By: Jonathon Zenk, Assistant Director of Communications
NATCHITOCHES—Following impressive seasons in 2022, the duo of
Taylor Spitzer and
Caroline Hilliard were named to the Preseason All-Southland Second Conference Team, the conference announced Friday.
Each player was named to the team after narrowly missing the postseason teams in 2022. It is the second consecutive season on the preseason second team for Hilliard.
Spitzer, the team's returning leader in points, tallied 10 points in just 11 games, including scoring four goals as a freshman.
Her four goals were also fourth on the team, despite missing the final six games due to injury. That goal total is the most scored by a freshman since former teammate
Olivia Draguicevich recorded six in 2019.
Spitzer scored one of the biggest goals of the year last season, finding the back of the net in the 82
nd minute to salvage a tie on the road against McNeese.
The sophomore's two assists in 2022 are tied for the most among returners, with senior
Emme' Fernandez.
Hilliard, the 2021 SLC Freshman of the Year, was a key cog in another strong defensive season for NSU. As a unit, NSU held opponents to just 121 shot attempts, a bit over six attempts per game and just one game of more than five attempts in league play, which led the conference.
The defense also surrendered more than one goal just two times all season long (19 games).
As good as Hilliard was on defense, she also provided an offensive punch, scoring a game-tying goal at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a 2-1 victory.
Of all the returners, Hilliard is tied for the most starts in 2022, along with
Halee Griffin.
Lamar had the most players on the team with seven total, including six on the first team. Texas A&M-Commerce was second with five players with three on the first team.
The Lady Demons begin their home schedule with an exhibition game against UL Lafayette on Saturday. Their first regular season home game is Aug. 27 when they welcome Rice to Natchitoches.
2023 Southland Conference Pre-Season First Team
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| GK |
Nicole Panis |
Lamar |
Gr. |
Opmeer, Netherlands |
| D |
Arely Alaniz |
Lamar |
Sr. |
Deer Park, Texas |
| D |
Kat Lazor |
HCU |
Sr. |
Missouri City, Texas |
| D |
Mindy Shoffitt |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
Sr. |
Wichita Falls, Texas |
| D |
Kaisa Juvonen |
Lamar |
Gr. |
Tampere, Finland |
| MF |
Mya Guillory |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Prairieville, Louisiana |
| MF |
Ashley Campuzano |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
So. |
Dallas, Texas. |
| MF |
Isela Ramirez |
Lamar |
Jr. |
Pflugerville, Texas |
| MF |
Trinity Clark |
Lamar |
Sr. |
Austin, Texas |
| F |
Mya Mitchell |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
So. |
Dallas, Texas |
| F |
Megan Guy |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Jr. |
Roanoke, Texas |
| F |
Morgan Westbury |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Jr. |
McKinney, Texas |
| F |
Cariel Ellis |
Lamar |
Gr. |
Madison, Mississippi |
2022 Southland Conference Pre-Season Second Team
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| GK |
Chloe Bagshaw |
HCU |
So. |
Crowthorne, England |
| D |
Caroline Hilliard |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Corinth, Texas |
| D |
Mia Salas |
HCU |
Sr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| D |
Hailey Griffin |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
Jr. |
Trophy Club, Texas |
| D |
Nya Mitchell |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
So. |
Dallas, Texas |
| MF |
Rachel Loetzer |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Jr. |
Frisco, Texas |
| MF |
Molly Arens |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Sr. |
Belmont North, New South Wales, Australia |
| MF |
Kiana Kukaua |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Valencia, California |
| MF |
Laura Linares |
Lamar |
Gr. |
Barcelona, Spain |
| F |
Taylor Spitzer |
Northwestern State |
So. |
Allen, Texas |
| F |
Sierra Wannamaker |
UIW |
Sr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| F |
Rachel Young |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Surprise, Arizona |
| F |
Magalie Depot |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Montreal, Quebec, Canada |