OKLAHOMA CITY – Science & Arts' Emma Rice headlined the all-Sooner Athletic Conference women's soccer team by taking her third player of the year accolade.
SAC regular-season champion Science & Arts collected offensive player of the year (Alicia Rey), co-freshman of the year (Luna Knoester) and coach of the year (Jimmy Hampton).
Other conference awards went to John Brown's Aubrey Mendez (defensive player of the year) and Olivia Fish (co-freshman of the year), Wayland Baptist's Kanade Morita (goalkeeper of the year) and Mid-America Christian's Francesca Martella (newcomer of the year).
Rice became the first student-athlete to nab three SAC women's soccer player of the year honors. Rice, a senior from Norman, Okla., had equaled Southern Nazarene's Jackie Acevedo and Oklahoma City University's Meghan McMahon as two-time league player of the year honorees with such awards in 2019 and 2021.
In 2022, Rice produced 17 goals, nine assists and 43 points this year. Rice turned in hat tricks against Tabor (Kan.) on Sept. 7 and Central Christian on Oct. 19 plus three winning goals. Rice has been one of the most prolific scorers in league history with 128 goals, 49 assists and 305 as a Drover. The SAC has honored her with three offensive player of the year awards, 2018 freshman of the year and 12 offensive player of the week nods in her career.
Rey delivered 13 goals, 11 assists and 37 points this fall. Rey, a sophomore from Valladolid, Spain, posted a season-high seven points with two goals and three assists vs. Tabor. Rey provided Science & Arts with four winning goals.
Mendez garnered league defensive player of the year for the second year in a row. Mendez, a senior from Chino, Calif., spearheaded the Golden Eagles to eight shutouts this year. Mendez has been a dependable part of the John Brown defense, starting 68 matches in 71 appearances. John Brown had four consecutive shutouts from Sept. 24 to Oct. 4.
Morita reeled in SAC goalkeeper of the year after leading Wayland Baptist to five shutouts. Morita, a sophomore from Chigasaki, Kanagawa, Japan, compiled 77 saves and a 1.60 goals-against average during the regular season. Morita had a season-best 10 saves against OUAZ on Aug. 25 in Surprise, Ariz. She took SAC defensive player of the week for Aug. 29-Sept. 4.
Martella posted three goals, four assists and 10 points for the Evangels. Martella, a sophomore from Bergamo, Italy, supplied Mid-America Christian with two winning goals, including the only goal in a win over Southwestern Christian on Oct. 25.
Fish, a freshman defender from Mesa, Ariz., made starts in 14 matches in a row to start the season for John Brown. Fish had one goal against Benedictine (Kan.), which was ranked 22nd in the NAIA.
Knoester, a freshman from Pijnacker, Netherlands, started each match for the Drovers, contributing to eight shutouts. Knoester turned in two goals, an assist and five points with both goals being game-winners.
Hampton directed Science & Arts to a 14-1-1 mark, 9-0 record in conference play and the top seed in the SAC Tournament this year. Hampton has been the only coach in program history, ranking in the top 10 among active men's and women's coaches in the NAIA. Hampton has accumulated a 296-164-25 women's mark, bringing his men's and women's career total to 623-292-53 in his 25th year as a college coach. Science & Arts' 4-1 victory against Bethel (Kan.) on Aug. 30 in North Newton, Kan., handed Hampton career victory No. 600. Hampton scooped up his fifth SAC women's coach of the year award, giving him 10 conference men's and women's coach of the year honors.
| 2022 All-Sooner Athletic Conference Women's Soccer |
| Player of the Year: Emma Rice, Science & Arts |
| Offensive Player of the Year: Alicia Rey, Science & Arts |
| Defensive Player of the Year: Aubrey Mendez, John Brown |
| Newcomer of the Year: Francesca Martella, Mid-America Christian |
Co-Freshman of the Year: Olivia Fish, John Brown
Luna Knoester, Science & Arts |
| Goalkeeper of the Year: Kanade Morita, Wayland Baptist |
| Coach of the Year: Jimmy Hampton, Science & Arts |
| FIRST TEAM |
| F |
Lauren Walter |
John Brown |
Jr. |
Centennial, Colo. |
| F |
Emma Rice |
Science & Arts |
Sr. |
Norman, Okla. |
| F |
Alicia Rey |
Science & Arts |
So. |
Valladolid, Spain |
| F |
Madi Caputo |
Oklahoma City |
Sr. |
Broken Arrow, Okla. |
| MF |
Ryan Winingham |
John Brown |
Jr. |
Highlands Ranch, Colo. |
| MF |
Laura Barrantes |
Science & Arts |
Jr. |
Bogotá, Colombia |
| MF |
Avery Walker |
Science & Arts |
Fr. |
Austin, Texas |
| MF |
Elisa Bosma |
John Brown |
So. |
Stillwater, Okla. |
| D |
Aubrey Mendez |
John Brown |
Sr. |
Chino, Calif. |
| D |
Luna Knoester |
Science & Arts |
Fr. |
Pijnacker, Netherlands |
| D |
Emma Schoenberg |
John Brown |
Sr. |
Gilbert, Ariz. |
| D |
Cammy Hargrove |
Mid-America Christian |
Fr. |
Oklahoma City |
| GK |
Kanade Morita |
Wayland Baptist |
So. |
Chigasaki, Kanagawa, Japan |
| GK |
Zoe Boldt |
SW Assemblies of God |
Jr. |
Midlothian, Texas |
| SECOND TEAM |
| F |
Tameir Grosvenor |
Texas Wesleyan |
Sr. |
DeSoto, Texas |
| F |
Pam Seiler |
John Brown |
So. |
Rogers, Ark. |
| F |
Annika Gerdau |
Mid-America Christian |
So. |
Stelle, Germany |
| F |
Kealy Juarez |
Mid-America Christian |
Fr. |
Amarillo, Texas |
| MF |
Francesca Martella |
Mid-America Christian |
So. |
Bergamo, Italy |
| MF |
Jasmine Morales |
Mid-America Christian |
So. |
Oklahoma City |
| MF |
Millie Templeman |
Oklahoma City |
Sr. |
Pocklington, York, England |
| MF |
Lindsay Daugherty |
Texas Wesleyan |
Sr. |
Grand Prairie, Texas |
| D |
Kylie Strotman |
Science & Arts |
So. |
Moore, Okla. |
| D |
Piper Nichols |
Oklahoma City |
Fr. |
Little Rock, Ark. |
| D |
Marissa Neil |
Science & Arts |
Jr. |
Enid, Okla. |
| D |
Daniela Paez |
Mid-America Christian |
Sr. |
Bogotá, Colombia |
| GK |
Caitlin Bishop |
Science & Arts |
So. |
Trophy Club, Texas |
| GK |
Chloe Griffin |
John Brown |
Sr. |
Pella, Iowa |