FRISCO, Texas-  McNeese women's soccer placed five players on the 2023 All-Southland Conference team, the league announced today.
 
The Cowgirls, who will enter this week's Southland Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed, are represented on the team by first teamer midfielder Kaile Kukaua and second team selections, goalkeeper Jackie Kelly, defender Morgan Schooley, midfielder Kiana Kukaua, and forward Magalie Depot.
 
Kaile Kukaua, a junior from Valencia, California is making her first appearance on the All-SLC team.  Kukaua entered the season without a single career goal and finished the regular season with six, two of which were game winning goals.  The six goals rank her fourth in the SLC.  She started nine of ten matches in conference play, scoring three goals in SLC play and was credited with two assists to lead the team with 14 points.  Of the newcomers to have not scored a goal entering the season in D1 soccer, she was one of nine players to come back and score multiple goals, scoring the second most in the nation at six.

"Kaile has done the job we've asked of her beautifully," praised head coach Drew Fitzgerald. " She helps us win balls and launches counters. She does a wonderful job of getting herself into dangerous positions and she is just incredibly tough and durable. Her production has been a huge reason we've had success this season."
 
Junior goalie Jackie Kelly is making her second appearance on the All-SLC team after earning seven wins this season, which puts her tied for the fourth-most in McNeese single season history.  Kelly assisted in all six shutouts this season with four shutouts to her name and two combined shutouts.  She ranks second in the conference with 74 saves and owns the best save percentage in the conference at .881.  The save percentage also places her 10th in the nation.  Her shutouts helped her to the third best shutout per game percentage in the conference.

"Jackie has been phenomenal all season and is near the top of the country in save percentage. Along with making quality saves, she has done a great job of keeping us organized that often goes overlooked when we are talking about accolades."
 
Schooley is a junior defender from St. Augustine, Florida who was part of a defensive line that helped McNeese record six shutouts.  Schooley also helped the Cowgirls limit goals from 42 in 2022 to just 18 in the 2023 campaign.  She started every match for the Cowgirls and earned a total of 1, 591 minutes of play and scored one goal.

"Morgan Schooley is one of the best central defenders in the conference, helping Karissa Illingowrth anchor a defense that ranks as one of the best in the conference in terms of goals against. She's been the key in the remarkable defensive turnaround we've had from a year ago and has been a key piece in allowing us to finish near the top of the standings."
 
Senior Kiana Kukaua is making her third appearance on the All-SLC team.  The native of Valencia, California started all 13 matches despite battling early season injuries.  She was credited with 15 shots, six on goal, and scored one goal and one assist during her senior campaign for three points, all in conference play.

"Kiana has fought back from injury earlier this season to play nearly every minute of conference play. She is a relentless competitor who just wants to do whatever she can to help the team win. She's good in the air and has the ability to create with her passing range and touch."
 
Magalie Depot is also making her first appearance on the team. The senior from Montreal, Quebec, Canada played solely conference matches due to lingering injuries.  In her final season, she played in limited minutes in 10 matches with one start, scoring three goals and one assist.

"Magalie is a top forward in the conference who has been, unfortunately, hampered by injuries. She has the ability to create on her own but is equally comfortable setting up for her teammates. She seems to be rounding into top form at exactly the right time for us."

Player of the Year: Hollie Massey, Lamar
Freshman of the Year: Hannah Bell, Texas A&M-Commerce
Newcomer of the Year: Kaydence Ramirez, Texas A&M-Commerce
Defender of the Year: Arely Alaniz, Lamar 
Midfielder of the Year: Alana Clark, Lamar
Forward of the Year: Hannah Bell, Texas A&M-Commerce
Goalkeeper of the Year: Nicole Panis, Lamar 
Coach of the Year: Nathan Kogut, Lamar  

First Team

Pos.	Name	School	Class	Hometown
GK	Nicole Panis3	Lamar	Gr.	Opmeer, Netherlands
DF	Arely Alaniz2	Lamar	Sr.	Deer Park, Texas
DF	Kat Lazor2	HCU	Sr.	Missouri City, Texas
DF	Nya Mitchell2	Texas A&M-Commerce	So.	Dallas, Texas
DF	Kaisa Juvonen4	Lamar	Gr.	Tampere, Finland
MF	Hollie Massey2	Lamar	Gr.	Cheshire, England
MF	Camila Montero	Texas A&M-Commerce	Jr.	Houston, Texas
MF	Kaile Kukaua	McNeese	Jr.	Valencia, California
MF	Alana Clark	Lamar	Sr.	Austin, Texas
FWD	Hannah Bell	Texas A&M-Commerce	Fr.	Dallas, Texas
FWD	Kaydence Ramirez	Texas A&M-Commerce	Rs-Fr.	Waxahachie, Texas
FWD	Isela Ramirez2	Lamar	Jr.	Pflugerville, Texas
FWD	Cariel Ellis2	Lamar	Gr.	Madison, Mississippi

Second Team

Pos.	Name	School	Class	Hometown
GK	Jackie Kelly2	McNeese	Jr.	Benicia, California
DF	Mindy Shoffit2	Texas A&M-Commerce	Sr.	Wichita Falls, Texas
DF	Caragan Childs	Lamar	Jr.	Sumrall, Mississippi
DF	Maddie Janolo	Lamar	Gr.	Denton, Texas
DF	Morgan Schooley2	McNeese	Jr.	St. Augustine, Florida
MF	Rachel Loetzer2	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	Jr.	Frisco, Texas
MF	Mya Guillory4	Southeastern	Sr.	Prairieville, Louisiana
MF	Kiana Kukaua3	McNeese	Sr.	Valencia, California
MF	Alexa Huerta	HCU	So.	Austin, Texas
MF	Melissa Storey	Texas A&M-Commerce	Sr.	Tyne and Wear, England
MF	Trinity Clark2	Lamar	Sr.	Austin, Texas
FWD	Taylor Spitzer	Northwestern State	So.	Allen, Texas
FWD	Sierra Wannamaker3	UIW	Sr.	San Antonio, Texas
FWD	Olivia Rossman	HCU	Fr.	Santa Ana, California
FWD	Magalie Depot	McNeese	Sr.	Montreal, Quebec, Canada

 
2 – Two-time All-Southland selection
3 – Three-time All-Southland selection
4 – Four-time All-Southland selection
 

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