By: Matt Vines, Assistant Director of Communication
NATCHITOCHES -- Northwestern State forward
Brittany Caserma was selected to the All-Southland Conference Second Team, the league announced Monday.
Caserma scored a career-high eight goals this season, the most for an NSU player since 2009 (Chelsey Gibbs).
The conference's coaches and sports information directors vote on the team's members.
"I'm so happy for Brittany because she plays with a lot of heart and maybe even a little too much emotion," said NSU coach
George Van Linder of his forward that received four yellow cards and a red card this season. "You can always count 100 percent from her on game days.
"She took the next step as a scorer this season, and we're looking for great things from her next year."
Caserma loomed large in the Lady Demons' two conference wins this season. She scored the lone goal Friday in a 1-0 win against Central Arkansas.
The Murrieta, California, native scored two goals in a three-minute span to complete a comeback at Incarnate Word in a 2-1 victory.
Caserma also scored goals against SLC Tournament members McNeese and Sam Houston State after posting a hat trick in the opener against LSU Shreveport.
Through her first three seasons, Caserma has 16 goals, scoring four in each of her first two seasons.
NSU (6-12, 2-9 SLC) has placed at least one player on an All-SLC team in each of the last three seasons, the first time that's happened since 2007-09.
Other Lady Demons to make an all-conference team in that span include forward
Esdeina Gonzalez (2015-16),
Alex Latham (2016, Goalkeeper of the Year), defender
Patry Carrion (2016) and midfielder Cassandra Briscoe (2015).
2017 Southland Conference Soccer All-Conference Teams
Player of the Year: Savannah LaRicci, McNeese
Freshman of the Year: Christina Arteaga, Abilene Christian
Newcomer of the Year: Kelso Peskin, Lamar
Defender of the Year: Gabi D'Alesandro, McNeese
Midfielder of the Year: Hanna Barker, Stephen F. Austin
Forward of the Year: Savannah LaRicci, McNeese
Goalkeeper of the Year: Emma Roccaforte, McNeese
Coach of the Year: Steve Holeman, Lamar
First Team
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| D |
Gabi D'Alesandro2 |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Flower Mound, Texas |
| D |
Stacia Carroll2 |
Central Arkansas |
Sr. |
South Jordan, Utah |
| D |
Marie Lund |
Lamar |
Sr. |
Bergen, Norway |
| MF |
Hanna Barker3 |
Stephen F. Austin |
Sr. |
Farmers Branch, Texas |
| MF |
Christina Arteaga |
Abilene Christian |
Fr. |
Pflugerville, Texas |
| MF |
M.J. Eckart |
Lamar |
Sr. |
Flower Mound, Texas |
| F |
Savannah LaRicci2 |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Sugar Land, Texas |
| F |
Dylan Owens2 |
Abilene Christian |
Jr. |
Willard, Mo. |
| F |
Kelso Peskin |
Lamar |
Jr. |
Cape Town, South Africa |
| GK |
Emma Roccaforte |
McNeese |
Fr. |
Nederland, Texas |
| F* |
Lucy Ashworth |
Lamar |
Fr. |
Wigan, England |
Second Team
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| D |
Baylii Bieke |
Houston Baptist |
Jr. |
Little Elm, Texas |
| D |
Nikki Schaaf |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Cypress, Texas |
| D |
Amelia Fullmer |
Lamar |
Jr. |
Pleasant Grove, Utah |
| MF |
Ellee Hall |
Houston Baptist |
Sr. |
Uintah, Utah |
| MF |
Nola Prickett |
McNeese |
Jr. |
Hemet, Calif. |
| MF |
Alex Moore2 |
Central Arkansas |
Sr. |
Yukon, Okla. |
| F |
Carlota Suarez Crespo |
Sam Houston State |
So. |
Madrid, Spain |
| F |
Brittany Caserma |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Murrieta, Calif. |
| F |
Autumn Wildung |
Houston Baptist |
Jr. |
Cedar Park, Texas |
| GK |
Lauren Lovejoy |
Lamar |
Sr. |
Port Neches, Texas |
| MF* |
Beryl Smith |
Sam Houston State |
Sr. |
The Woodlands, Texas |
* - At-large selection
2 – Two-time all-conference selection
3 – Three-time all-conference selection
Honorable Mention: Defenders: Kennedy Rose, Stephen F. Austin; Megan Rickert, Houston Baptist; Carli Arthurs, Stephen F. Austin; Kristen Ricks, Central Arkansas; Christina Čutura, Southeastern Louisiana; Michelle Mulrooney, Abilene Christian; Peyton Bucklew, Abilene Christian; Whitney Woodward, Sam Houston State.
Midfielders: Sophia Fondren, Stephen F. Austin; Shay Johnson, Abilene Christian; Casey Basso, Houston Baptist.
Forwards: Ashley Smith, Central Arkansas; Sabriah Spencer, Houston Baptist; Brooke Erdmann, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi; Katelyn Termini, Stephen F. Austin; Havana Johnson, McNeese.
Goalkeepers: Alanis Guevara, Houston Baptist; Lauren Mercuri, Central Arkansas; Allyson Smith, Stephen F. Austin.
