Loma McNeese earns second team honors, four Aggies named to third team; Ariana Ellison selected to CUSA All-Freshman team.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Story and Photo by Emilio Garcia for NMSU: Courtesy
Following a successful conference season that saw the Aggies record a 5-2-2 mark to finish third in the standings, Conference USA announced their postseason awards on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
Loma McNeese became the only Aggie to earn Second Team All-CUSA honors after tallying five goals and one assist in conference action, with eight goals and four assists overall. “I’m very appreciative for this award. I would love to give credit where it’s due and that’s to the rest of my team.” McNeese said. “I wouldn’t be recognized for these types of things without these girls. That being said, I wish more of them could have been recognized for their hard work and amazing talent. I’m excited to see what this tournament has in store for us!” Last season, McNeese posted six goals and six assists en route to earning CUSA Player of the Year, CUSA Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-CUSA.
A quartet of Aggies were selected for Third Team All-CUSA, with Brooke Schultz (2023 Second Team All-CUSA) and Valerie Guha (2023 CUSA All-Freshman Team) earning repeat selections, while Jena Johannes and freshman Andrea Alvarenga became first-time all-conference selections.
This season, Schultz paces the Aggies in assists (4), while ranking third on the team in goals (3), including a pair of game-winners against Big Ten opponent Oregon and Texas A&M-Commerce. In conference play, Schultz recorded one goal and one assist in 706 minutes.
Guha put together a strong season in the net for NM State, holding opponents to a GAA of 1.39 with a trio of shutouts along with 64 saves, helping the Aggies secure their third straight 10+ win season.
A commanding presence on the Aggie backline, Johannes earns her first CUSA honor after playing 1,218 minutes in 17 contests (16 starts), helping the Aggies post a pair of shutouts in Conference USA play along with their third consecutive 10+ win season.
True freshman Andrea Alvarenga made a name for herself as the Aggies turned to conference action, playing in all nine contests while making five starts and tallying one goal along with a trio of assists to pace the team in CUSA contests.
Contributing early and often for the Crimson & White, Ariana Ellison tallied the sole all-freshman honor for the Aggies, playing in all 18 contests (14 starts), tallying 1,163 minutes – seventh most on the team. On the season, Ellison scored one goal on eight shots while playing stifling defense from the wingback position. “I am so honored to be recognized as a freshman this year! It means so much to me because of all the hard work put into this season.”, said Ellison. “I couldn’t have reached this accomplishment without this amazing group of people that I get to be apart of who constantly push me to be my best and have already shown me their endless support. I am so grateful to be apart of such an incredible team and so happy to have them by my side.”
2024 Second Team All-CUSA
F: Tianna Rivera, Kennesaw State
F: Nikole Solis, FIU
F: Almanza Nancy, Jax State
F: Loma McNeese, NM State
MF: Catherine Rapp, FIU
MF: Gabby Miranda, Liberty
MF: Mina Rodriguez, UTEP
D: Zora Jackson, FIU
D: Delinda Sehlin, FIU
D: Kalli Matlock, LA Tech
GK: Valery Restrepo, FIU
2024 Third Team All-CUSA
F: Lexi Dendis, MTSU
F: Idun Kvaale, MTSU
F: Ana Quintero, UTEP
MF: Bri Myers, Liberty
MF: Risui Arasaki, MTSU
MF: Brooke Schultz, NM State
MF: Andrea Alvarenga, NM State
D: Lauren Spaanstra, MTSU
D: Jena Johannes, NM State
D: Andrea Nugent, Sam Houston
D: Wade Kendall, WKU
GK: Grace Workman, Liberty
GK: Valerie Guha, NM State
2024 CUSA All-Freshman Team
Alexis Castle, Jax State
Haley Noblit, Liberty
Avery Paulsen, Liberty
Isabella Wedemeyer, Liberty
Lexi Dendis, MTSU
Aireona Duenez, MTSU
Ariana Ellison, NM State
Indigo Sims, Sam Houston
Ana Quintero, UTEP
Sydney Williams, UTEP
Abby Wiedermann, WKU
The Aggies will kick off the 2024 Women’s Soccer Championship from FIU Soccer Stadium on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. MT, as they take on #6 Jacksonville State. For complete coverage of NM State Women’s Soccer, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of Aggie athletics – and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateWSOC), Instagram (@nmstatewsoc) and like us on Facebook (NM State Women’s Soccer).
