HAMMOND, La. – Six Southeastern Louisiana student-athletes were selected to the 2014 All-Southland Conference Women's Soccer Teams, which were announced by the league office on Tuesday.
 
Southeastern was tied for third in the league with Houston Baptist with the six selections. Only Stephen F. Austin (10) and Sam Houston State (eight) had more selections than the Lady Lions.
 
SLU was represented on the first team by senior defender Chelsea Villaescusa. Sophomore forward Bri Singh and sophomore midfielder Katie Noonan were named to the second team. Freshman midfielder Maggie Ramsey, senior defender Jen Babcock and junior defender Erin Christ represented Southeastern as honorable mention choices.
 
Villaescusa was named to the first team for the second straight season. The Cypress, California native anchors a Southeastern defense that has recorded eight shutouts in 2014. The Lady Lion senior was also a weapon with her service on set pieces, ranking third on the team with five assists.
 
"I truly believe Chelsea is the top outside defender in the Southland Conference," Southeastern head coach Blake Hornbuckle said. "She has fantastic mobility, serves the ball consistently and is a lock down 1 v 1 defender.  She will be missed greatly after the season is complete."
 
Singh also was an All-Southland performer for the second straight season, as she was an honorable mention choice as a freshman. This season, she currently leads the Southland Conference with 13 goals and 29 points. Her single-season (6^th) and career (7^th) totals for goals are among the best in school history.
 
"Bri has been a threat each game with her ability to hold the ball, turn defenders and finish," Hornbuckle said.  "We are very excited for her earning this honor.  She has two more years to shine which is good news for us."
 
Noonan is a force in the midfield for a Lady Lion team that has racked up 49 goals this season. The Renton, Washington product leads the team with 10 assists – many of which have come from her patented long throw-in.
 
"Katie is an incredible athletic talent with a motor that does not quit," Hornbuckle commented. "She is a big time ball winner, possesses great speed both on and off the ball and has a massive long throw-in.  She is a weapon for us."
 
The Lady Lion newcomer that has made the most immediate impact is Ramsey. The Mission Viejo, California native ranks among the Southland leaders with eight goals and seven assists.
 
"Maggie's skill level, ability to distribute and strike a ball are immediate attention grabbers," Hornbuckle said. "She has made an impact as a freshman and continues to improve each day."
 
Babcock and Christ were both key members of a Southeastern defense that held opponents to just over a goal per match. Christ, who hails from Irvine, California, was named to the All-Southland Conference team for the second straight season, while Canton, Michigan native Babcock earned her first all-conference nod.
 
"Jen has worked on a part of her game each year to get better and pushes the barriers physically with her frame," Hornbuckle said. "She serves a quality ball and communicates well.  Serving as a three year captain, she leaves with a fitting honor.

"Erin is an organizer on the ball line and has a field presence that commands respect," Hornbuckle added. "She is very astute at winning balls in the air and cutting out opportunities.  She is also smart with her distribution and technically sound."
 
Southeastern will make its ninth straight Southland Conference Tournament appearance this week in Beaumont, Texas. Sixth-seeded SLU will face No. 3 seed HBU on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in the opening match of the tournament. The winner of Thursday's match will face No. 2 seed Sam Houston in a 4:30 p.m. semifinal match on Friday.
 
Thursday and Friday's matches will be streamed live on the Southland Conference Digital Network. Sunday's final is set for 1:05 p.m. at ESPN3 and the winner will advance to the NCAA Tournament. SLU, the reigning league tournament champion, has previously advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and 2013.
 
2014 All-Southland Conference Soccer Teams
 
First Team
Name – School – Pos. – Class – Hometown/High School
Chelsea Raymond – Stephen F. Austin – F – Sr. – Irving, Texas/MacArthur HS
Allie Johnson – Sam Houston State – F – So. – Allen, Texas/Allen HS
Spencer Valdespino – Nicholls – F – Jr. – Spring Hill, Fla./Bishop McLaughlin HS
Ashley Alonzo – Sam Houston State – F – Jr. – Little Elm, Texas/Little Elm HS
Zuri Prince – Stephen F. Austin – MF – Sr. – Beaumont, Texas/Kelly HS
Jess Coates – Nicholls – MF – Jr. – Sydney, Australia/Bossley Park HS
Shelby McDaniel – Sam Houston State – MF – Jr. – League City, Texas/Clear Springs HS
Chelsea Villaescusa – Southeastern Louisiana – D – Sr. – Cypress, Texas/St. Joseph's HS
Megan Dunnigan – Stephen F. Austin – D – Jr. – Round Rock, Texas/Vista Ridge HS
Brooke Dunnigan – Stephen F. Austin – D – So. – Round Rock, Texas/Vista Ridge HS
Morgan Glick – Stephen F. Austin – GK – Jr. – Boerne, Texas/Champion HS
 
Second Team
Name – School – Pos. – Class – Hometown/High School
Bri Singh – Southeastern Louisiana – F – So. – Lancaster, Calif./Lancaster HS
Savannah LaRicci – McNeese State – F – So. – Sugar Land, Texas/Clements HS
Natalie Hager – Houston Baptist – F – Sr. – Port Neches, Texas/Port Neches HS
Kimmy Albeno – Lamar – F – Sr. – Bellflower, Calif./Long Beach Wilson HS
Katie Noonan – Southeastern Louisiana – MF – So. – Renton, Wash./Liberty HS
Mariah Titus – Sam Houston State – MF – Jr. – Bedford, Texas – Bell HS
Amanda Doyle – Stephen F. Austin – MF – So. – Carrollton, Texas/Hebron HS
Kristi O'Brien – Houston Baptist – D – So. – Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS
Lindsay Matlock – Houston Baptist – D – Sr. – Sacramento, Calif./St. Francis HS
Haley Lyons – McNeese State – D – Jr. – Frisco, Texas/Wakeland HS
Patty Walrath – Houston Baptist – GK – Sr. – Cypress, Texas/Cypress Woods HS
 
Honorable mention: Yvette Franco, F, AMCC; Hanna Barker, F, SFA; Baylee Mitchell, F, ACU; Maggie Ramsey, MF, SLU; Tiffany Ysassi, MF, ACU; Leslie Snider, MF, ACU; Allison Abdendschein, MF, HBU; Rachel Owens, MF, SFA; Gabi D'Alesandro, MF, MCN; Blake Martin, MF, HBU; Jen Babcock, D, SLU; Erin Christ, D, SLU; Alyssa Gerner, D, ACU; Chantall Curry, D, SFA; Megan Bennett, D, SHSU; Caitlyn Schwarz, D, SHSU; Marie Lund, D, LU; Ashley Crabbe, D, UIW; Jackie Strug, D, NWLA; Christa Robinson, D, SFA; Kylie Hambleton, GK, SHSU; Megan Delaney, GK, AMCC; Bailey Fontenot, GK, LU.
 
Player of the Year: Zuri Prince, Stephen F. Austin
Freshman of the Year: Hanna Barker, Stephen F. Austin
Newcomer of the Year: Christa Robinson, Stephen F. Austin
Coach of the Year: Wally Crittenden, Stephen F. Austin