Howard Picked to Win 2015 SWAC Women's Soccer Title

Courtesy: Sam Peshek SWAC.org Release: 08/10/2015

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced the 2015 Preseason All-SWAC Women’s Soccer Teams and predicted order of finish, as voted on by the league coaches and sport information directors.
For the second consecutive season, Alabama State University’s Aaliyah Lewis claimed Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Last season, Lewis managed first-place positions for the Conference in seven different categories including points (45), goals per game (.84) and assists (11) - earning her the Offensive Player of the Year title. She remains ASU’s all-time scorer in a season (18) – a honor she received as a freshman in 2013 – and holds the school record for most total points in a season (45).
Lewis was also named to the Preseason All-SWAC First Team. Five other Hornets joined her with preseason awards including twin sister Ariela Lewis.
Prairie View A&M University secured a presence during the preseason as Breanna Powell was voted Defensive Player of the Year and added to the All-SWAC First Team. Powell started in 20 games last season, scoring one goal with four assists for six points. She led a defense that recorded seven shutouts.
The Panthers went on to capture one more All-SWAC First Team position and two All-SWAC Second Team spots. PVAMU was voted to finish fourth in the SWAC.
Rita Gyasi of Mississippi Valley State University managed the Preseason Goalie of the Year accolade after finishing the 2014 season with 86 saves (.835 save percentage) and four shutouts. Gyasi also enters her sophomore year as a Preseason All-SWAC First Teamer. Two additional Devilettes received preseason recognition – one on the first team and one on the second team.
In its second year with the SWAC, Howard University is predicted to finish first in the Conference with 154 points. Jackson State University was voted second with 130 tallies, followed by ASU with 129 points.
The entire predicted order of finish is listed below as well as the complete lists of first and second teamers.

School	Points
Howard	154
Jackson State	130
Alabama State	129
Prairie View A&M	115
Texas Southern	106
Mississippi Valley State	96
Southern	81
Alabama A&M	74
Arkansas-Pine Bluff	48
Grambling State	42
Alcorn State	15

Offensive Player of the Year
Aaliyah Lewis	Alabama State
Defensive Player of the Year
Breanna Powell	Prairie View A&M
Goalie of the Year
Rita Gyasi	Mississippi Valley
First Team					Second Team
Forward					Forward
Alicia Cooper	Prairie View A&M				Estelle Esperance	Alabama A&M
Aaliyah Lewis	Alabama State				Heather Craddock	Mississippi Valley
Nykosi Simmons	Mississippi Valley				Kayla Edwards	Alabama State
Midfielder					Midfielder
Jalana Ellis		Jackson State			Ariela Lewis	Alabama State
Shelbi Vienna-Hallam		Alabama State			Kara Ballard*	Prairie View A&M
Marlyn Campa		Texas Southern			Sie'Yara Wells*	Jackson State
Sara Vaughan*		Howard			Khalisha Bond*	Prairie View A&M
Dytria Ruddy*		Howard			Kaedi Walther*	Alabama State
Defender					Defender
Breanna Powell	Prairie View A&M				Emily Ziolkowski	Alabama State
Rayana Speight	Jackson State				Shelby Carbon	Southern
Makayla Johnson	Texas Southern				Erica Cozart*	Texas Southern
					Kyleigh Io*	Jackson State
Goalie					Goalie
Rita Gyasi	Mississippi Valley				Kylie Christian	Jackson State

(* Indicates a tie)