Rey Claims Second Consecutive SAC Offensive Player of the Year Award; Six Drovers Recognized as All-Conference

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – On Saturday, the Sooner Athletic Conference announced their postseason awards for women's soccer and Alicia Rey highlighted a list of six Drovers that were recognized with all-conference selections. Rey earned her second consecutive SAC Offensive Player of the Year award as the league's top offensive player. Rey, along with Laura Barrantes and Kylie Strotman were selected as first-team All-SAC performers, while Luna Knoester, Dagbjort Gudmunsdottir, and Caitlin Worthington each landed on the second-team.

Alicia Rey earned her fourth consecutive first-team all-conference selection to add to her trophy case that also includes a pair of SAC Offensive Player of the Year awards, five SAC Player of the Week awards, and an NAIA All-American selection. 

This season, Rey leads the NAIA in goals scored (24) and ranks No. 3 in points (59). Furthermore, she claimed the SAC triple crown by leading the league in goals, assists (11), and points. She has been selected as the SAC Player of the Week four times this season, which is the most in the conference. In her career, Rey has produced 68 goals, 38 assists, and 174 points in 77 games played.

For her efforts controlling the midfield, Laura Barrantes has been recognized as a four-time All-Conference selectee so far. This season, Barrantes has produced five goals, two assists, and 12 points.

During her time at USAO, she has helped lead the Drovers to three NAIA National Tournaments, three SAC Championships, and a staggering win-loss record of 79-17-2 (.806 win percentage). Throughout her career at USAO, Barrantes appeared in 97 games and has recorded 19 goals and 16 assists for a total of 54 points. 

Kyleigh Strotman once again anchored the USAO defense and produced a goal and a pair of points to earn her second consecutive all-conference recognition. In her career, Strotman has appeared in 43 games and has tallied one goal, three assists, and five points.

Luna Knoester earned her second All-SAC selection in as many seasons. In 2022, Knoester was honored as the SAC Freshman of the Year, and she continued her success in 2023, tallying two goals, three assists, and seven points from the midfield position. In her career at USAO, Knoester has appeared in 36 games and has recorded four goals and four assists for a total of 12 points. 

Dagbjort Gudmunsdottir was one of the top freshmen in the conference this season and earned a spot on the second-team All-SAC after she recorded five goals and seven assists for a total of 17 points, which ranked as the second most on the team. 

In her first season as a Drover, Caitlin Worthington appeared in 17 games and dished out four assists. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will return to the pitch for the first game of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday, November 4 at McLaughlin Field. The Drovers will be the No. 3 seed in the tournament and will host No. 6 seed Texas Wesleyan University. When USAO and Texas Wesleyan met earlier this season on Oct. 21 at McLaughlin Field, the Drovers cruised to a 7-1 victory. The Drovers own an 11-2-2 against the Rams all-time, dating back to September of 2011, and USAO has outscored TX Wes 43-15 in those head-to-head matchups. 

The Drovers have won seven tournament championships in their history, and they have appeared in eight consecutive SAC Tournament championship games.

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