Women's Soccer 10/31/2019 3:57:00 PM

SIX PLAYERS TABBED WITH ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS; KAYLA THOMAS NAMED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Six student-athletes from the Radford women's soccer team were tabbed with all-conference honors and were led by Kayla Thomas, who was named the Big South Defensive Player of the Year the conference announced on Thursday.

Along with Thomas' player of the year honors, she was also one of the three players to be named First Team All-Conference. Nelia Perez and Gabi Paupst were the other two that made an appearance on the team. Brianna Oliver and Courtenay Kaplan were named Second Team All-Conference, while Natacha Rangel-Ribiero garnered All-Academic Team honors.

After recording 15 matches with 90 minutes of gameplay on the defensive end, it's no surprise that Kayla Thomas is the 2019 Big South Defensive Player of the Year. She had a stellar year that started off with a bang on Aug. 26^th after being named Big South Defensive Player of the Week.

The Rolleston, New Zealand native has also helped the Highlanders to 10 shutouts this season, including three of the last four matches. She has also contributed on the offensive end scoring a goal and tallying two assists in the first two matches of the season, for a total of four points. Thomas becomes the first Defensive Player of the Year from Radford since Che' Brown was honored in 2013.

Nelia Perez was one of the Highlanders best offensive players in the regular season after notching 10 goals and four assists totaling for 24 points, ranking third in the conference. Her 10 goals were also third best in the league as well. The 10 goals and 24 points led the team – five of her goals were game-winners. Those numbers led her to a spot on the First Team for the second consecutive season.

Right behind her and the leading goal-scorer for most of the season was junior Gabi Paupst. The Grimsby, Ontario, Canada native totaled eight goals in 16 matches on 51 shots. Paupst also notched three game-winning goals and chipped in three assists. She also led the team with three multi-goal performances, which helped her become a First-Team selection.

Setting Perez and Paupst up for scores was the junior transfer Brianna Oliver, who landed on the Second Team. She's tied for the team with five assists and added three goals to her statline. The midfielder knew her role and ran the offense perfectly helping the team to 13 wins. She only took 23 shots all season long and landed 10 of those on frame. The Woodbridge, Va., was efficient with her goals as two of the three were game-winners.

A solid goalkeeper added into the mix makes for a great team and Courtenay Kaplan was that indeed. She's on the Second Team All-Conference for the second time in as many years. With only nine goals scored on 140 shots faced, the numbers speak for themselves why she was in goal for five solo shutouts. She came away with 61 saves, which ranks inside the top 10. She leads the league with 0.64 goals against average.

Natacha Rangel-Ribiero rounds out the all-conference selections with a spot on the All-Academic Team. She currently has a 3.95 cumulative GPA as a Chemistry major. The senior contributed in the classroom and on the field totaling 87 minutes with one start.

The Highlanders will defend home turf on Saturday as they welcome Commonwealth foe Longwood for a Big South Tournament Quarterfinal match at 7 p.m.

2019 Big South Conference Women's Soccer Award Winners

First-Team All-Conference
F: Alexa Genas, Sr., Campbell
F: Nelia Perez, Sr., Radford
F: Maddie Turlington, Soph., Gardner-Webb
F: Natalie Royaards, Sr., Winthrop
MF: Stina Kleppe, Sr., Gardner-Webb
MF: Katie Lockwood, Sr., Campbell
MF: Chloe Le Franc, Jr., High Point
MF: Gabi Paupst, Jr., Radford
D: Kayla Thomas, Soph., Radford
D: Keegan Bragg, Fr., High Point
D: Taylor Alvey, Sr., Longwood
D: Dylan Patterson, Sr., Winthrop
GK: Talia Klimes, Sr., High Point

Second-Team All-Conference
F: Morgan Hutchison, Jr., Presbyterian College
F: Sam Gerhart, Fr., High Point
F: Rosie O'Neal, Sr., Campbell
F: Emma Schossler, Fr., High Point
MF: Juliette Vidal, Jr., High Point
MF: Gabi Hull, Sr., Winthrop
MF: Madison Lockamy, Jr., Longwood
MF: Brianna Oliver, Jr., Radford
D: Callie Beckwith, Sr., Campbell
D: Carrie Reaver, Jr., Longwood
D: Keeley Leising, Sr., Winthrop
D: Delaney Baumbick, Fr., Campbell
GK: Courtenay Kaplan, Sr., Radford

Honorable Mention All-Conference
F: Kennedy Culbreath, Jr., Longwood
F: Jada Newton, Soph., Gardner-Webb
F: Zari Hayes, Fr., Charleston Southern
F: Jessica Donald, Soph., Campbell
MF: Carsyn Gold, Soph., High Point
MF: Gillian Oyos, Soph., UNC Asheville
MF: Elyssa Nowowieski, Fr., Campbell
MF: Dakota Feidler, Soph., Charleston Southern
D: Kristen Bane, Jr., Presbyterian College
D: Jaasiel Forde, Soph., Gardner-Webb
D: Kylie Ameres, Sr., Gardner-Webb
D: Grace Sloan, Soph., UNC Asheville
GK: Madison Van Dyke, Jr., Longwood

All-Academic Team
Jessica Donald, F, Soph., Campbell
Juliana Barbaccia, D, Jr., Charleston Southern
Stina Kleppe, MF, Sr., Gardner-Webb
Isobel Finnegan, MF, Jr., Hampton
Talia Klimes, GK, Sr., High Point
Carrie Reaver, D, Jr., Longwood
Preston Robinette, MF, Jr., Presbyterian College
Natacha Rangel-Ribiero, MF, Sr., Radford
Grace Kwiatkowski, D, Jr., UNC Asheville
Emma Honis, F, Sr., USC Upstate
Keeley Leising, D, Sr., Winthrop

Attacking Player of the Year
Alexa Genas, F., Sr., Campbell

Defensive Player of the Year
Kayla Thomas, D, Sr., Radford

Freshman of the Year
Sam Gerhart, F, Fr., High Point

Coach of the Year
Brandi Fontaine, High Point

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Carrie Reaver, D, Jr., Longwood

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Players Mentioned

#99 Che' Brown: GK; 5' 7"; Freshman

#1 Courtenay Kaplan: GK; 5' 6"; Senior; Loudoun 98 Red

#9 Gabi Paupst: MF; 5' 10"; Junior; Toronto Blizzard

#11 Nelia Perez: F; 5' 2"; Senior; Newport News FC, Chesapeake FC, Churchland SL

#22 Natacha Rangel-Ribiero: MF; 5' 1"; Senior; FC Richmond

#18 Kayla Thomas: D; 5' 9"; Sophomore; Waimak United

#15 Brianna Oliver: MF; 5' 3"; Junior; BRYC Elite 98

Players Mentioned

#99 Che' Brown
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: GK

#1 Courtenay Kaplan
: 5' 6"; Senior; Loudoun 98 Red
: GK

#9 Gabi Paupst
: 5' 10"; Junior; Toronto Blizzard
: MF

#11 Nelia Perez
: 5' 2"; Senior; Newport News FC, Chesapeake FC, Churchland SL
: F

#22 Natacha Rangel-Ribiero
: 5' 1"; Senior; FC Richmond
: MF

#18 Kayla Thomas
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; Waimak United
: D

#15 Brianna Oliver
: 5' 3"; Junior; BRYC Elite 98
: MF

Radford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned