Women's Soccer 10/25/2023 3:00:00 PM

Beiler Named Back-To-Back ASUN Player of the Year, Bisons Dominate Post-Season Awards

ATLANTA, Ga. – After an impeccable 2023 regular season campaign, the Lipscomb women's soccer team earned a myriad of accolades from the Atlantic Sun Conference as announced by the league office Wednesday morning. Kelli Beiler earned her second consecutive ASUN Player of the Year Title, Logan McFadden was tapped for the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year title for the second time in her career, Bella Carapazza was named the ASUN Freshman of the Year, and Head Coach Kevin O'Brien was named the ASUN Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career.

In addition, the squad saw nine members named to various All-Conference teams with Kelli Beiler, Logan McFadden, Katia Hanger, and Shelby Craft named ASUN First Team All-Conference and Sara Kile, Lucy Ream, and Marcella Cash named to the ASUN Second Team All-Conference.

Kiara Pralle and Bella Carapazza rounded out the Bisons' All-Conference appearances with spots on the ASUN Third Team Conference and the ASUN All-Freshman team respectively.

"In soccer, the greatest team awards are not possessed by an individual, but are collectively earned by the heart, hustle, and unity of every player on the team. In our program, every accolade achieved is a shared triumph and a testament to the power of teamwork," said Coach O'Brien. "Through unwavering dedication, unparalleled community, and an unyielding passion for the game, our All-Conference players have helped us not only win the regular season conference championship, but have also led us to the coveted #1 seed. Their impact on the field is not measured in goals (or goals stopped) alone, but in the heart and soul they've poured into every training session and match, proving that champions are made through sheer commitment and relentless spirit."

KELLI BEILER – PLAYER OF THE YEAR AND FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
As the reigning 2022 AUSN Player of the Year and ASUN Scholar Athlete of the Year, Kelli Beiler put together another impeccable season for the Bisons after making the move from midfielder to forward and renewed her claim to the title once more. While starting and appearing in 18 matches, she recorded a tied-for-conference high 57 shots, a tied-for-conference-high 26 shots on goal, a conference leading 13 goals, a conference leading 27 points, and a conference leading six game-winning goals. Beiler stands tied for fourth in the nation in game-winning goals, tied for fourth in the nation in penalty kicks made, tied for ninth in the nation in total goals, tied for 19th in the nation in total points, 20th in the nation in goals per game, and tied for 40th in the nation in points per game. With her career-high 13th goal this season, Beiler tied the Lipscomb women's soccer program record for total goals (34) and stands just one goal behind the program record for single season goals (13-of-14) as well as standing at 70 career points, just eight behind the program record of 78 points. For her efforts, Beiler has earned the 2023 ASUN Preseason Player of the Year title, a selection to the 2023 ASUN Preseason All-Conference Team, a selection as a 2023 United Soccer Coaches Forward to Watch, two ASUN Player of the Week titles, a TSWA Player of the Week title, and a ranking at #74 on the 2023 United Soccer Coaches Top-100 College Players mid-season list. With her input on the field, the Bisons have out-scored their opponents 38-16, out-shot their opponents 343-169, and have collected 14 wins over the regular season, including 10 shutout wins in conference play.

LOGAN McFADDEN – DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR & FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Logan McFadden has put together an incredible 2023 campaign so far for the Bisons as a keystone on Lipscomb's back line with start in all 19 of the squad's regular season matches and claimed the second ASUN Defensive Player of the Year title of her career. As a center back for the Purple and Gold, McFadden has served as one of the primary factors that held opposing teams to just 16 goals over the season. With her voice coaching the rest of the Bisons' defense, Lipscomb's opponents combined for just 169 shots with 10 matches in which the Bisons held their opponents to 10 shots or less. On the other hand, McFadden has stepped up into scoring territory when necessary and has recorded five shots, landing four of them on-target, and has earned two goals for the Purple and Gold to help the squad record 38 goals so far this season. One of the most notable defenders in Lipscomb Women's Soccer history, Logan was named the 2023 ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, a 2023 United Soccer Coaches Defender to Watch, and was named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19^th following a week in which the Bisons outshot their opponents 29-9 and outscored them 3-0.

