CHARLOTTE, N.C. - USC Upstate women's soccer once again made history as the Big South announced its post season awards which included two Spartans on the All-Conference First Team, one Spartan on the All-Conference Second Team, one honorable mention and one Spartan on the All-Academic Team as well as Freshman of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, and Coach of the Year.  

"I am thrilled for Coach Saber to receive this well-earned award!  Coach Saber has taken our women's soccer program to a new level during his first year at USC Upstate, while simultaneously changing the culture and instilling hope and optimism throughout our program.  The young women on the team benefit daily from his leadership and mentorship on and off the field, and I'm so excited to see our program grow to Greater Heights in the future with him in charge!" said Director of Athletics Daniel Feig. 

After having a stellar junior season, Cora Brendle was not only named to the Big South All-Conference First Team, but also was named the Big South Goalkeeper of the Year. Brendle started all 17 games for USC Upstate, accumulating 73 saves, six solo shutouts, and 0.87 goals against average. Her six solo shutouts mark the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.) record with five of her shutouts coming during Big South play. Brendle earned the Big South Defensive Player of the Week three times total, two of which were consecutive honors while leading the conference for goals against average, save percentage, and shutouts.  

Dara Russo's impressive efforts during her freshman campaign paid off as she was announced to the All-Conference Second Team and announced as the Big South Freshman of the Year. Russo was a three-time Big South Freshman of the Week, including back-to-back honors in October, which was the most received by a freshman this season. She led all league freshmen in goals and game-winning goals this season, tallying six goals and three game-winners while sitting in the Conference rankings for shots, shots on goal, goals, and game winning goals. Of her three game winning goals, two gave Upstate crucial victories for the program, including the program's first-ever win over Furman and a victory over Radford to earn three points and help secure the No. 2 seed 

Alaina McKnight earned the first post season honor of her career as she joined Cora Brendle on the Big South All-Conference First Team. McKnight started all 17 games in the Spartan back line. McKnight played a part in helping USC Upstate achieve eight shutouts this season while also helping the Spartan's offense at crucial moments including scoring the game winning goal over Winthrop on senior night. She played a key role in helping Upstate have a four-game win streak this season as well as have the first winning season since 2018. McKnight led field players for minutes played (1344) while also playing the full 90 minutes for 10 games this season.  

Ashley Finn received an honorable mention from the Big South as well as being named to the All-Academic Team. Finn's honorable mention is the second year in a row that she has been recognized by the conference for her efforts. This season, Finn was one of three Spartans to start all 17 games while she recorded three goals, one assist, 30 shots and 11 shots on goal including scoring the only successful penalty kick of the season against Radford. Off the field, Finn achieved a 3.742 while majoring in exercise & sport science.  

Sharif Saber produced positive changes and results in the USC Upstate women's soccer program during his first year. Not only did Saber lead the Spartans to the program's highest conference finish in the program's Division I era (2007-pres) as the Spartans earned the No. 2 seed at the Big South Women's Soccer Championship, but he also led the program to its first winning season since 2018. Its nine victories are the second-most overall victories in Upstate's D1 era. Of those nine victories, six of them were over Big South Conference opponents, collecting the most conference wins in the program's D1 era. Saber also led the Spartans to the best winning percentage (.647) in the program's Division I era (2007-pres).  

The Spartans garnered honorable mentions and All-Academic awards in years past, as well as three All-Conference Second Team honors back in 2018 (Abbie Ellis, Jada Kinlaw and Emelie Valenciano). This season's awards include the first ever Big South All-Conference First Team honors, the first ever Big South Goalkeeper of the Year, the first ever Big South Freshman of the Year, and first ever Big South Coach of the Year for women's soccer. 

2022 Big South Conference Women's Soccer Award Winners

First-Team All-Conference

F:  Jessica Donald, Sr., Campbell

F:  Maddie Turlington, Sr., Gardner-Webb

F:  Kat Parris, Soph., Radford

F:  Jackie Richards, Sr., Campbell

MF:  Alexeis Kirnos, Sr., Radford

MF:  Reagan Baiotto, Soph., Campbell

MF:  Elin Persson, Soph., Charleston Southern

MF:  Klara Ovefelt, Soph., Gardner-Webb

D:  Laney Peabody, Sr., Campbell

D:  Helena Willson, Jr., Radford

D:  Delaney Baumbick, Sr., Campbell

D:  Alaina McKnight, Sr., USC Upstate

GK:  Cora Brendle, Jr., USC Upstate

Second-Team All-Conference

F:  Dara Russo, Fr., USC Upstate

F:  Jenea Knight, Soph., Charleston Southern

F:  Sam Gerhart, Sr., High Point

F:  Elyssa Nowowieski, Sr., Campbell

MF:  Catharine Forst, Sr., Longwood

MF:  Lilly Short, Fr., Radford

MF:  Azalea Mihailovich, Fr., UNC Asheville

MF:  Erin Rush, Sr., Charleston Southern

D:  Alex DePerno, Jr., High Point

D:  Anna Doane, Soph., UNC Asheville

D:  Olivia Neal, Jr., Campbell

D:  Saleena Lynch, Sr., Radford

GK:  Morgan Hairston, R-Sr., High Point

Honorable Mention All-Conference

Ashley Finn, F, Jr., USC Upstate

Annabel Thomas, F, Jr., Winthrop

Lindsey DeHaven, MF, Soph., High Point

Marina Bradic, D, Sr., Gardner-Webb

Alli Varga, D, Sr., Gardner-Webb

 

All-Freshman Team

Dara Russo, F, Fr., USC Upstate

Lilly Short, MF, Fr., Radford

Azalea Mihailovich, MF, Fr., UNC Asheville

Kiah Cirino, D, Fr., Charleston Southern

Sloan Spees, F, Fr., Presbyterian College

Camila Lezcano, D, Fr., Gardner-Webb

Savannah Noll, F, Fr., Longwood

 

All-Academic Team

Jessica Donald, F, Sr., Campbell

Dakota Feidler, MF, Gr., Charleston Southern

Marina Bradic, D, Sr., Gardner-Webb

Skyler Prillaman, F, R-Sr., High Point

Catharine Forst, MF, Sr., Longwood

Kelly Hall, GK, Soph., Presbyterian College

Saleena Lynch, D, Sr., Radford

Bronwyn Luitwieler, GK, Sr., UNC Asheville

Ashley Finn, F, Jr., USC Upstate

Lily Meisten, D, Soph., Winthrop

 

Offensive Player of the Year

Jessica Donald, F, Sr., Campbell

 

Goalkeeper of the Year

Cora Brendle, Jr., USC Upstate

Defensive Player of the Year

Laney Peabody, D, Sr., Campbell

Freshman of the Year

Dara Russo, F, Fr., USC Upstate

Coach of the Year

Sharif Saber, USC Upstate

Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Jessica Donald, F, Sr., Campbell

JOIN UP   
Make a difference in the lives of USC Upstate student-athletes! Donate to the USC Upstate U Club today!      
   
Keep UP with the Spartans   
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics   
Twitter | @UpstateWSoccer   
Instagram | @UpstateWSoccer   
Youtube.com/UpstateSpartans