Petrucelli, Five Student-Athletes Earn AAC Honors
Nov 1 | Women's Soccer
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (SMU/AAC) – SMU head coach Chris Petrucelli was name the American Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year, and five student-athletes were named to AAC All-Conference teams, the league announced Tuesday.
After selected to finish ninth out of 10 in the preseason coaches poll, Petrucelli led SMU to a third-place regular season finish and its first conference tournament appearance since 2014. The Mustangs posted a 12-5-1 record, with a 6-2-1 mark in conference play, their best finish since the founding of The American.
Freshman Allie Thornton and sophomore Vanessa Valadez were named to the AAC All-Conference First Team after leading the team with a combined 19 goals and 49 points. Thornton, who was also named to the All-Rookie team, leads the Mustangs with 10 goals and is second with 23 points. Valadez has nine goals and has a team-best 26 points.
Senior Taylor Barg and junior Claire Oates were selected to the AAC All-Conference Second Team. Oates has tallied eight goals, five game-winners, and 18 points. Barg, SMU's starting center back, anchored the SMU back line and helped hold opposing teams to 1.11 goals per game.
Along with Thornton, Jessica Cooley earned All-Rookie Team honors. Cooley won the starting right-back job early in the season and has helped anchor the SMU back line. She has been credited with eight assists.
The No. 3-seeded SMU women's soccer team takes on sixth-seeded UCF in the first round of the American Athletic Conference Championship Wednesday. The game is slated for 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 CT, at the Joseph J. Morrone Stadium in Storrs, Conn. The match can be seen on the American Digital Network, with live stats available online at SMUMustangs.com.
After selected to finish ninth out of 10 in the preseason coaches poll, Petrucelli led SMU to a third-place regular season finish and its first conference tournament appearance since 2014. The Mustangs posted a 12-5-1 record, with a 6-2-1 mark in conference play, their best finish since the founding of The American.
Freshman Allie Thornton and sophomore Vanessa Valadez were named to the AAC All-Conference First Team after leading the team with a combined 19 goals and 49 points. Thornton, who was also named to the All-Rookie team, leads the Mustangs with 10 goals and is second with 23 points. Valadez has nine goals and has a team-best 26 points.
Senior Taylor Barg and junior Claire Oates were selected to the AAC All-Conference Second Team. Oates has tallied eight goals, five game-winners, and 18 points. Barg, SMU's starting center back, anchored the SMU back line and helped hold opposing teams to 1.11 goals per game.
Along with Thornton, Jessica Cooley earned All-Rookie Team honors. Cooley won the starting right-back job early in the season and has helped anchor the SMU back line. She has been credited with eight assists.
The No. 3-seeded SMU women's soccer team takes on sixth-seeded UCF in the first round of the American Athletic Conference Championship Wednesday. The game is slated for 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 CT, at the Joseph J. Morrone Stadium in Storrs, Conn. The match can be seen on the American Digital Network, with live stats available online at SMUMustangs.com.
--SMUMustangs.com--
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