CANTON, Ga. - The Southern Athletic Association (SAA) has announced the 2026 Women's Soccer All-Conference teams and major award winners ahead of the tournament.
Regular season champion Centre earned two of the major awards as Zara McCarthy claimed Offensive Athlete of the Year and Centre the Coaching Staff of the Year. Last seasons champion, Trinity places Kylie Harris as the Defensive Athlete of the Year, the second year in a row that the Tigers have earned this honor. Rhodes claims Rookie of the Year honors for Ella Mullally.
All-Conference voting and selection of the All-Sportsmanship team was conducted among the conference's nine head coaches.
Offensive Athlete of the Year – Zara McCarthy | Centre | JR | Lexington, KY
McCarthy captured four Athlete of the Week honors from the league this season with three consecutive honors from September 28 - October 12. The junior has played in 17 games for the Colonels, starting 16, and scored 11 goals with 3 assists for 25 total points on the year. She sits tied for first in the SAA with her 11 goals as she led her team to a No. 1 seed and their first Regular Season title since 2021.
Defensive Athlete of the Year – Kylie Harris | Trinity | JR | Missouri City, TX
Harris has started in 14 games for the Tigers and been an instrumental part to their defense who has only allowed seven goals all season, four of which came in conference play.
Rookie of the Year – Ella Mullally | Rhodes | FR | Decatur, GA
Mullally made an immediate impact in her first season with the Lynx. The freshman forward tallied ten goals and three assists on the season. Mullally is second in the conference for shots on goal (30), third in shots (52), and tied for first in game-winning goals with 4.
Coaching Staff of the Year – Centre College
Led by head coach Jay Hoffman, the Colonels posted an impressive 11-2-4 record, including a 7-0-1 mark in conference play, to secure the No. 1 seed in the SAA Tournament. The team captured the Regular Season title for the first time since 2021 and is the only SAA team without a conference loss.
Offensive Athlete of the Year – Zara McCarthy, Centre
Defensive Athlete of the Year – Kylie Harris, Trinity
Rookie of the Year – Ella Mullally, Rhodes
Coaching Staff of the Year – Centre College
First Team All-Conference
GK – Kate Hill, Berry
D – Brooke Beasley, Centre
D – Kylie Harris, Trinity
D – Kat Stanley, Rhodes
M - Malea Cesar, Trinity
M – Annie Cimino, Rhodes
M – Amelia Comeaux, Sewanee
F – Zara McCarthy, Centre
F – Alex Doran, Trinity
F – Lila Brackin, Trinity
At Large – Ellery Taylor, Centre
Second Team All-Conference
GK – Madeline Redmon, Centre
D – Laney Kalsu, Sewanee
D – Eden Maxwell, Sewanee
D – Maggie Hartnett, Trinity
M – Stella Martin, Sewanee
M – Claire Cavacini, Centre
M – Talia Camin, Trinity
F – Ella Mullally, Rhodes
F – Katie Cotten, Maryville
F – Maddie Carter, Rhodes
At Large – Savannah Mooney, Centre
Honorable Mention
Berry – Annie Connors (D), Aubrey Strickland (D), Gianna Maimone (F), Kelsie Crosier (M), Addison Wickremesekera (M)
Centre – Tessa Miles (D), Claire Mullen (D), Aida Bell (F)
Maryville – Katie Ray (D), Paige Silva (GK)
Oglethorpe – Ana Williams (D), Evan Thomas (F), Jasmine Cardenas (M), Myleigh Oglesby (M)
Rhodes – Mallory Goldstein (D), Ellie Lawrence (M), Savvy Palmer (M), Lina Kilgore (M), Gabi Garza (GK), Lauren Hollis (GK)
Sewanee – Katye Dullye (D), Pope Scurlock (F)
Southwestern – Montse Hernandez-Soto (D)
Trinity – Daryan Willyard (D), Saige Clary (M)
All-Sportsmanship Team
Berry – Kelsie Crosier
Centre – Ashtyn Warner
Maryville – Katie Cotten
Millsaps – Alex Bremond
Oglethorpe – Lily Burford
Rhodes – Erin Strickland
Sewanee – Izzy Maurino
Southwestern – Iris McCain
Trinity – Olivia Wagner
| All-Time Major Award Winners |
|
|
|
| Year |
Offensive Athlete of the Year |
Defensive Athlete of the Year |
Rookie of the Year |
Coaching Staff of the Year |
| 2025 |
Alex Doran, Trinity |
Ilsa Newland, Trinity |
Lila Brackin, Trinity |
Rhodes |
| 2024 |
Brianna Fee, Sewanee |
Ashlyn Richards, Sewanee |
Claire Cavacini, Centre |
Greg Cathell, Sewanee |
| 2023 |
Brianna Fee, Sewanee |
Lindsay Carr, Centre |
Ella Price, Oglethorpe |
Greg Cathell, Sewanee |
| 2022 |
Mills Mullen, Centre |
Kate Thomson, Sewanee |
Kylene Monaghan, Sewanee |
Greg Cathell, Sewanee |
| 2021 |
Alli Cundiff, Rhodes |
Cameron Zak, Centre |
EJ Bryant, Centre |
Jay Hoffman, Centre |
| 2020-21 |
Mills Mullen, Centre |
Cameron Zak, Centre |
Christina Marijanich, Berry |
Jay Hoffman, Centre |
| 2019 |
Alana Hughes, Centre |
Jessie Turner, Centre |
Gabby Bernal, BSC |
Jay Hoffman, Centre |
| 2018 |
Alana Hughes, Centre |
Jessie Turner, Centre |
Cameron Zak, Centre |
Jay Hoffman, Centre |
| 2017 |
Taylor Andrews, BSC |
Jessie Turner, Centre |
Abby Kay Choate, BSC |
David DiPiazza, BSC |
| 2016 |
Destinie Graves, Centre |
Ellie Valega, Rhodes |
Hagan Griffith, Hendrix |
Jay Hoffman, Centre |
| 2015 |
Destinie Graves, Centre |
Tori Dillard, Centre |
Erin Gill, Sewanee |
Patrick Johnson, Sewanee |
| 2014 |
Maggie Midkiff, Berry |
Tori Dillard, Centre |
Destinie Graves, Centre |
Lorenzo Canalis, Berry |
| 2013 |
Maggie Midkiff, Berry |
Breanna Durbin, Rhodes |
Maggie Midkiff, Berry |
Lorenzo Canalis, Berry |
| 2012 |
Kelsey Keown, Rhodes |
Amy Hebbeler, Centre |
Alex Combs, Centre |
Jay Hoffman, Centre |
For more information on all things SAA, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the SAA's home on the internet at
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