NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference’s 2024 women’s soccer campaign was full of surprises, milestones and impressive achievements in every corner of the league through the end of the postseason competition and awards season.
James Madison (12-4-5) won the Sun Belt’s regular season and tournament crowns for the first time, respectively, while claiming the latter in its third consecutive appearance in the conference title match to avenge heartbreaks in each of the two previous finales. JMU became just the ninth team in the league’s 25-year women’s soccer history to finish its conference schedule without loss with an 8-0-2 mark. The Dukes ranked among the most potent offenses nationally, ranking No. 5 in assists per game (2.76), No. 7 in total assists (58) and No. 19 in total points (144).
Three Sun Belt standouts earned 2024 United Soccer Coaches All-America honors, led by Lackey and Old Dominion sophomore defender Ashlynn Kulha on the third team. South Alabama sophomore forward Irene Campo collected a fourth team nod.
Fourteen Sun Belt players earned All-Southeast Region recognition, as James Madison, South Alabama and Texas State each earned three selections. App State and Old Dominion each earned two nods, as Georgia State added one. The Sun Belt placed two on the All-Southeast Region First Team, five on the Second Team, five on the Third Team and a pair on the Fourth Team.
Individually, freshman striker Ginny Lackey burst onto the scene after missing the team’s first five matches, becoming the first freshman in Sun Belt history to be named Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the same season. She was also distinguished as a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist. She scored at least one goal in nine consecutive matches between her second collegiate match on Sept. 15 at East Carolina and Oct. 23 against Arkansas State, as the Dukes went unbeaten during that span.
James Madison led the way with five all-conference team selections, including three first-team members and two more on the second team. Old Dominion was next with four honorees, followed by Texas State with three, as App State, Georgia Southern, and South Alabama had two selections apiece.
Old Dominion senior goalkeeper Emily Bredek and Georgia State sophomore striker Aaliyah Faddoul earned All-Sun Belt First Team honors for the second consecutive season. Additionally, Campo, James Madison senior midfielder Lexi Vanderlinden, App State graduate forward Izzi Wood and ULM senior midfielder Mara Grutkamp each collected All-Sun Belt recognition for the second time in their careers.
Academically, James Madison’s Lexi Vanderlinden earned a 2024 United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America Third Team nod as one of just 37 NCAA Division I players to be recognized across three teams. Collectively, Sun Belt women’s soccer teams combined for 56 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selections.
2024 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s All-Americans
Third Team
F | Ginny Lackey | Fr. | James Madison | Bolton, Manchester, England
D | Ashlynn Kulha | So. | Old Dominion | Holly Springs, N.C.
Fourth Team
M | Irene Campo | So. | South Alabama | Santander, Spain
2024 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
F | Ginny Lackey | Fr. | James Madison | Bolton, Manchester, England
2024 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s All-Southeast Region
First Team
F | Ginny Lackey | Fr. | James Madison | Bolton, England
D | Ashlynn Kulha | So. | Old Dominion | Holly Springs, N.C.
Second Team
F | Amanda Attanasi | Sr. | James Madison | Washington Township, N.J.
F | Madi Soumare | Jr. | Texas State | Paris, France
M | Irene Campo | So. | South Alabama | Santander, Spain
M | Lexi Vanderlinden | R-Sr. | James Madison | Seminole, Fla.
D | Kate Nicolson | Sr. | South Alabama | Stirling, Scotland
Third Team
GK | Emily Bredek | Sr. | Old Dominion | Huntington Beach, Calif.
F | Aaliyah Faddoul | So. | Georgia State | Ontario, Canada
F | Izzi Wood | Gr. | App State | Hickory, N.C.
M | Victoria Meza | So. | Texas State | San Salvador, El Salvador
D | Kennley Bradley | Sr. | Texas State | Ogden, Utah
Fourth Team
F | Monique Gray | Sr. | South Alabama | St. Petersburg, Fla.
M | Ellie Garrison | Fr. | App State | Trinity, N.C.
2024 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s Scholar All-American
Third Team
M | Lexi Vanderlinden | R-Sr. | James Madison | Seminole, Fla.