A pair of Blue Raiders received All-Conference USA recognition Tuesday as the conference office announced its postseason award winners and all-conference selections, which are voted on by the league’s head coaches.
Middle Tennessee sophomore defender Sydney Navarro was named to the All-C-USA Third Team while freshman forward Salera Jordan represents the Blue Raiders on the All-C-USA Freshman Team.
“I’m really happy for both of those players,” Head Coach Aston Rhoden said. “They were very consistent in their play throughout the season and truly deserve the recognition they received from the conference coaches.”
Navarro anchored the Blue Raider defense in 2016, starting all 17 games and playing over 1,500 minutes at center back on the year.
The Claremont, Calif., native has started 31 consecutive games for MT dating back to 2015 and notched a set piece assist this season against UAB.
Jordan saw time in the midfield and at forward in 2016, starting each of the first 16 matches before missing the season finale due to injury.
The stellar freshman led the team in goals (7), points (15), shots (51) and shots on goal (24) and was the first Blue Raider to log seven goals in a season since 2013.
She logged nearly 1,400 minutes across 16 games in her freshman campaign.
2016 C-USA WOMEN’S SOCCER AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year
Martha Thomas, Charlotte
Midfielder of the Year
Samantha Chaiken, Rice
Defensive Player of the Year
Jenny Fichera, Rice
Goalkeeper of the Year
Sydney Drinkwater, Florida Atlantic
Freshman of the Year
Megan Greene, Charlotte
Coach of the Year
Jason Neidell, WKU
All-Conference USA First Team
F: Martha Thomas, Charlotte
F: Kathryn Sloan, Louisiana Tech
F: Nia Stallings, Rice
MF: Sydney Arnold, Marshall
MF: Samantha Chaiken, Rice
MF: Aleah Davis, UTEP
MF: Nicole Roseland, WKU
D: Erica Burt, Florida Atlantic
D: Jenny Fichera, Rice
D: Olivia Fitzgerald, WKU
GK: Sydney Drinkwater, Florida Atlantic
All-Conference USA Second Team
F: Megan Greene, Charlotte
F: Sammy Rowland, Florida Atlantic
F: Rachel Holden, North Texas
F: Iris Dunn, WKU
MF: Katie O’Neill, Charlotte
MF: Marchelle Davis, North Texas
MF: Kathryn Hill, Old Dominion
D: Nomvula Kgoale, Louisiana Tech
D: Jaclyn Stroud, Old Dominion
D: Jasmine Isokpunwu, Rice
GK: Allison Leone, WKU
All-Conference USA Third Team
F: Jordan Sackaris, Marshall
F: Iris Achterhof, Old Dominion
F: Katie Richmond, Southern Miss
F: Chandler Backes, WKU
MF: Mary O’Hara, Florida Atlantic
MF: Asta Arnadottir, Florida Atlantic
MF: Becky McMullan, Southern Miss
D: Riley Orr, Charlotte
D: Sydney Navarro, Middle Tennessee
D: Carissa Sanders, North Texas
GK: Alyssa Palacios, UTEP
Conference USA All-Freshman Team
Megan Greene, F, Charlotte
Riley Orr, D, Charlotte
Mary O’Hara, MF, Florida Atlantic
Elisha Holmes, F, Florida Atlantic
Jaelyn Peeples, MF, Louisiana Tech
Jordan Sackaris, F, Marshall
Salera Jordan, F, Middle Tennessee
Erin Mikeska, MF, Rice
Samantha Colley, GK, Rice
Lauren Crenshaw, F, UTEP
Jordyn Lacy, F, UTSA
Chandler Backes, MF, WKU
