COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M Soccer held its annual awards banquet Saturday evening to celebrate the 2016 campaign, in which the Aggies earned their 22nd consecutive NCAA Championship bid.
The positional Most Valuable Player honors highlighted the banquet with Mikaela Harvey once again named the Midfield MVP, Emily Bates selected the Offensive MVP and goalkeeper Danielle Rice tabbed the Defensive MVP.
Grace Piper was awarded Newcomer of the Year and Haley Pounds was recognized for leading the team in both goals and assists in the 2016 campaign. Jenna Byers earned the Maximum Performance Award for her dedication in the area of strength, conditioning, and sports performance.
Sarah Shaw and Danielle Rice received the 12th Man Award and Spirit of Aggieland Award, respectively, for their positive attitudes as teammates, leaders and Aggies. The Perseverance Award honors were shared by Bates and Byers.
After starting her 2016 season fresh off a trip to the Olympics with the South Africa National Team, Stephanie Malherbe was awarded the title of Most Improved Player.
For her performance in the classroom, Kate Hajdu earned the newly minted Lafield Academic Excellence Award. Hajdu earned Academic All-District VII distinction from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
The event also honored athletes and staff in several athletic and academic areas. Awards include recognition from various soccer media organizations and other outlets apart from Texas A&M University.
In 2016, the Aggies finished the season with a 12-7-2 record, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Championship.
TEAM AWARDS
Offensive MVP: Emily Bates
Midfield MVP: Mikaela Harvey
Defensive MVP: Danielle Rice
Leading Scorer: Haley Pounds
Leading Assists: Haley Pounds
Perseverance Award: Emily Bates and Jenna Byers
Newcomer of the Year: Grace Piper
12th Man Award: Sarah Shaw
Spirit of Aggieland Award: Danielle Rice
Most Improved: Stephanie Malherbe
Maximum Performance Award: Jenna Byers
Lafield Academic Excellence Award: Kate Hajdu
CONFERENCE, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS
NSCAA All-South Region: Danielle Rice – Second Team (goalkeeper)
CoSIDA Academic All-District VII: Kate Hajdu - First Team (midfielder)
All-SEC: Haley Pounds – Second Team (forward); Danielle Rice – Second Team (goalkeeper)
SEC All-Freshman Team: Grace Piper
NSCAA 2015-16 Team Academic Award
NSCAA 2016 Ethics and Sportsmanship Bronze Award
SEC Academic Honor Roll: Emily Bates, Jenna Byers, Brittany Crabtree, Katherine Hajdu, Ashlynn Harryman, Jordan Hill, Claudette Lassandro, Stephanie Malherbe, McKayla Paulson, Haley Pounds, Danielle Rice, Taylor Saucier, Sarah Shaw, Callyn Walton, Grace Wright
SEC Community Service Award: Sarah Shaw
NCAS PlayMaker of the Month: Sarah Shaw
MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List: Mikaela Harvey
TDS Final Top 100: Haley Pounds (No. 63)
TDS Final Top 100 Freshmen: Grace Piper (No. 42)
TDS Midseason Top 100: Mikaela Harvey (No. 31); Haley Pounds (No. 62)
TDS Midseason Top 100 Freshmen: Grace Piper (No. 68)
TDS Preseason Top 100: Mikaela Harvey (No. 18); Haley Pounds (No. 65)); Emily Bates (No. 87)
SEC Player of the Week: 9/12 – Danielle Rice (defensive); 10/24 – Haley Pounds (offensive) & Grace Piper (freshman)
FIFA Player of the Match: 11/25 – Ally Watt – USA U20 vs. Mexico U20
The positional Most Valuable Player honors highlighted the banquet with Mikaela Harvey once again named the Midfield MVP, Emily Bates selected the Offensive MVP and goalkeeper Danielle Rice tabbed the Defensive MVP.
Grace Piper was awarded Newcomer of the Year and Haley Pounds was recognized for leading the team in both goals and assists in the 2016 campaign. Jenna Byers earned the Maximum Performance Award for her dedication in the area of strength, conditioning, and sports performance.
Sarah Shaw and Danielle Rice received the 12th Man Award and Spirit of Aggieland Award, respectively, for their positive attitudes as teammates, leaders and Aggies. The Perseverance Award honors were shared by Bates and Byers.
After starting her 2016 season fresh off a trip to the Olympics with the South Africa National Team, Stephanie Malherbe was awarded the title of Most Improved Player.
For her performance in the classroom, Kate Hajdu earned the newly minted Lafield Academic Excellence Award. Hajdu earned Academic All-District VII distinction from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
The event also honored athletes and staff in several athletic and academic areas. Awards include recognition from various soccer media organizations and other outlets apart from Texas A&M University.
In 2016, the Aggies finished the season with a 12-7-2 record, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Championship.
TEAM AWARDS
Offensive MVP: Emily Bates
Midfield MVP: Mikaela Harvey
Defensive MVP: Danielle Rice
Leading Scorer: Haley Pounds
Leading Assists: Haley Pounds
Perseverance Award: Emily Bates and Jenna Byers
Newcomer of the Year: Grace Piper
12th Man Award: Sarah Shaw
Spirit of Aggieland Award: Danielle Rice
Most Improved: Stephanie Malherbe
Maximum Performance Award: Jenna Byers
Lafield Academic Excellence Award: Kate Hajdu
CONFERENCE, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS
NSCAA All-South Region: Danielle Rice – Second Team (goalkeeper)
CoSIDA Academic All-District VII: Kate Hajdu - First Team (midfielder)
All-SEC: Haley Pounds – Second Team (forward); Danielle Rice – Second Team (goalkeeper)
SEC All-Freshman Team: Grace Piper
NSCAA 2015-16 Team Academic Award
NSCAA 2016 Ethics and Sportsmanship Bronze Award
SEC Academic Honor Roll: Emily Bates, Jenna Byers, Brittany Crabtree, Katherine Hajdu, Ashlynn Harryman, Jordan Hill, Claudette Lassandro, Stephanie Malherbe, McKayla Paulson, Haley Pounds, Danielle Rice, Taylor Saucier, Sarah Shaw, Callyn Walton, Grace Wright
SEC Community Service Award: Sarah Shaw
NCAS PlayMaker of the Month: Sarah Shaw
MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List: Mikaela Harvey
TDS Final Top 100: Haley Pounds (No. 63)
TDS Final Top 100 Freshmen: Grace Piper (No. 42)
TDS Midseason Top 100: Mikaela Harvey (No. 31); Haley Pounds (No. 62)
TDS Midseason Top 100 Freshmen: Grace Piper (No. 68)
TDS Preseason Top 100: Mikaela Harvey (No. 18); Haley Pounds (No. 65)); Emily Bates (No. 87)
SEC Player of the Week: 9/12 – Danielle Rice (defensive); 10/24 – Haley Pounds (offensive) & Grace Piper (freshman)
FIFA Player of the Match: 11/25 – Ally Watt – USA U20 vs. Mexico U20