HAMMOND – Six Southeastern Louisiana student-athletes, including a league-high three first-team selections, were named to the 2013 All-Southland Conference Women's Soccer Teams, which were announced by the league office on Tuesday.
 
Lady Lion freshman goalkeeper Hope Sabadash was named the Freshman of the Year and was joined on the first team by teammates Kelsey Salcido and Chelsea Villaescusa. Sophomore Erin Christ and senior Shanyce Shaw were selected to the second team, while freshman Brianna Singh rounded out the Southeastern All-Southland contingent as an honorable mention choice.
 
Sabadash, a native of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, is the fourth Lady Lion to earn league Freshman of the Year honors, joining Becca Weingartner (1998), Wanda Regan (1999) and Cory Cochrane (2000). The Lady Lion net minder leads the Southland with eight shutouts, while ranking second in the league with an 0.52 goals against average.
 
"Hope has established herself in a short amount of time as a force in the goal," Southeastern head coach Blake Hornbuckle said. "She is very good with her shot stopping ability, communication, organization and distribution.  She is very strong in judging air balls and dealing with traffic."
 
Salcido was named to the All-Southland Conference team for the third straight year and earned first team honors for the second time in her career. The senior is tied for the team lead with seven goals, while also sharing the league lead with eight assists. The Lakewood, Calif. native ranks among the school's career leaders in goals, assists and points and is one of five players in school history to top 20 goals and 20 assists.
 
"Kelsey's achievement cements her as one of the best all time in the midfield at Southeastern," Hornbuckle commented. "She imposes a tremendous will on the game and is a presence with her ability to win challenges all over the field.  Her experience and discipline in the attack have paid off greatly to create opportunities."

Three members of a Southeastern defense that leads the league with 10 goals allowed and is second in the Southland with 10 shutouts were represented on the All-Southland squads. Shaw, a Ajax, Ontario, Canada product, was named to the all-conference squad for the third time, while Irvine, Calif. native Christ and Villeascusa both earned their first All-Southland nods. Villaescusa also helped her All-Southland resume as a force on set pieces, as she currently is second on the team and eighth in the conference with five assists.
 
"Chelsea times her tackles very well and limits the space for her mark to have time on the ball." Hornbuckle said. "She plays out quickly by getting into the attack and looks to generate options with her service ability and range.
 
"This honor is a fitting way for Shanyce to complete her playing career," Hornbuckle continued. "She has a rare mentality of being comfortable on the left side of the field on a daily basis. She is extremely tough to beat one-on-one and is very composed under pressure.
 
"Erin's physical presence and ability to win the ball in the air has been a major catalyst this year as a central defender," Hornbuckle added. "She is adept at cutting balls out on the attack and reads the play extremely well."
 
Rounding out the All-Southland honorees was Singh, who shares the team lead with seven goals. The Lancaster, Calif. native has been particularly dangerous in league play, as all three of her game-winning goals came versus Southland opposition.
 
"Bri has been an excellent target forward in her first year," Hornbuckle said. "She receives the ball under pressure and creates problems for the defenders with her ability to possess.  She is fluid with her movement and looks to tie players into the attack with distribution.  Her ability to put herself in positions to finish has paid off."
 
Nicholls sophomore Spencer Valdespino was named the Southland Player of the Year, while Oral Roberts sophomore Kaily Cox earned league Newcomer of the Year accolades. After leading Stephen F. Austin to its third straight league regular season title, Ladyjack head coach Wally Crittenden was chosen as Coach of the Year.
 
The All-Southland teams are selected by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Southeastern will open the Southland Conference Tournament on Thursday with a 4:30 p.m. match versus Central Arkansas in Lake Charles. Live video and stats will be available at www.Southland.org.
 
2013 All-Southland Conference Women's Soccer Teams
 
First Team
Name – School – Pos. – Class – Hometown/High School
Spencer Valdespino – Nicholls – F – So. – Spring Hill, Fla./Bishop McLaughlin
Chelsea Raymond – Stephen F. Austin – F – Jr. – Irving, Texas/MacArthur
Andrea Carpenter – Abilene Christian – F – Sr. – Amarillo, Texas/Randall
Adriana Lucar – Central Arkansas – F – Jr. – Lima, Peru/Harding
Kelsey Salcido – Southeastern Louisiana – MF – Sr. – Lakewood, Calif./Los Alamitos
Jennifer Abernathy – Oral Roberts – MF – Sr. – Broken Arrow, Okla./Union
Melissa Gaudet – Stephen F. Austin – MF – Sr. – Bayside, Nova Scotia/Halifax West
Chelsea Villaescusa – Southeastern Louisiana – D – Jr. – Cypress, Calif./St. Joseph
Megan Dunnigan – Stephen F. Austin – D – Jr. – Round Rock, Texas – Vista Ridge
Kaily Cox – Oral Roberts – D – So. – Tulsa, Okla./Jenks
Hope Sabadash – Southeastern Louisiana – GK – Fr. – Mississauga, Ontario, Canada – Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary
 
Second Team
Name – School – Pos. – Cl. – Hometown/High School
Megan Giles – Oral Roberts – F– Jr. – Tulsa, Okla./Broken Arrow
Katie Miller – Incarnate Word – F – Sr. – Tyler, Texas/Tyler
Jordan Parsons – Oral Roberts – F – Sr. – Shawnee, Okla./Shawnee
Kayla Keller – Oral Roberts – MF – So. – Tulsa, Okla./Regent Preparatory
Ashlee Savona – Northwestern State – MF – Sr. – Mississauga, Ontario, Canada/St. Martin's
Mariah Titus – Sam Houston State – MF – So. – Bedford, Texas/Bell
Brenda Salazar – Stephen F. Austin – MF – Sr. – Sugar Land, Texas/Fort Bend Austin
Erin Christ – Southeastern Louisiana – D – So. – Irvine, Calif./Northwood
Shanyce Shaw – Southeastern Louisiana – D – Sr. – Ajax, Ontario, Canada/Pickering
Brie Buschman – Abilene Christian – D – Sr. – Amarillo, Texas/Randall
Maddie Rhodes – Oral Roberts – GK – So. – Tulsa, Okla./Union
 
Player of the Year: Spencer Valdespino, Nicholls
Freshman of the Year: Hope Sabadash, Southeastern Louisiana
Newcomer of the Year: Kaily Cox, Oral Roberts
Coach of the Year: Wally Crittenden, Stephen F. Austin
 
Honorable Mention: Brianna Singh, F, SLU; Zuri Prince, F, SFA; Yvette Fanco, F, AMCC; Kimmy Albeno, F, LU; Jannet Hernandez, MF, LU; Tricia Mallory, MF, SHSU; Molly Missimer, MF, HBU; Whitley Lindholm, MF, ACU; Melissa Pestalozzi, MF, NICH; Jess Coates, MF, NICH; Kate Koch, MF, UCA; Sydney Solomon, MF, UIW; Leah Bickers, D, ORU; Chantall Curry, D, SFA; Brooke Dunnigan, D, SFA; Megan Bennett, D, SHSU; Kelsie Roberts, D, ACU; Amber Thornhill, D, LU; Rachel Owens, D, SFA; Sarah Parker, D, UIW; Alexa Herbers, D, UCA; Kylie Hambleton, GK, SHSU; Lacey Lee, GK, SFA; Jessica Danku, NSU.