NORFOLK, Va. – Jackie Stroud of the Old Dominion women’s soccer team was named the 2017 Conference USA Defender of the Year on Tuesday, as announced by C-USA officials and voted on the league’s head coaches.Stroud was also named to the All-Conference USA First Team, while Iris Achterhof and Natalie Johnson garnered Third Team accolades. Carla Morich was named to the All-Freshman Team.
Jackie Stroud – No. 14/D/RS Sr.
Jackie Stroud leads team in goals (5) and game-winners (3), and is second on squad for points (13), as a defender. Stroud has also dished out three assists (fourth on team). She has played every minute of all 16 matches she has played in this season. The team captain has been instrumental in ODU allowing just one goal or less in 13 of 17 games. Stroud is a two-time Defender of the Week in 2017. She has helped lead Old Dominion to its best ever season in the C-USA and the program’s best season since 2008. Stroud was an All-Conference USA honoree last year.
Natalie Johnson – No. 2/F/RS Jr.
Natalie Johnson is second on the team with four goals, two game-winners and four assists. Johnson is third on team with 12 points. All four of her goals came in C-USA play, two being game-winners at UTSA and against North Texas [RV], while the other two being the goal that tied the match at Southern Miss and at LA Tech. Johnson has also played defense this season, proving her versatility.
Iris Achterhof – No. 10/F/Jr.
Iris Achterhof leads the team in assists with seven (third most in Conference USA) and points with 15. She also has scored four goals, which is tied for second most on the team. Her two goals in the regular season finale against defending C-USA champions, Charlotte, sealed the deal for Old Dominion’s best season since 2008 and best ever finish in the league. Achterhof was an All-Conference USA honoree last season and Freshman of the Year in 2015.
Carla Morich – No. 8/MF/Fr.
As a true freshman, Morich has started every single game this season and is tied for first on the team for assists with seven. In her first career collegiate game, she dished out three assists in ODU’s win over George Mason. She also had an assist against UTEP, Rice, North Texas [RV] and Charlotte. Against second place North Texas, she also scored her first college goal in ODU’s first ever win over the Mean Green. She has played nearly every minute this year.
No. 5 seeded Old Dominion will take on No. 4 seeded LA Tech in the Quarterfinals of the 2017 Conference USA Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 1:30 p.m. EST. This match can viewed live on C-USA TV.
First Team
GK: Kelsey Daugherty, UAB
D: Jackie Stroud, ODU
D: Dominique James, North Texas
D: Ebba Blomqvist, Florida Atlantic
D: Ola Akinniyi, Southern Miss
MF: Samantha Chaiken, Rice
MF: Amy Brewer, UAB
MF: Nomvula Kgoale, LA Tech
F: Martha Thomas, Charlotte
F: Nia Stallings, Rice
F: Megan Greene, Charlotte
F: Annie Walker, Rice
Second Team
GK: Maya Hoyer, Rice
D: Haley Laque, LA Tech
D: Sydney Navarro, Middle Tennessee
D: Ashely Seltzer, Marshall
MF: Asta Arnadottir, Florida Atlantic
MF: Rachel Green, UAB
MF: Becky McMullan, Southern Miss
MF: Hannah Chua, WKU
F: Peyton DePriest, Middle Tennessee
F: Aaliyah Nolan, North Texas
F: Victoria Bohdan, UTEP
F: Jordan Sackaris, Marshall
Third Team
GK: Allison Leone, WKU
D: Lauren Crenshaw, UTEP
D: Louise Stephens, Rice
D: Audria Wood, UAB
D: Brittnye Lawson, North Texas
MF: Nicole Roseland, WKUU
MF: Rebecca Keane, Rice
MF: Kelley Suggs, Charlotte
MF: Cameron Cox, Middle Tennessee
F: Elisha Holmes, Florida Atlantic
F: Iris Achterhof, ODU
F: Natalie Johnson, ODU
Freshman Team
Rebecca Keane, Rice
Miah Zuazua, Southern Miss
Peyton DePriest, Middle Tennessee
Victoria Bohdan, UTEP
Audria Wood, UAB
Carla Morich, ODU
Meredith Hamby, Charlotte
Gabi Clark, LA Tech
Abby Stapleton, Charlotte
Tally Bishop, WKU
Ashlyn Kitterman, Florida Atlantic
Regan Kommor, UAB
Rene Ross, Marshall
Sierra Moss, FIU
Offensive Player of the Year
Martha Thomas, F, Charlotte
Midfielder of the Year
Samantha Chaiken, MF, Rice
Defensive Player of the Year
Jackie Stroud, D, ODU
Goalkeeper of the Year
Maya Hoyer, Rice
Freshman of the Year
Peyton DePriest, F, Middle Tennessee
Coach of the Year
Nicky Adams, Rice