BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced the 2014 All-SWAC Women's Soccer Teams on Wednesday, with Alabama State's Aaliyah Lewis, Prairie View's Deborah Arguelles, Mississippi Valley's Heather Craddock, Alabama A&M's Margaret Sesay and Howard's Kyra Dickinson sweeping the individual accolades.
The selections were chosen based on the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Howard University dominated conference play and earned the regular season title while Prairie View A&M secured the #2 spot for the tournament.
Prairie View leads the post season honors, with a total of six selected to the All-Conference teams, five on the first team. Alabama State racked in four selections, two on each team. Howard and Mississippi Valley followed with three picks apiece. Alabama A&M had two representatives and Texas Southern rounded the selections off with one.
For the second consecutive time, Aaliyah Lewis has been recognized as Offensive Player of the Year. She tops the league in seven different categories points and points per game (2.26), goals and goals per game (.84), assist and assists per game (.58) and game-winning goals (.32). Lewis is also nationally ranked by the NCAA in three of those categories. The SWAC has awarded Lewis three weekly offensive student-athlete of the week honors. She recorded her 6th hat trick of her soccer career and eighth in ASU's history. This year alone, Lewis has broken numerous of school records.
Deborah Arguelles earns Defensive Player of the Year honors. She has started and been on the field for every second of all 16 Prairie View A&M contests this season. Arguelles is second on the team and tied for tenth place in the SWAC with six goals this season. She was named SWAC's defensive student-athlete of the week twice this year. Arguelles anchored a defensive unit that has contributed to four shutout wins for the Lady Panthers.
Mississippi Valley's Heather Craddock has been named Co-Freshmen of the Year. She is second on team, and tied for eighth in the SWAC in goals, with a total of seven. Craddock finished the season off with 20 shots (14 shots on goal), a shots on goal percentage of .700, two assists and 14 points. She also has been named College Sports Madness SWAC Player of the Week once this season.
After coming in and dominating as a freshman for Alabama A&M, Margaret Sesay exceptional efforts have earned her Co-Freshmen of the Year. She has been named SWAC's offensive-student athlete of the week once this season. Sesay is fourth in the league in points per game (1.14) and tied for fourth in goals (0.57). She's also third in the conference in goals per game (0.57) and tied for ninth in points, with a total of 16 (1.14).
Howard's Kyra Dickinson has received the Goalkeeper of the Year award. She has been recognized twice this season by the SWAC as the goalkeeper of the week for her outstanding performance in conference play. Dickinson has posted five of Howard's six shutouts this year. She's fourth in the league for conference shutouts, tallying four. Dickinson is also third in the league in saves percentage (.761).
2014 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aaliyah Lewis, Alabama State
2014 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Deborah Arguelles, Prairie View A&M
2014 CO-FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Heather Craddock and Margaret Sesay, Mississippi Valley State and Alabama A&M
2014 GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Kyra Dickinson, Howard
FIRST TEAM
FORWARDS
Alicia Cooper, Prairie View
Aaliyah Lewis, Alabama State
Nikanya Clark, Howard
MIDFIELDERS
Nia Walcott, Howard
Shelby Moore, Prairie View
Jalana Ellis, Jackson State
Celene Batrez, Prairie View
DEFENDERS
Deborah Arguelles, Prairie View
Treschelle Gibson- Serrette, Howard
Alexandria Cannon, Prairie View
GOALKEEPER
Bianca Garza, Prairie View
SECOND TEAM
FORWARDS
Nykosi Simmons, Mississippi Valley State
Estelle Esperance, Alabama A&M
Heather Craddock, Mississippi Valley State
MIDFIELDERS
Shalbi Vienna- Hallam, Alabama State
Ana Huertas, Alabama A&M
Haley Rodriguez, Jackson State
Marlyn Campa, Texas Southern
DEFENDERS
Josee Primeau, Mississippi Valley State
Iita Pienimaki, Alabama State
Reina Mata, Prairie View
GOALKEEPER
Kyra Dickinson, Howard
Courtesy: SWAC.org