University of Tennessee Athletics
Trio of Vols Earn SEC Postseason Recognition
October 30, 2016 | Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Tennessee had a trio of players earn Southeastern Conference postseason honors as announced by the league office on Sunday. Hannah Wilkinson, Rylie O’Keefe and Maya Neal all received accolades as UT had its most players recognized since 2011.
All-SEC First Team
- F – Kristen Dodson (Auburn)
- F – Savannah Jordan (Florida)
- F – Savannah McCaskill (South Carolina)
- F – Hannah Wilkinson (Tennessee)
- MF – Claire Kelley (Arkansas)
- MF – Casie Ramsier (Auburn)
- MF – Meggie Dougherty Howard (Florida)
- MF – Chelsea Drennan (South Carolina)
- D – Kiana Clark (Auburn)
- D – Gabby Seiler (Florida)
- D – Paige Bendell (South Carolina)
- D – Kaleigh Kurtz (South Carolina)
- GK – Mikayla Krzeczowski (South Carolina)
- At-Large – Marion Crowder (Georgia)
- At-Large – Melanie Donaldson (Missouri)
All-SEC Second Team
- F – Mallory Eubanks (Mississippi State)
- F – Sarah Luebbert (Missouri)
- F – Sophie Groff (South Carolina)
- F – Haley Pounds (Texas A&M)
- MF – Brooke Ramsier (Auburn)
- MF – Summer Clarke (LSU)
- MF – Gretchen Harknett (Ole Miss)
- MF – Kaitlyn Clark (Missouri)
- MF – Rylie O’Keefe (Tennessee)
- D – Jessi Hartzler (Arkansas)
- D – Qyara Winston (Arkansas)
- D – Caroline Waters (Georgia)
- D – Lauren Selaiden (Missouri)
- GK – Sarah Le Beau (Auburn)
- GK – Danielle Rice (Texas A&M)
- At-Large – Kristen Cardano (Florida)
- At-Large – Cristina De Zeeuw (Vanderbilt)
SEC All-Freshmen Team
- Stefani Doyle (Arkansas)
- Kayla McKeon (Arkansas)
- Bri Folds (Auburn)
- Karli Gutsche (Auburn)
- Julia Lester (Florida)
- Marissa Bosco (Kentucky)
- Evangeline Soucie (Kentucky)
- Sarah Luebbert (Missouri)
- Mikayla Krzeczowski (South Carolina)
- Maya Neal (Tennessee)
- Grace Piper (Texas A&M)
- Grace Jackson (Vanderbilt)
Major Award Winners
- Coach of the Year
Shelley Smith (South Carolina) - Offensive Player of the Year
Savannah McCaskill (South Carolina) - Defensive Player of the Year
Kaleigh Kurtz (South Carolina) - Freshman of the Year
Sarah Luebbert (Missouri) - Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Casie Ramsier (Auburn)
Wilkinson led the way for the Volunteers after being named first-team All-SEC for the second time in her illustrious career on Rocky Top. The New Zealand native led the team and posted career highs with 10 goals, nine assists and 29 points. Wilkinson ranked in the top four of the SEC in goals (T-4th), assists (2nd) and points (T-3rd) this season and finished second in the league with seven assists in conference play. Her big season also helped her climb numerous record lists at Tennessee, as she moved up to second on UT’s career goals chart with 32 and into third on the Vols’ all-time points list with 82. Wilkinson is the fourth player in program history to earn All-SEC first-team accolades in multiple seasons, joining Keeley Dowling (2002-04), Ali Christoph (2004-06) and Kylee Rossi (2006-08).
O’Keefe earned All-SEC second-team honors after a breakout season. The super sophomore tied for the team lead with nine assists, which also ranks tied for sixth nationally. Her five goals and 19 points are both career bests and rank second on the team. The Littleton, Colo., native also led the Big Orange with three game-winning goals this season.
For the third straight year the Vols had a player earn SEC All-Freshmen accolades as Neal was named to the team this season. The Naperville, Ill., native tied for third on the team with three goals and had seven total points this season. Neal played a big part in Tennessee’s midseason turnaround after moving from forward to center back, helping the Orange and White post four shutouts in conference play. She joins Katie Cousins (2015) and Carlyn Baldwin (2014) as active Vols who have received SEC All-Freshmen Team honors.
South Carolina, who finished the regular season undefeated and ranked second in the nation, took home Coach of the Year (Shelley Smith), Offensive Player of the Year (Savannah McCaskill) and Defensive Player of the Year (Kaleigh Kurtz) honors. Missouri’s Sarah Luebbert won SEC Freshman of the Year and Auburn’s Casie Ramsier was named the league’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year. All-conference teams and major awards were voted on by the league’s 14 head coaches. The full release can be seen on the SEC's official website HERE.
