Friday, August 8, 2014

Aaliyah Lewis and Alabama State Favorites to Win SWAC Women's Soccer Title in 2014

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.
Aaliyah Lewis (Photo by David Campbell/Alabama State Univesity)
It's not hard to see why the Alabama State women's soccer team is the favorite of Southwestern Athletic Conference experts to win the conference title this year.

The Lady Hornets account for five of the 11 preseason All-SWAC first team, including the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Aailyah Lewis.

Lewis was last season's Offensive Player of the Year in leading Alabama State to the SWAC's Eastern division title. She led the SWAC in goals, points and shots per game. She was the spur for a squad that topped the conference in every offensive category.   But the Lady Hornets fell one game short, losing to SWAC champ Jackson State, the squad predicted to finish second this season.

"We want to pick up where we left off," Alabama State coach Jodie Smith told the Montgomery Advertiser. "We had a great season last year.  We left one game out there, the match we really wanted and want to win this year.  We are retiring a lot of talented players."

Jackson State returns midfielder Jalana Ellis, defenders Rayana Speight and Kyleigh Lo, along with forwards Eroncia Berry and Kimberlie Hernandez to remain right in the middle of the SWAC race.

The rest of the predicted top five teams in order are Prairie View A&M (which features preseason Defensive Player of the Year Debbie Arguelles); Southern; and Mississippi Valley State.  Right behind the Delta Devils is Howard, a school that will compete in the SWAC for the first time as the MEAC doesn't offer women's soccer.

Here is the entire predicted order of finish for the SWAC along with the All-Conference squad:

Teams
Pts (First-Place Votes)
Alabama State
153 (7)
Jackson State
146 (3)
Prairie View A&M
120 (3)
Southern
97 (1)
Mississippi Valley State
96
Howard
95
Texas Southern
79
Alabama A&M
68
Arkansas Pine Bluff
60
Grambling State
49
Alcorn State
26
Offensive Player of the Year
Aaliyah LewisAlabama State
   
Defensive Player of the Year
Debbie ArguellesPrairie View A&M

FIRST TEAM
Forwards
Aaliyah LewisAlabama State
Estelle EsperanceAlabama A&M
Alexandria CannonAlabama State
  
Midfielders
Jalana EllisJackson State
Ariela LewisAlabama State
Hailey BeekmanMississippi Valley State
Nykosi SimmonsMississippi Valley State
  
Defenders
Rayana SpeightJackson State
Andrea ChaconAlabama A&M
Iita PienimakiAlabama State
  
Goalkeeper
Kylee HathawayAlabama State

SECOND TEAM
Forwards
Eroncia BerryJackson State
Kimberlie HernandezJackson State
Jami BlackstonSouthern
  
Midfielders
Ana HuetasAlabama A&M
Josee PrimeauMississippi Valley State
Celene BatrezPrairie View A&M
Marlyn CampaTexas Southern
  
Defenders
Kyleigh LoJackson State
Debbie ArguellesPrairie View A&M
Shelby CarbinSouthern
  
Goalkeeper
Alyssa CobbsArkansas-Pine Bluff









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