Women's Soccer With Eight on All-Conference Team, Individual Awards & Coach of the Year
Marshall, Mo., (Nov. 5, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College women's soccer team has put eight of its student-athletes on the 2024 Heart of America Athletic Conference All-Conference Team for its play during the season. The team also captured several individual awards after its regular season conference championship.
Leading the selections is Junior Defender Marta Carrasco Mesa (Sevilla, Spain) who was named both the Heart Player of the Year and the Heart Defensive Player of the Year, in addition to a first team all-conference selection. Carrasco Mesa, a second team selection last season, is the first player in program-history to earn both the Heart Player of the Year and Heart Defender of the Year award. This season, Carrasco Mesa scored four goals and added three assists from the defender position, and helped a Viking defense that produced a 0.78 goals against average, which ranks second in the Heart.
Senior Forward Ashley Arribas (Lake Forest, Calif.) was named the Heart Offensive Player of the Year for the second time. Arribas earned the award in 2023, and was the Heart Newcomer of the Year in 2022. Named to the all-conference first team, Arribas finished the regular season with a team-high 12 goals and 27 points, adding three assists. The 27 points ranks fifth in the Heart this season, and Arribas has 99 total career points, and could become the first player in program-history to reach the 100 career point total. Arribas is now a three-time first team all-conference selection.
Freshman Defender Lucia Torres Vizcaino (Malaga, Spain) was named the Heart Freshman of the Year, and a first team all-conference selection. Torres Vizcaino becomes the first player in program-history to earn this conference award. During the regular season, Torres Vizcaino recorded two goals and two assists, and helped a defense that limited opponents to 64 total shots on goal.
Three other individuals were named to the all-conference first team, including Junior Midfielder Judit Ferre (Barcelona, Spain), Junior Forward Marlene Flores (Bolivia) and Sophomore Goalkeeper Marina Barbara Bujalance (Cornella Llobregat, Spain).
Ferre, a second team selection in 2023, finished this season tied for second in total points, with 20, scoring seven goals and leading the team with six assists. Flores was second on the team with eight goals and 20 points, adding four assists on the season. Barbara Bujalance became the first goalkeeper in program-history to earn first team all-conference honors, and finished the season with a 0.83 goals against average, making 50 saves, and helping the team to nine shutouts.
Two more Vikings were named to the all-conference second team. Junior Midfielder Carla Carmona (Barcelona, Spain) registered four goals and five assists, for 13 points on the regular season, and Junior Midfielder Madi Hudson (Sanbach, England) finished the regular season with three goals, three points, and nine assists.
Also earning a conference award was Head Coach Drew Hawkins, who was named the Heart Coach of the Year. Hawkins earned the award for the first time in his 17-year career, and becomes the second coach in program-history to earn the honor, joining Derek Burton in 2002. The team carries a 13-3-1 record into the postseason. The 13 wins is tied for the most in a regular season for the program since 1993.
"I am so proud of this team, and these players," said Hawkins. "Individual success is always a reflection of the team's success, including my award, which could not have been possible without my tremendously talented coaching staff, and the support of the college's administration. We've had an historic regular season and look forward to the postseason."
The women's soccer team is ranked No. 18 Nationally, and will be the No. 1 seed in the Heart Postseason Tournament. The team's quarterfinal game against Mount Mercy (Iowa) will be tonight (Tuesday) at 7 p.m., inside Volney C. Ashford Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Mustangs, at home, 5-1 back on Sept. 14. As the regular season Heart champion, the women's soccer team has already secured an automatic berth into the 2024 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship, which starts later this month.
All-Conference Team-Click Here
About Missouri Valley College
Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.