Smolik and Nimtz lead class of four Bulldogs to garner All-SCAC honors

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference announced Wednesday that four Texas Lutheran women's soccer players were named to the All-SCAC Teams. 

Jaclyn Smolik and Bailey Nimtz were named to the Second Team, and Aubrie Wells and Monique Sierra garnered Honorable Mention.
 
The All-SCAC teams were voted on by the eight conference coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
 
Smolik (Katy, Texas), a junior forward, was one of the top goal scorers in the conference. Her team-leading nine goals put her fourth in the conference. Smolik played in all 16 matches and made 15 starts for the Bulldogs. She finished first on the team in total points, with 18. Smolik also led the squad in game-winning goals with four. She scored all four game-winners, all in conference action, against Southwestern, Schreiner (twice), and Austin College. 
 
Nimtz (New Braunfels, Texas), a junior midfielder, finished on a high note after also earning a spot, for the second consecutive year, on the Second Team. She was tied for third on the team in shots on goal (12) and third in total shots (25). 
 
Wells and Sierra earned Honorable Mention from the conference. Wells (Houston, Texas) was crucial to the Bulldogs' success, along with the rest of the Bulldog back line, Wells' efforts were key to the Bulldogs' strong defense. Wells saw action and made starts in all 16 matches this season, recording one goal against Austin College.  
 
Sierra (San Antonio, Texas) came into the TLU program this year as a freshman and immediately claimed her hold on a starting midfield position. She finished the year with four goals and one assist for a total of nine points. She was fourth on the squad in total shots with 16, including 11 on goal. 
 
Trinity University was rewarded for its unbeaten regular season – the 10th straight for the program – as the Tigers walked away with at least a share of all four of the league's major awards. Chelsea Cole was voted SCAC Offensive Player-of-the-Year for the second consecutive year, Kristen Canepa was tabbed Defensive Player-of-the-Year, and Alex Walsh earned SCAC Newcomer-of-the-Year honors.

In addition, Trinity head coach Dylan Harrison, along with Linda Hamilton of Southwestern University, both earned a share of Coach-of-the-Year honors as the two split the vote in the coaches' balloting.

The Bulldogs finished the year with an overall record of 8-5-3, and went 7-4-2 in conference play and qualified for the SCAC Championship Tournament as the No. 3 seed. TLU will face University of Dallas (No. 6 seed) tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in San Antonio, Texas at Trinity's McGinlay Soccer Field.