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