11/4/2026 12:05:00 PM | Women's Soccer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Following a historic 2026 regular season that saw USC Upstate women's soccer capture the Big South Conference regular-season championship, the Spartans continued their success by dominating the league's postseason awards, the conference announced Wednesday afternoon.
USC Upstate brought home six major annual awards, highlighted by Liana Bryant being named Forward of the Year, Cansu Kara earning both Defender of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, Hannah Wilt claiming Goalkeeper of the Year, Jasmyn Mitchner receiving Freshman of the Year honors and head coach Sam Odell and his staff being named Coaching Staff of the Year.
The Spartans also placed five student-athletes on the All-Big South First Team, two on the Second Team, two on the All-Freshman Team and one on the All-Academic Team, giving Upstate 10 individual honorees across the conference's postseason selections.
The recognition follows a remarkable regular season in which Upstate finished 11-2-4 overall and went unbeaten in Big South action with a 7-0-1 conference record and 22 points. The Spartans secured their second outright Big South regular-season championship in three seasons, earning the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
Bryant Leads Spartan Attack, Earns Forward of the Year
Senior forward Liana Bryant headlined Upstate's offensive accolades, earning Big South Forward of the Year recognition while also securing a spot on the All-Conference First Team.
Bryant established herself as one of the league's most dangerous attacking threats throughout the 2026 campaign, leading the Spartans in goals, points and shots. The senior finished the regular season with 10 goals and five assists, totaling 25 points while helping power an Upstate offense that consistently challenged opposing defenses.
Her ability to produce in crucial moments proved instrumental to the Spartans' championship run, including a two-goal performance against Winthrop and another goal in Upstate's 4-0 regular-season championship-clinching victory over Gardner-Webb.
Bryant's offensive production and consistent presence in the attacking third made her a cornerstone of Upstate's unbeaten conference campaign.
Kara Sweeps Defender and Newcomer of the Year Awards
Sophomore Cansu Kara made an immediate impact in her first season with USC Upstate, earning both Big South Defender of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors while also receiving First-Team All-Conference recognition.
Kara emerged as one of the conference's premier two-way players, combining defensive consistency with exceptional offensive contributions. The sophomore recorded two goals and seven assists for 11 points, leading the Spartans in assists while helping anchor one of the Big South's strongest defensive units.
Her versatility was on full display in Upstate's 2-0 victory over Longwood, where she recorded a goal and an assist while contributing to a shutout performance. Kara's ability to initiate attacking opportunities from the back line provided a significant advantage throughout conference play.
In addition to her offensive contributions, Kara helped the Spartans limit scoring opportunities and preserve their unbeaten record against Big South opponents.
Wilt Named Big South Goalkeeper of the Year
Redshirt junior Hannah Wilt earned Big South Goalkeeper of the Year honors and a First-Team All-Conference selection after serving as the backbone of the Spartans' defensive success.
Wilt delivered a standout campaign between the posts, providing consistency and leadership while helping guide Upstate to its regular-season championship.
Among her most notable performances was a five-save shutout against High Point, preserving a 1-0 road victory in one of Upstate's most important conference matchups. She also recorded a clean sheet in the Spartans' 4-0 victory over Gardner-Webb, making two saves as Upstate secured the conference title.
With Wilt anchoring the defense, the Spartans routinely frustrated opposing attacks and developed into one of the conference's most difficult teams to score against.
Mitchner Claims Freshman of the Year Honors
Freshman forward Jasmyn Mitchner made an immediate impression in her debut collegiate season, earning Big South Freshman of the Year recognition and a selection to the All-Freshman Team.
Mitchner finished the regular season with nine goals and four assists for 22 points, ranking second on the team in goals and points behind Bryant.
The freshman delivered several key performances throughout the season, including goals against Davidson, Wofford, Furman, Longwood and UNC Asheville.
She saved one of her best performances for the regular-season finale, scoring twice in Upstate's 4-0 victory over Gardner-Webb. Mitchner opened the scoring in the 14th minute before adding another goal in the 86th minute, helping secure the Spartans' conference championship.