BELLA CARAPAZZA – FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR & ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Bella Carapazza has made a splash in the first year of her collegiate career, appearing in all 19 of Lipscomb's matches so far this season and earning 11 starts and claim the 2023 ASUN Freshman of the Year title. A spitfire in the midfield, Carapazza has become a dependable presence for the Bisons with her ferocious speed helping her to both interrupt and shut down opposing offenses and to slip past opposing defenses for scoring opportunities of her own. Carapazza has recorded 23 total shots this season, the fifth-highest total shot count on the squad and the highest of the Bisons' freshmen, landing 12 shots on-target for a .552 shot-on-goal percentage. Carapazza's diligence helped the Bisons out-shoot their opponents 343-169 and to outscore them 38-16. She herself stands tied for fourth on the squad in total goals as she has added three goals to the tally, first with a penalty kick goal against North Alabama, then again with a brace against Austin Peay. Carapazza has also proved adept at creating scoring chances for her fellow Bisons, logging a pair of assists in her freshman campaign to total eight points, the fifth-highest total point count on the squad and the highest of the squad's freshmen.

HEAD COACH KEVIN O'BRIEN – COACH OF THE YEAR
Kevin O'Brien has coached the Bisons to a dominant 2023 season. The squad faced an intimidating non-conference schedule, taking on three Power-5 opponents at home in their first few matches of the season, but the Bisons rose to the challenge and not only scored a goal against No. 7 Alabama, the squad took home a 2-1 win over Ole Miss. The Bisons only grew in confidence and ability under O'Brien's influence, the squad put on an incredible showing in ASUN play, recording 10 shutouts against conference opponents and allowing just one goal in conference play. The Bisons worked together seamlessly and created an overwhelming presence on the field, recording a 343-169 shot differential for an 18.1-8.9 shot-per-game differential between the Bisons and their opponents. O'Brien's squad combined for 38 total goals this season while also working together to allow just 16 goals across all of their opponents. The Bisons were only out-shot three times this season and in turn held their opponents to ten shots or less in ten matches. Under O'Brien's direction, the Bisons have had the 2023 ASUN Preseason Player of the Year, the 2023 ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, the 2023 ASUN Preseason Midfielder of the Year, three 2023 United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch, nine ASUN Player of the Week selections, a TSWA Player of the Week Selection, and a player selected to TopDrawerSoccer's Team of the Week. The Bisons lead the ASUN in goals, goals-per-game, assists, assists-per-game, points, points-per-game, shots, shots-on-goal, are tied for first in the ASUN in shutouts, and are tied for third in the conference in goals-allowed. O'Brien's team boasts the conference's top goal-scorer, top shot-taker, top game-winning goal scorer, top shot-on-goal taker, and top-points earner. His squad has a player to tied for fourth in the nation in game-winning goals, tied for fourth in the nation in penalty kicks made, tied for ninth in the nation in total goals, tied for 19th in the nation in total points, 20th in the nation in goals per game, and tied for 40th in the nation in points per game. Under O'Brien's direction, Lipscomb's squad has earned a 14-4-1 record, setting a new program record for wins in the regular season and sitting just one win behind the program record for total wins in a season (15 wins, set in 2018 and 2021).

SHELBY CRAFT – FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Shelby Craft has performed impeccably for the Bisons this season, competing and starting in all 19 of Lipscomb's matches so far this season. Craft has been a critical part of Lipscomb's lineup in their 2023 campaign - her predominant presence in the midfield has helped the Bisons to their 14-4-1 record, highlighted by 11 shutouts, 10 of which were earned against conference opponents. Her eye for the field has helped her dish out four assists this season for four total points. Craft's physical prowess in the midfield has enabled her to serve as one of the main nuisances for opposing offenses - the Bisons' opponents have combined for just 169 shots over the season - while also maintaining an offensive mindset of her own with 29 total shots - helping the Bisons to their overwhelming 343 total shot count this season. With her input on the field, the Bisons have out-scored their opponents 38-16, out-shot their opponents 343-169, and have collected a program-high 14 wins over the regular season, including 10 shutout wins in conference play. Well-known for her indomitable speed and persistence in the midfield, Shelby is a two-time ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, a four-time ASUN First Team All-Conference selection, a two-time United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Region selection, a two-time United Soccer Coaches Player to Watch for Midfielders, the 2021 ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and a five-time ASUN Defensive Player of the Week.

