Crick, de Jong, Yousey, and Davison Headline All-SAC Honors
OKLAHOMA CITY – Okla. – On Wednesday morning, the Sooner Athletic Conference announced their postseason awards for women's soccer and the Drovers hauled in a staggering 13 awards after one of the best regular seasons in program history. Highlighting those honors was Niall Crick being selected as Coach of the Year, while Ilse de Jong earned overall Player of the Year honors as well as Offensive Player of the Year. Kylie Yousey was voted the league's Defensive Player of the Year, and Ashlee Davison earned Freshman of the Year. Five Drovers earned spots on the first team all-conference, along with three more players on the second team.
Niall Crick - SAC COACH OF THE YEAR
Niall Crick earns his first SAC Coach of the Year honor after leading the Drovers to a 15-1-1 record in the regular season, along with a share of the conference's regular season championship. The Coach of the Year award is the sixth in program history, with legendary coach Jimmy Hampton having won the previous five (2011, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2022).
Crick in his second season as the program's head coach, after spending 11 years as an assistant coach at USAO. As the head coach, he has led the Drovers to an incredible 31-8-1 win-loss record.
He originally came to USAO in 2008 on a soccer scholarship and was a four-year soccer player for the Drover men. Additionally, he was a member of three teams that made the National Tournament. He was a two-time NAIA All-American and won numerous other awards as a player, prior to graduating in April 2012
Ilse de Jong - SAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR & SAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ilse de Jong made a massive impact in her sophomore season, claiming the league's Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year honor. It is the fifth time in program history that a Drover has earned the award for the league's top player (Jade Ovendale – 2014, Emma Rice – 2019, 2021, 2022). Furthermore, it is the eighth time that a Drover has earned the award for the league's top offensive player (Jade Ovendale – 2014, Cristina Ramos – 2018, Emma Rice – 2019, 2020, 2021, Alicia Rey – 2022, 2023).
Through the first 20 games of the 2024 season, de Jong has tallied 14 goals and eight assists, for a total of 36 points. She ranks third in the conference in goals, fourth in assists, and fifth in total points.
In her 40-game career at USAO, she has recorded 18 goals, 11 assists, and 47 points.
Kylie Yousey - SAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kylie Yousey anchored the Drovers back line, which has led the Drovers to 17 wins so far this season. Yousey is the third player in program history to be recognized as the league's best defensive player (Zoe Watkins – 2017, Makena Wood – 2019).
In her career, she has appeared in 66 games and has produced two goals, three assists, and seven points.
Ashlee Davison - SAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Ashlee Davison immediately made her presence known in the SAC, tallying five goals and eight assists for a total of 18 points in her rookie campaign.
Davison is the fourth Drover to earn the award for the conference's top freshman (Emma Rice – 2018, Sara Vijfhuizen – 2019, Luna Knoester – 2022).
FIRST TEAM ALL-SAC
Daniela Salinas - Forward
- 18 goals, 4 assists, 40 points
- Ranks second in the conference in goals and third in points.
- Three-time SAC Offensive Player of the Week award this season.
Ilse de Jong - Midfielder
- 14 goals, 8 assists, 36 points
- One SAC Offensive Player of the Week award this season.
- Ranks third in the conference in goals, fourth in assists, and fifth in total points.
Dagbjort Gudmundsdottir - Midfielder
- 4 goals, 1 assists, 9 points
- 2nd All-SAC selection
Kylie Yousey - Defender
- 1 goal, 2 points
- 3rd All-SAC selection
Ashlyn Lonberg - Goalkeeper
- 46 saves, 1.07 goals against average, 14-2-1 record this season.
- 4-time SAC Defensive Player of the Week this season.
- Owns an incredible 25-3-1 record in her career.
SECOND TEAM ALL-SAC
Ashlee Davison - Forward
- 5 goals, 8 assists, 18 points
Mabel Cremers - Midfielder
- 2 goals, 1 assist, 5 points
Andria Harris - Defender
- 1 assist, 1 point
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Drovers now await the NAIA Selection Show to determine their postseason future, which will take place on November 16 at 1:00 PM CT on the Urban Edge Network.
Previously, USAO has made seven NAIA National Tournament appearances.
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