AUBURN, Ala. – Coming off its 19th consecutive trip to the SEC Tournament, the Auburn soccer program celebrated last fall's achievements at its annual team banquet Saturday night.
Along with the team accolades, plenty of individual hardware was also handed out at the banquet. A list of awards is included below.
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Bri Folds
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Sarah Houchin
Rookie of the Year: Sydney Richards
Barbara Camp Unsung Hero: M.E. Craven – presented to the player who was crucial to the performance of the team and went under the radar.
Most Improved Player: Kori Locksley
Coaches' Award: Kate Hart – voted on by the coaching staff and based on a players' attitude and dedication.
Spirit Award: Maggie Van Thullenar – awarded to the player who best represents Auburn soccer both on and off the field.
Captain Award: Sarah Houchin and Jessie Gerow
Academic Captain Award: Alyssa Malonson
Folds, who also earned United Soccer Coached All-Southeast Region and Second Team All-SEC honors, led the team with six goals and 15 points. She matched a program record with a goal in four straight contests at the beginning of the season and finished her Auburn career ranked tied for fifth in game-winning goals (nine), tied for seventh in assists (25) and eighth in goals (24) and points (73). Folds went on to be selected in the 2020 NWSL Draft.
Houchin continued to play and start in every contests since stepping foot on campus in 2017 and led the team with 1,781 minutes played. Houchin again played an integral role as center back and contributed to six shutouts. She added three goals – the first of her Auburn career – and six points to help lead the Tigers.
Freshman Sydney Richards earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors after contributing four goals and nine points to lead all Auburn freshmen. Richards played in all 19 contests and started in 18. She tied for the team lead with two game-winning goals, one coming in a two-goal effort against Troy and the other in double overtime of the Iron Bowl of Soccer.
Unsung hero M.E. Craven played in 13 matches and made 10 starts before suffering a season-ending injury. She contributed to six shutouts and logged a career high seven shots as a threat on corner kicks.
Locksley was named the Most Improved Player of 2019 after recording career high in goals (two), assists (two) and points (six). Locksley tied for the team lead with two goals during conference play and ranked second with six points. She scored her first goal of her career against Tennessee, proving to be the game-winner and was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week after registering her second goal in a span of three matches against LSU the following week.
Graduate transfer Kate Hart made an immediate impact on the team as she played and started in every match in goal for the Tigers. Hart led the defensive unit to six shutouts on the season and ranked third in the league with 64 saves at the end of the regular season. She made a career high 10 saves in the SEC Tournament to push her total to 74.
Maggie Van Thullenar did not see the field in her first season with the program but impacted the team nonetheless. She was named to the 2019 SEC Community Service Team for her many service efforts both during and prior to her time at Auburn.
Senior Captain Jessie Gerow played in all 19 contests and earned stats as a forward in 11 matches. While serving as a team captain both on and off the field, she tied for second on the team with four goals and 10 points.
The following statistical award were also presented.
Golden Glove: Kate Hart (74 saves)
Golden Boot: Bri Folds (six goals)
Leading Scorer: Bri Folds (15 points)
Assist Leader: Hailey Whitaker (four assists)
Iron Woman: Sarah Houchin (1,781 minutes played)