SoCon Women's Soccer Postseason Honors Announced

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford forward Sam De Luca has been named the Southern Conference Player of the Year and Western Carolina midfielder Ava Robitaille was named SoCon Defensive Player of the Year. The Bulldogs’ head coach, Todd Yelton, was named SoCon Coach of the Year after his squad captured the outright SoCon regular-season title. Chattanooga forward Quinn Johnson was tabbed SoCon Freshman of the Year.

The league coaches voted on a pair of all-conference teams, an all-freshman team and the four individual awards. They were not allowed to vote for themselves or their own players. The first and second teams each include 11 players, selected by position. Due to a tie in the voting, the second team has an additional midfielder, forward, defender and goalkeeper. The all-freshman team also consists of 11 players, but gives no regard to position.

Samford and Western Carolina each had six players on the all-conference teams, sharing the lead for the most selections. ETSU followed with five selections, while Chattanooga had four and Furman brought in three. UNCG had two players on the all-conference teams.

De Luca scored a conference-best 28 points this season, with 21 of those coming in SoCon contests. The junior from Little Rock, Arkansas, also tied for the league lead in goals (9) during conference competition. De Luca, who was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 14, after logging a hat trick against VMI on Oct. 10. She began the conference season with at least one goal in four straight matches, including a pair of goals versus The Citadel on Oct. 2. De Luca is third Samford player to win SoCon Player of the Year, joining 2009 winner Amber Cress and 2016 and 2017 winner Jermaine Seoposenwe.

Robitaille anchored the Western Carolina defense that gave up just seven goals during SoCon play. The native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, started all 18 matches for the Catamounts and helped contribute to the team’s offensive attack with four goals, one being a game winner, and two assists. The junior led a defense that had eight shutouts, which included four straight during conference play. Robitaille, who is the only Western Carolina player to be named SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, won the honor for the second consecutive season.

Johnson started six of the squad’s nine conference matches. The product of Vancouver, British Columbia, finished the season with 12 points, 11 coming in the team’s final six contests. She was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 21, after scoring three goals over two games against Furman and VMI. Johnson is the second Moc to be named SoCon Freshman of the Year, with Chloe Arnold being the other recipient back in 2017.

Yelton, in his 24th season at the helm of the Bulldogs, earns coach of the year honors for the seventh time in his career. Samford finished 10-2-5 overall and 7-0-2 in league play. The Bulldogs have not suffered a defeat in their last 14 outings, with the team’s last setback coming on Aug. 24 versus Alabama. Samford secured its first outright regular-season title since 2021 with a 2-1 win at UNCG on Oct. 26, leading the squad to the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.

Five of the six Western Carolina players who were on the all-conference teams were first-team picks. Samford had three on the first team, ETSU had two and Chattanooga finished with one selection. Robitaille was joined by forward Isabella DeMarco, defenders Mary Mueth and Abbie Wise, and goalkeeper Leanne Trudel. For the second straight season, Robitaille, DeMarco and Trudel all made the first team, with DeMarco making the squad for the fourth time in her Catamount career.

Samford was represented by De Luca, midfielder Sarah Holland and defender Caroline Smith on the first team. ETSU first-team selections were forward Reagan Fitzgerald and midfielder Garce Eatz. Chattanooga’s Caroline Richvalsky rounded out the first team.

ETSU, Furman, Samford and Chattanooga all had three selections on the second team. UNCG had two, while Western Carolina placed one on the second team. The Bucs placed defenders Georgia Shields and Ella Parker and goalkeeper Addison Yelton on the squad. The Paladins saw forward Norah Roller, midfielder Maddie Massie and defender Ellie Herrmann make the second team.

The three spots on the second team for the Bulldogs were claimed by forward Mamie Carman, midfielder Fleming Dean and goalkeeper Peyton Hull. Johnson along with teammates, midfielder Clarissa Salinas and defender Brenna Swiger, represented the Mocs on the squad. UNCG midfielders Taylor Mentzer and Rina Ogimoto, and Western Carolina defender Milla Syska completed the second team selections.

ETSU, Mercer and Chattanooga all placed two players on the all-freshman team. The Citadel, Furman, Samford, Western Carolina and Wofford each had one represented.

Four quarterfinal games highlight Friday’s Southern Conference Women’s Soccer Championship slate as No. 1 seed Samford hosts No. 8 Wofford at 4 p.m. CT ahead of a 7 p.m. CT game between No. 5 Furman and No. 4 Chattanooga. No. 2 Western Carolina hosts No. 7 UNCG at 7 p.m. after No. 3 ETSU and No. 6 Mercer take the field at 4 p.m. The semifinals will be played on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Samford and Western Carolina, with the championship scheduled for Nov. 8 or 9 at the highest remaining seed. All contests will air on ESPN+.

2025 Women's Soccer All-Conference Team
  
Player of the Year – Sam De Luca, Jr., F, Samford
Defensive Player of the Year – Ava Robitaille, Sr., M, Western Carolina
Coach of the Year – Todd Yelton, Samford
Freshman of the Year – Quinn Johnson, F, Chattanooga
 
First Team
F – Reagan Fitzgerald, ETSU

F – Sam De Luca, Samford

F – Caroline Richvalsky, Chattanooga

F – Isabella DeMarco, Western Carolina

M – Grace Eatz, ETSU

M – Sarah Holland, Samford

M – Ava Robitaille, Western Carolina

D – Caroline Smith, Samford

D – Mary Mueth, Western Carolina

D – Abbie Wise, Western Carolina

GK – Leanne Trudel, Western Carolina
 
Second Team
F – Norah Roller, Furman

F – Mamie Carman, Samford

F – Quinn Johnson, Chattanooga

F – Milla Syska, Western Carolina

M – Maddie Massie, Furman

M – Taylor Mentzer, UNCG

M – Rina Ogimoto, UNCG

M – Fleming Dean, Samford

M – Clarissa Salinas, Chattanooga

D – Georgia Shields, ETSU

D – Ella Parker, ETSU

D – Ellie Herrmann, Furman

D – Brenna Swiger, Chattanooga

GK – Addison Yelton, ETSU

GK – Peyton Hull, Samford

All-Freshman Team
Gabi Macer, The Citadel

Ainsley Parker, ETSU

Caroline Wawak, ETSU

Jessica Mattson, Furman

Kelsie Henton, Mercer

Payton Nutzman, Mercer

Mamie Carman, Samford

Quinn Johnson, Chattanooga

Reese Wilson, Chattanooga

Addison Davis, Western Carolina

Julia Grier, Wofford