Her scoring ability and attacking consistency established her as one of the Big South's most impactful newcomers.
Odell and Staff Earn Coaching Staff of the Year Recognition
Following a championship-caliber regular season, head coach Sam Odell and the USC Upstate women's soccer coaching staff were named the Big South Coaching Staff of the Year.
Under Odell's leadership, the Spartans put together one of the program's most successful regular seasons, finishing unbeaten in conference play at 7-0-1 while collecting 22 points to claim the Big South regular-season championship.
The title marked Upstate's second outright regular-season championship in three seasons, further establishing the Spartans among the conference's elite programs.
Upstate showcased its strength on both ends of the field, pairing a productive offense with a disciplined defensive unit. The Spartans also demonstrated their depth and consistency, earning results against every conference opponent and closing the regular season with a decisive 4-0 victory over Gardner-Webb.
The staff's ability to blend experienced veterans with impactful newcomers proved instrumental in guiding the Spartans to the No. 1 seed in the Big South Championship.
Five Spartans Earn First-Team All-Conference Honors
Joining Bryant, Kara and Wilt on the All-Big South First Team were senior midfielder Katelyn Economopoulos and senior defender Annabelle Wunderlich, giving Upstate five First-Team selections.
Economopoulos played a pivotal role in controlling the midfield throughout the season, contributing three goals and two assists while serving as a consistent presence in both the attacking and defensive phases. Her most memorable moment came against High Point, when she scored the game-winning goal in the 85th minute to secure a crucial 1-0 conference victory.
Wunderlich provided leadership and production from the back line while making significant contributions to the Spartan attack. The senior defender finished the regular season with six goals, including a goal in the championship-clinching victory over Gardner-Webb. In that contest, she also dished out two assists, finishing with four points while helping hold the Runnin' Bulldogs scoreless.
Together, the five First-Team honorees helped establish USC Upstate as the league's top team throughout the regular season.
MacCausland and Trovato Named Second-Team All-Conference
Junior forward Lily MacCausland and senior defender Danielle Trovato received Second-Team All-Big South recognition following strong individual campaigns.
MacCausland provided another dangerous attacking option for the Spartans, recording four goals and two assists for 10 points. The junior played a key role in several important conference victories, including a two-goal performance against Winthrop and a game-winning goal against Charleston Southern.
Trovato served as a reliable presence on the Spartan back line, starting every match and helping anchor a defense that consistently limited opponents' scoring opportunities. The senior also contributed offensively with two goals, including a score against Charleston Southern, while providing valuable experience and leadership throughout Upstate's championship campaign.
Gracie Black Joins Mitchner on All-Freshman Team
Freshman defender Gracie Black joined Mitchner on the Big South All-Freshman Team following an impressive debut season.
Black quickly established herself as an important part of the Spartans' defensive unit, earning 13 starts and playing more than 960 minutes during the regular season. Her composure and consistency along the back line helped Upstate secure crucial results throughout conference play.
Alongside veterans Kara, Wunderlich and Trovato, Black contributed to a defense that played a significant role in the Spartans' championship success.
Bell Earns All-Academic Recognition
Senior midfielder Raegan Bell rounded out Upstate's postseason honorees with a selection to the Big South All-Academic Team.
An Exercise and Sport Science major carrying a perfect 4.0 GPA, Bell exemplified excellence both on the field and in the classroom throughout her Spartan career.
Bell started every match during the regular season, providing valuable experience and consistency in the midfield while contributing to Upstate's championship campaign. Her commitment to academic achievement and athletic performance earned her recognition among the conference's top scholar-athletes.
Up Next
With the regular-season championship secured and multiple postseason honors in hand, USC Upstate now turns its attention to the Big South Women's Soccer Championship.
The top-seeded Spartans will host a semifinal matchup on Tuesday, November 10, at County University Soccer Stadium, looking to advance to their fourth consecutive Big South Championship final and compete for another conference tournament title.
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