SoCon Announces Women's Soccer Preseason Awards 

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's soccer team is looking forward to the 2023 season after finishing the 2022 season in a thrilling nature at the women's soccer Southern Conference (SoCon) Tournament.
 
UNCG earned 67 points for second place and received one first-place vote. Samford, the defending SoCon Regular and Tournament Champions, were the preseason favorites with 77 points and seven first-place votes.
 
Three Spartans were named to the preseason All-Conference Team, fifth-year Gabi Santora, senior Parker Sikora, and sophomore Emma Malone.
 
2023 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
 
1. Samford (7)               77
2. UNCG (1)                 67
3. Mercer                      65
4. Chattanooga (2)        64
5. Western Carolina       48
6. Furman                     40
7. ETSU                       34
8. The Citadel               26
9. Wofford                     20
10. VMI                        9
 
() denotes first-place votes
 
Gabi Santora
Preseason All-Conference Team
Fifth Year | Midfielder | Boca Raton, Fla.
 

• SoCon All-Freshman Team (2019)
• All-SoCon Honor Roll (Spring 2021)

During the 2022 season

• Finished the season by leading nationally in penalty kicks (2022)
• CSC Academic All-District® Team (2022-23)
• Appeared and started in all 21 games
• Had two game-winning goals
• Was the season leader in assists with six in total

 
 
Parker Sikora
Preseason All-Conference Team
Senior | Defender | Elk Grove, Calif.
 

• All-SoCon Honor Roll (Spring 2021)

During the 2022 season 

• CSC Academic All-District® Team (2022-23)
• All-Conference first team (2022)
• Appeared and started in all 21 games
• Recorded two goals on the season
• She notched two assists
• Was apart of defense that averaged 1.17 goals against, which was fourth in the SoCon

 
Emma Malone
Preseason All-Conference Team
Sophomore | Goalkeeper | Wallingford, Conn.
 
During the 2022 season 

• Named All-SoCon Freshman Team
• Appeared in 11 games during her freshman year
• Notched a 5-1-3 record in net
• Posted 28 total saves on the season
• Recorded a game-high of eight saves against Samford on Nov. 6
• Faced 29 total shots and only allowed four goals

 
2023 Women's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
 
F    Nieva Gaither, Furman
F    Jada Moorman, Mercer
F    Taylor Yount, Samford
F    Isabella Demarco, Western Carolina
MF Gabi Santora, UNCG
MF Whitaker Buchanon, Samford
MF Mackenzie Smith, Chattanooga
D    Celeste Nader, The Citadel
D    Parker Sikora, UNCG
D    Kylie Gazza, Samford       
GK Emma Malone, UNCG