Rock Hill, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs had five players earn all-conference honors Wednesday morning when the South Atlantic Conference women's soccer awards were announced. Graduate student goalkeeper Abbey Frail is a first team All-SAC selection, along with junior defender Kristen DeBiase and sophomore midfielder McKenna DeLong. In addition, sophomore defender Chandler Hendrix and freshman midfielder Jess LaFrancis earn second team all-conference accolades.

Frail earns All-SAC honors for the first time in her career. She has started all 17 games this season, posting a 12-3-2 record while piling up nine shutouts. Frail ranks second in the SAC with a 0.60 goals-against average and third with an .821 save percentage. She registered four saves in the Anderson shutout, while registering three saves in Wingate's 1-0 victory at Newberry. Frail notched four more saves in the Barton shutout, while piling up five saves in the victory at Carson-Newman. She had six saves in against Catawba in the regular season finale, while collecting five more saves in the 2-0 win against Anderson in the SAC Tournament quarterfinals. "Abbey is our captain and leader," Interim head coach Jack Vundum says. "She has been so important for us this year in terms of the way we play."

DeBiase earns first team All-SAC honors for the first time in her career. The junior earned honorable mention accolades as a freshman in 2017. DeBiase has started all 16 games she has appeared in in 2019, playing over 1300 minutes while anchoring a Bulldog defense that ranks second in the SAC with a 0.63 goals-against average. Wingate also ranks second in the league with nine shutouts on the year. The 'Dogs allowed a conference-low six goals in 10 SAC games. In addition to her dominant defense, DeBiase also scored a pair of goals. She found the back of the net in the season opener, while scoring the game-winner in the 1-0 victory at Newberry. "Kristen has been an absolute mountain for us all season," Vundum says. "She has it all."

DeLong earns first team all-conference accolades for the first time in her career. The sophomore was an honorable mention selection last year. DeLong has four goals on the season, ranking third on the team in goals and fifth in points. She scored both goals in Wingate's 2-0 victory at Coker. She scored again in the 3-1 victory at Chowan. DeLong found the back of the net in the 1-1 tie against Belmont Abbey. "What a team player McKenna is, Vundum says. "She has a fantastic work rate and is a threat in every game."

Hendrix earns All-SAC honors for the first time in her career. The sophomore has started all 17 games, playing a huge role in the dominant defensive effort. Hendrix has played nearly 1500 minutes on the season, helping the Bulldogs limit opponents to 0.63 goals per game and just 8.1 shots per contest. In addition to her defensive efforts, Hendrix has played a key role offensively, netting four goals including two game winners. She has successfully converted all three penalty kicks this season. She scored her first goal in the Anderson win, while finding the back of the net against at Mars Hill. Hendrix scored the game-winner against Salem, while also netting the game-winner in Saturday's SAC Tournament quarterfinal victory over Anderson. "Chandler is starting to realize her full potential and will go from strength to strength," Vundum says.

LaFrancis earns all-conference recognition in her first season at Wingate. The freshman has appeared in all 17 games this season, making 15 starts while playing nearly 1200 minutes. She has a goal and three assists on the year, and is another key part of the 'Dogs piling up nine shutouts and allowing well under a goal per game. LaFrancis registered an assist in the 3-0 win against Anderson, while also collecting an assist in the victory at Mars Hill. Her first career goal came against Lenoir-Rhyne. LaFrancis also notched an assist against Barton. "Jess has had a fantastic first year and has such an exciting career ahead," Vundum says.

The Bulldogs are the number two seed in this week's SAC Tournament. Wingate is back in action Friday, taking on Queens in the SAC Tournament semifinals at 7 p.m. in Matthews. The winner advances to Sunday's SAC title match at 4 p.m. The 'Dogs are looking to advance to the SAC title match for the ninth time in 10 years.

2019 Women's Soccer All-SAC

First Team
F – Aqsa Mushtaq, Lenoir-Rhyne
F – Jessica Cravero, Lincoln Memorial
F – Nia Gaither, Queens
F – Hannah Van Eerden, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Jovana Sanchez, Catawba
MF – McKenna DeLong, Wingate
MF – Maria Hernandez, Lincoln Memorial
MF – Neve Duston, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Christina Shimshock, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Katie Beck, Catawba
D – Ermelinda Pantaleao, Lincoln Memorial
D – Kristen DeBiase, Wingate
GK – Abbey Frail, Wingate

Second Team
F – Daphne Heyaime, Newberry
F – Emilee Futrell, Carson-Newman
F – Shelby Vasich, Catawba
F – Sanne Martinsen, Mars Hill
MF – Abigael McGarel, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Lulu Phan, Queens
MF – Kristina Markfort, Carson-Newman
MF – Jess LaFrancis, Wingate
D – Aleisha Cruwys, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Chandler Hendrix, Wingate
D – Beatrice Gards, Carson-Newman
D – Jente Kuper, Carson-Newman
GK – Shelby Thompson, Catawba

Honorable Mention
F – Erin Cepeda, Anderson
MF – Karen Juarez, Queens
MF – Jacqueline Aldrete, Newberry
MF – Addie Henry, Carson-Newman
MF – Emma rose Stockton, Queens
D – Kenzie Ellenburg, Tusculum
D – Thenia Zervas, Lincoln Memorial
D – Emma Harms, Newberry
GK – Charlotte Warner, Lenoir-Rhyne

Offensive Player of the Year:  Aqsa Mushtaq, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Player of the Year:  Katie Beck, Catawba
Freshman of the Year:  Nia Gaither, Queens
Coach of the Year:  Gary Higgins, Lenoir-Rhyne
Fair Play Award:  Lincoln Memorial

Stat Champions
Goals per Match: Jessica Cravero, Lincoln Memorial | 0.89
Points per Match: Jessica Cravero, Lincoln Memorial | 1.94
Assists per Match: Thenia Zervas, Lincoln Memorial | 0.94
Goals Against Average: Charlotte Warner, Lenoir-Rhyne | .590
Save Percentage: Jayleen Grant, Newberry | .865
Shutouts: Charlotte Warner, Lenoir-Rhyne | 10
Team Points per Match: Lincoln Memorial | 8.11
Team Goals per Match: Lenoir-Rhyne | 3.18
Team Assists per Match: Lincoln Memorial | 2.33
Team Shutouts: Lenoir-Rhyne | 10
Team Goals Against Average: Lenoir-Rhyne | .590
Team Winning Percentage: Lenoir-Rhyne | .882

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
A comprehensive, independent and growing university, Wingate serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Founded in 1896, the University offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as graduate and professional programs. Wingate is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. Wingate blends in-class exploration with out-of-class application to deliver an uncommon and life-changing educational experience.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 13 years. Wingate is first in the 2000s among NCAA Division II and North Carolina's colleges and universities with 113 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 122 lifetime Academic All-America® honorees. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com. Current news and videos can be found at www.wingate.edu.