Bulldogs pile up 7 All-MACCC awards
PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast began stacking awards following the most successful season in program history, piling up a conference-best seven honorees on the Women's Soccer All-MACCC Team.
The group was led by keeper Laurel Conley, defender Millie Jebb-Geer, midfielder Anna Katherine Thriffiley and forward Laylah Johnson, who earned First Team spots. Defender Bri Gasaway and forward Linda Mustered were named to the Second Team, with midfielder Vanessa Radojevic on the Honorable Mention list.
The Bulldogs, who earned their first berth in the NJCAA Championship, tied with Holmes for the most awardees with seven. Northwest Mississippi had six, and Pearl River four.
The four First Teamers also automatically earn All-NJCAA Region 23 honors and will be eligible for All-American selection.
Gulf Coast won the first game at the national tournament in school history, falling by one goal in the final pool game with a chance to advance to the NJCAA semifinals. The Bulldogs finished 13-4-1.
Laurel Conley, First Team
Conley, a sophomore keeper from Ocean Springs, earned her second All-MACCC selection, having been named to the Second Team last year. She was third in the conference with a 0.97 goals-against averge, and her .845 save percentage was third-best. Conley posted a 9-3-1 record with two shutouts, and she was part of two other clean sheets.
Millie Jebb-Geer, First Team
Jebb-Geer, a sophomore defender from Dronfield, England, was the leader at central defender of a Bulldogs defense that ranked second in the conference with a miserly 0.77 goals-against average. She also wreaked havoc on the offensive end with her powerful free-kick prowess, picking up six assists.
Anna Katherine Thriffiley, First Team
Thriffiley, a freshman midfielder from Biloxi, finished second on her team with 10 goals while adding six assists. A skilled playmaker, she had two-goal games against Pearl River and Southwest Mississippi.
Laylah Johnson, First Team
Johnson, a sophomore forward from Gulfport, is on the All-MACCC team for the second time, having been named to the Second Team in last year's injury-shortened campaign. She led the Bulldogs with 11 goals and tied for the team lead with seven assists. The speedy attacker had two-goal games against East Mississippi and Itawamba.
Bri Gasaway, Second Team
Bri Gasaway, a sophomore defender from Ocean Springs, earned her second All-MACCC spot after being Honorable Mention as a freshman. She was a leader as a central defender of a Bulldogs defense that was second-best in the conference with a 0.77 goals-against average
Linda Mustered, Second Team
Mustered, a sophomore from Biloxi, tied for the team lead with seven assists and had nine goals, third-most on the squad. A speedy threat down the right wing, she had a hat trick against Hinds and two goals against Itawamba in back-to-back games down the stretch.
Vanessa Radojevic, Honorable Mention
Radojevic, a freshman midfielder from Sciez, France, had six goals in her first Bulldog campaign. A skilled player, her calling card was memorable long-range goals. She also added three assists.
For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.
