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| Aaliyah Lewis (Photo by David Campbell/Alabama State Univesity) |
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 Lewis | Alabama State |
| Defensive Player of the Year | |
| Debbie Arguelles | Prairie View A&M |
FIRST TEAM
| Forwards | |
| Aaliyah Lewis | Alabama State |
| Estelle Esperance | Alabama A&M |
| Alexandria Cannon | Alabama State |
| Midfielders | |
| Jalana Ellis | Jackson State |
| Ariela Lewis | Alabama State |
| Hailey Beekman | Mississippi Valley State |
| Nykosi Simmons | Mississippi Valley State |
| Defenders | |
| Rayana Speight | Jackson State |
| Andrea Chacon | Alabama A&M |
| Iita Pienimaki | Alabama State |
| Goalkeeper | |
| Kylee Hathaway | Alabama State |
SECOND TEAM
| Forwards | |
| Eroncia Berry | Jackson State |
| Kimberlie Hernandez | Jackson State |
| Jami Blackston | Southern |
| Midfielders | |
| Ana Huetas | Alabama A&M |
| Josee Primeau | Mississippi Valley State |
| Celene Batrez | Prairie View A&M |
| Marlyn Campa | Texas Southern |
| Defenders | |
| Kyleigh Lo | Jackson State |
| Debbie Arguelles | Prairie View A&M |
| Shelby Carbin | Southern |
| Goalkeeper | |
| Alyssa Cobbs | Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
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