KATIA HANGER – FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Katia Hanger has been an incredible mainstay on Lipscomb's back line this season, competing and starting in 17 of Lipscomb's matches this season. Hanger has been a centering presence for Lipscomb's defense as one of the squad's primary center backs. With her eye for the field and her notorious slide tackles, she has helped the Bisons hold opposing offenses to just 169 shots and an average of just 8.9 shots per game. Hanger has been an offensive threat to opponents as well, she added a goal of her own against Jacksonville to help push the squad to their 5-0 victory with her second career goal and her first goal since returning from injury last season. She was back on the attack once more against Austin Peay when she logged the game-winning goal 64 minutes into the action to send the Bisons towards their 4-0 victory. Under her tenure, the Bisons have only been out-shot three times this season and have recorded 11 shutouts towards their 14-4-1 record this season, setting a new program record for wins in the regular season. With her influence on the back line, Lipscomb has outscored their opponents 38-16 and have tallied an overwhelming 343 shots this season, averaging 18.1 shots per game as a team while holding their opponents to ten shots or less in ten matches this season. For her contributions, Hanger was named ASUN Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 26^th.

MARCELLA CASH – SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Marcella Cash has put together an incredible 2023 campaign for Lipscomb, competing in all 19 matches the squad has played in so far. Cash has been a standout off the sideline for the Bisons, recording the third highest shot count on the squad (39), standing tied for second on the squad in total goals this season (5), and ranking third on the squad in total points (10) so far this season. Cash recorded the game-winning goal in Lipscomb's match against Kennesaw State, securing Lipscomb's 2023 ASUN Regular Season Champion title in the 76th minute of action. Cash has recorded shots in 15 of Lipscomb's matches, putting up two or more shots in 12 matches and highlighted by a career-high seven shots against Central Arkansas. With her aggressive presence on Lipscomb's front line, the Bisons have out-shot their opponents in 16 matches with a total of 343 shots this season and an average of 18.1 shots per game. This overwhelming offensive presence has earned the Bisons a 14-4-1 record with 11 shutout wins for the squad, setting a new program record for wins in the regular season.

SARA KILE – SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Sara Kile has performed impeccably between the pipes in her first season with the Bisons. After transferring to Lipscomb in the spring of 2023 from Purdue, Kile has established herself as one of the most influential netminders in program history. With 18 starts this season, Kile has amassed 1,578 minutes in goal for Lipscomb and has allowed 16 goals, only one of which came from an ASUN opponent. She has faced 161 shots and delivered 54 saves, resulting in a conference-third .913 goals-against-average. As the Bisons' defensive anchor, Kile has coached the Bisons' defense to allow just 169 shots from all of their opponents and has helped the squad tally 11 shutouts this season, nine of which came solely from Kile, putting her tied for second in the ASUN in total shutouts. Upon starting conference play, Kile recorded seven consecutive shutouts, totaling just over 665 minutes without allowing a goal until FGCU recorded the only goal scored against the Bisons in regular season ASUN play, after which she has been perfect once more. With her influence from the net, the 2023 ASUN Regular Season Champion Bisons have earned a 14-4-1 record – setting a new program record for wins in a regular season and including a 2-1 win over SEC opponent Ole Miss. For her efforts in goal, Kile was recognized twice as the ASUN Goalkeeper of the Week in her first season with the squad.

LUCY REAM – SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Lucy Ream has been an incredible presence on the field for the Bisons this season, competing in all 19 of Lipscomb's matches so far this season and earning 18 starts. After transferring in from EKU in the spring of 2023, Ream has become a mainstay in the midfield for the Bisons with her speed and temerity making her a constant nuisance for Lipscomb's opponents. Offensively, Ream has been a key finisher for the Bisons, taking 22 shots and landing eight of them on target. She has totaled three goals and three assists this season for the Bisons, tying her for fourth on the team in goals and tying her for fifth on the squad in assists. Ream's contributions have been a key piece to Lipscomb's 343-169 shot differential and 38-16 goal differential from their opponents this season and have helped the Bisons to secure their 2023 ASUN Regular Season Champion title with a 14-4-1 record, highlighted by 10 conference shutout wins.

KIARA PRALLE – THIRD TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Kiara Pralle has put together an incredible 2023 campaign in her first season with the Bisons. Since she transferred to Lipscomb in the spring of 2023, Pralle has quickly become a dependable presence on the top line for the Bisons. Her speed and stamina have helped Pralle become one of the most dangerous forwards for the squad, hassling opposing offenses into giving up possession in their own end of the pitch and creating scoring chances left and right for the squad. Pralle has become one of the top goal-scorers for the Bisons and stands tied for second on the team and seventh in the conference in total goals with five. She has also dished out four assists this season, including one in the Bisons 2-1 victory over SEC foe Ole Miss, to total 14 points this season, ranking her second on the squad and sixth in the conference in total points. With Pralle on the prowl up front, the Bisons have out-shot their opponents 343-169 and out-scored them 38-16 to collect a 14-4-1 record, earning 11 shutouts and setting a new program record for wins in a regular season.

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