OKLAHOMA CITY -- Freshman goalkeeper Marely Fonseca was named Goalkeeper of the Year, joining senior Lauren Walter, sophomore Julia Lambert, and senior Renny Buchanan on the first team as the Sooner Athletic unveiled its 2024 All-Conference teams, the conference office announced Wednesday morning (Nov. 13).
Additionally, junior Aubrey Winter, freshman Katherine Keys, and sophomore Brooklyn Hendricks were selected to the All-SAC second team.
Fonseca, although a late arrival, dominated between the sticks through the SAC season by leading the league in both goals against (3) and save percentage (.850) – stopping 17 of 20 shots. Racking up a 7-1-0 record, the native Tican produced a league-leading six clean sheets in the eight matches she appeared in, making at least six saves on back-to-back occasions against then-No. 24 Science & Arts (Okla.) and at Mid-America Christian. Fonseca is the first freshman in program history to lead the Golden Eagles to both an SAC regular season title and tournament title in her debut season.
Walter, now the program's first-ever five-time All-Conference first team honoree and all-time leading scorer, led the Sooner Athletic in scoring with 23 points on seven goals and nine assists, netting points in six of nine league matches. Walter scored in each of John Brown's final five conference games and paced the conference in total shots (45) and shots on goal (23).
Lambert returns to the All-SAC first team for a second consecutive season after a breakout sophomore campaign that saw her lead the team in scoring. Finishing second in league scoring with 23 points, Lambert tallied a team-leading eight goals and six assists in conference play, and recorded goals in four of the eight matches she appeared in, including a four-goal outburst in John Brown's dismantling of Nelson (Texas). She followed this with a two-goal performance in the Golden Eagles' romp over Wayland Baptist (Texas). She also registered an assist on both JBU goals in the win over then-No. 24 Science & Arts, and added a three-assist effort in the Wayland Baptist match.
Buchanan, the reigning SAC Defensive Player of the Year, also returned to the first team for a second straight season, anchoring the Golden Eagles' defense that conceded a conference-low three goals—a conference-leading 0.33 goals-against average—and boasted seven clean sheets. Starting all nine conference matches, the JBU defender played the full 90 six times and recorded assists in back-to-back wins over Oklahoma Panhandle State and Oklahoma City to close out the regular season.
Winter returned to the All-SAC list, this time on the second team after contributing six goals and six assists (18 points) while appearing in all nine league games. The forward potted goals in consecutive matches to open conference play versus Texas Wesleyan and Southwestern Christian (Okla.) and later recorded a brace at Wayland Baptist. Winter also added goals against Nelson and Panhandle State to accompany assists in five of nine league matches. She assisted both goals in JBU's important win over Science & Arts and added an assist in both matches of the final road trip to Wayland and Panhandle State.
Keys lands on the All-Conference second team after an outstanding freshman season that included six goals and three helpers (15 points) in Sooner Athletic play. Most importantly, she contributed both goals in the 2-0 pivotal win over Science & Arts and added a brace, including the game-winner, in the 4-1 win at Panhandle State. Keys also added one goal and one assist in the 12-0 win at Wayland.
Hendricks, another mainstay for the league-leading defensive corps, earns her first-career All-SAC nod. She started all nine league matches, going the distance three times while helping the Golden Eagles allowing opponents just over four shot attempts per SAC match. Hendricks recorded an assist in wins at Central Christian and Panhandle State, but primarily assisted Buchanan and Fonseca in limiting opponents to just 0.33 goals against over the nine-match league gauntlet.
After winning its fifth-consecutive Sooner Athletic tournament crown, the Golden Eagles await to find out who, when, and where the Blue and Gold will face in the NAIA National Championships. The official NAIA Selection Show is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon (Nov. 16) and will debut on the new Urban Edge Network. Fans can find the streaming link on the women's soccer schedule page.
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