’s Sophie Haywood was named the Lone Star Conference Academic Player of the Year as conference officials announced the women’s soccer academic awards during the LSC Championship banquet on Thursday.
Haywood, a human performance major, has started all 18 games for the Lions. The senior forward ranks second in the league in goals (10) and points (24).
The All-Academic team is chosen by the league’s sports information directors, who select players on the basis of both athletic and academic achievement. To be eligible for LSC academic honors, student-athletes must have played in at least 50 percent of team’s contests, reached sophomore athletic and academic standing (true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are not eligible), completed at least one full academic year at the nominating institution, and have a minimum 3.30 cumulative grade point average based on the 4.0 system for their entire collegiate career.
Joining Haywood on the 11-member team were teammates Michelle Kotlik and Caitlin Duty. Texas Woman's added Chelsea Martin, while West Texas A&M was represented by Marlene van Mourik and Courtney Dippel. Angelo State’s Callie Smith, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Ally Warren, and Loni Byers, and Eastern New Mexico’s Kenya Brooke completed the team.
Duty, Martin, and Dippel were repeat selections to the team.
2017 LSC WOMEN’S SOCCER ALL-ACADEMIC AWARDS
| Player |
Team |
Year |
Pos. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Sophie Haywood |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
Sr. |
F |
Human Performance |
Hull, England |
| Michelle Kotlik |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
So. |
M |
Sociology & Criminal Justice |
Grapevine, Texas |
| Caitlin Duty |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
Jr. |
GK |
Human Performance |
Crandall, Texas |
| Chelsea Martin |
Texas Woman's |
Sr. |
M |
Child Development |
The Colony, Texas |
| Marlene van Mourik |
West Texas A&M |
So. |
M |
Management |
Hovborg, Denmark |
| Courtney Dippel |
West Texas A&M |
Jr. |
GK |
Sports & Exercise Science |
Belton, Texas |
| Kenya Brooke |
Eastern New Mexico |
So. |
D |
Undeclared |
Aukland, New Zealand |
| Callie Smith |
Angelo State |
Sr. |
D |
Exercise Science |
Round Rock, Texas |
| Elizabeth Rodriguez |
Angelo State |
Sr. |
MF |
Biology |
Arlington, Texas |
| Ally Warren |
Angelo State |
So. |
F |
Pre-Nursing |
Sasche, Texas |
| Loni Byers |
Angelo State |
Sr. |
MF |
Finance |
Murrieta, California |
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Academic Player of the Year: Sophie Haywood, Texas A&M-Commerce