DBU the favorite for another LSC Women's Soccer title; Severide, Allen, Heelan named preseason players of the year
DBU is predicted to win a fifth consecutive Lone Star Conference women's soccer championship according to the 2023 preseason poll, it was announced on Friday (Aug. 18). DBU's Annie Severide and Rachel Allen also claimed preseason player of the year honors along with West Texas A&M's Reagan Heelan.
The preseason poll and preseason players of the year are voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
DBU totaled 504 points and collected 37 of the possible 39 first-place votes. Head coach Marcus Wood's Patriots were 17-2-1 overall and 10-1-1 in league play last season. They reached the third round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship. DBU, which also won the LSC tournament crown in 2022, finished the season ranked in the top 10 in the country by the United Soccer Coaches.
Four-time LSC champion Angelo State was picked as the conference runner-up with 457 points. The Rambelles, who have reached NCAA postseason play the last two years, finished 13-4-3 overall and 8-3-1 in league play last season.
Eight-time conference champion West Texas A&M was the third-place selection with 412 points and one first-place vote. Lubbock Christian was picked in the fourth-place spot with 351 points, followed by St. Mary's (339 points), St. Edward's (318 points), four-time LSC champion Midwestern State (299 points), UT Tyler (219 points), Texas A&M International (182 points), Oklahoma Christian (149 points), Texas Woman's (127 points), Eastern New Mexico (114 points) and UT Permian Basin (78 points). St. Edward's picked up final first-place vote.
Severide was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The junior forward from Colleyville, Texas scored 12 goals – five game-winners – and added four assists last season
Allen was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The junior from Waxahachie, Texas spearheaded a unit that allowed just 12 goals all season. The next closest was 16.
Heelan was named Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. The junior from Kearney, Neb. Logged nine shutouts last season and had a .779 goals against average – both ranked second in the LSC.
Additionally, 34 players – 12 offensive, 13 defensive, and nine goalkeepers – were selected for the LSC Women's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch list. The student-athletes were nominated by their member institution.
The LSC women's soccer season begins as early as the Aug. 31-Sept. 2 weekend. The seven-team LSC Women's Soccer Championship will be held Nov. 7 (quarterfinals), Nov. 10 (semifinals) and Nov. 10 (final). The No. 1 seed receives a first-round bye. The quarterfinals will be held on campus, while the semifinals and title match will be hosted by the No. 1 seed.
2023 LSC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL, AWARDS
Preseason Poll
Rank School 1st Total
1 DBU 37 504
2 Angelo State 457
3 West Texas A&M 1 412
4 Lubbock Christian 351
5 St. Mary's 339
6 St. Edward's 1 318
7 Midwestern State 299
8 UT Tyler 219
9 Texas A&M International 182
10 Oklahoma Christian 149
11 Texas Woman's 127
12 Eastern New Mexico 114
13 UT Permian Basin 78
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Annie Severide, F, Jr., DBU
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Rachel Allen, D, Jr., DBU
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Reagan Heelan, GK, Jr., West Texas A&M
Offensive Players to Watch
Name School Class Pos. Major Hometown
Katelin Heise Angelo State Sr. MF Ex. Science Lubbock ,Texas
Michelle Gonzalez DBU Sr. MF Kinesiology Garland Texas
Abby Ditzler Eastern New Mexico So. F Forensic Science Keller, Texas
Graycen Rasmussen Lubbock Christian So. MF Physical Therapy Joshua, Texas
Lexi Beck Midwestern State Jr. MF Management Fort Worth, Texas
Kyla Lovelace Oklahoma Christian Jr. F Interdis. Studies Mustang, Okla.
Katie Gay St. Edward's Sr. F Envir. Sci & Policy Plano, Texas
Juni Ejere St. Mary's Sr. F Business Weatherford, Texas
Krysan St. Louis Texas A&M International Sr. F Business Admin. Vieux-fort, Saint Lucia
Bri Luna Texas Woman's So. MF Business Arlington, Texas
Tatiana Leggiero UT Permian Basin Jr. MF Engineering Scotia, N.Y.
Sydnee Garner UT Tyler Sr. MF Tech-Industrial Midlothian, Texas
Defensive Players to Watch
Name School Class Major Hometown
Harper Saxon Angelo State Sr. Exercise Science Bluff Dale, Texas
Rachel Allen DBU Jr. Management Waxahachie, Texas
Sierra Villanueva Eastern New Mexico Jr. Social Work Aztec, N.M.
Kenley Blevins Lubbock Christian Jr. Psychology Lubbock, Texas
Janae Sanchez Midwestern State Sr. Applied Art & Sci. Wichita Falls, Texas
Brooklyn Fink Oklahoma Christian Sr. Accounting Moore, Okla.
Maddi Davis St. Edward's Sr. Digital Media Mngmt. Spring, Texas
Jackie Miller St. Mary's Sr. Business Admin. El Paso, Texas
Marta Forne Texas A&M International Sr. Business Admin. Pineda de Mar, Spain
Alyssa Valdez Texas Woman's Jr. Business Admin. Dallas, Texas
Hayley Sawyer UT Permian Basin Sr. Criminal Justice Midland, Texas
Brooklyn Robinson UT Tyler Sr. Accounting Spring, Texas
Alexsis Villarreal West Texas A&M Jr. Business Mansfield, Texas
Goalkeepers to Watch
Name School Class Major Hometown
Samantha Jeffries Eastern New Mexico Sr. Filmmaking Albuquerque, N.M.
Reagan Carter Lubbock Christian Jr. Grad. Counseling Mineral Wells, Texas
Lexi Jackson Midwestern State Jr. Education Lubbock ,Texas
Ashlee Jackson Oklahoma Christian Sr. Interior Architecture Mustang, Okla.
Rebecca Difronzo St. Mary's Jr. Business Bari, Italy
Fabiana Solano Texas A&M International Sr. Kinesiology San Jose, Costa Rica
Amanda Farris Texas Woman's Jr. Marketing Bryan, Texas
Daniella Wilken UT Tyler Jr. Psychology Herning, Denmark
Reagan Heelan West Texas A&M Jr. Civil Engineering Kearney, Neb.
