DENVER Senior midfielder Jenna Billingsley (Littleton, Colo.), sophomore midfielder Lizzy Carlson (Honolulu, Hawaii) and senior defender Elise Mascitelli (Denver, Colo.) were each named to the All-Sun Belt Conference First Team, while sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Snyder (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) earned a spot on the Second Team, the SBC announced today.
“It’s great for these players to get individual recognition,” head coach Jeff Hooker said. “We’re proud of them, and it’s especially nice to see the seniors who have contributed for so long to be honored.”
The 2007 SBC Preseason Player of the Year, Billingsley has earned the honor in each of her four seasons. This year, Billingsley leads the team with eight goals and 18 points. She is tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals, including the lone goal in the team’s 1-0 victory over then No. 1 Stanford. Billingsley was named the SBC Player of the Week on Sept. 25.
After an outstanding freshman campaign, Carlson played in all 18 games this season, starting 17. She is tied for second on the team with two assists and fourth with both three goals and eight points. Carlson recorded three-point efforts in back-to-back road games at UALR on Oct. 19 and Arkansas State on Oct. 21.
Mascitelli is part of a Denver defense that has allowed only 13 goals on the season. With a shutout percentage of 0.684, the DU defense ranks 40th in the NCAA and first in the SBC. Denver is tied for first in the SBC in shutouts (9) and ranks second with a 0.68 goals against average and goals allowed average (0.60). The Pioneers lead the league in allowing only five goals and registering a 0.43 goals against average in SBC games. Starting every game this season, Mascitelli has also contributed three assists and 18 shots to Denver’s offense.
Snyder was Denver’s top goalkeeper all season. She recorded seven shutouts on the season and split two others with the Pioneers’ backup keeper Cadie Crean. Snyder was second in the SBC in shutouts. In more than 1,663 minutes in goal this season, Snyder surrendered only 13 goals overall and five during SBC games, the best mark among starters in the conference. She was fourth during SBC games with an .865 save percentage. She ranked 39th in the NCAA with a goals against average of 0.703 and 74th with an overall save percentage of .827.
First Team All-Sun Belt
Alicia Tirelli (FAU, Sr. F)
Susanna Lehtinen (FAU, Sr. F)
Janaye Woods (North Texas, Fr., F)
Jenna Billingsley (Denver, Sr., MF)
Lizzy Carlson (Denver, So., MF)
Kendall Juett (North Texas, So., MF)
Alicia Dalby (WKU, Sr., MF)
Elise Mascitelli (Denver, Sr., D)
Dani Slavonic (North Texas, Sr., D)
Morgan Thomas (WKU, So., D)
Meredith Goodson (WKU, Sr., GK)
Second Team All-Sun Belt
Grace Rich (UALR, So., F)
Holly Grogan (Middle Tennessee, Sr., F)
Mallory Outerbridge (WKU, Fr., F)
Jannica Tjeder (FAU, So., MF)
Stephanie Lynch (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., MF)
Kathrine Andresen (Middle Tennessee, So., MF)
Janeke Simpkins (FAU, Jr. D)
Ingrid Christensen (Middle Tennessee, Sr., D)
Shundel Francis (South Alabama, So., D)
Rachel Friedman (WKU, So., D)
Mackenzie Snyder (Denver, So., GK)
Player of the Year
Morgan Thomas (WKU, So., D)
Newcomer of the Year
Jannica Tjeder (FAU, So., MF)
Freshman of the Year
Janaye Woods (North Texas, Fr., F)
Coach of the Year
Jason Neidell, WKU
The Pioneers begin the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Mobile, Ala., on Wednesday at 9 a.m.
