Photo by Luke Zayas/True To The Cru
BELTON- The 2022 season just got a little bit better for the UMHB women’s soccer team.
Three days after winning its first ASC title in program history, and four days prior to the NCAA Tournament opener in San Antonio, the Crusaders were well-represented on the ASC’s postseason awards and All-Conference teams, which were released Tuesday.
The duo of head coach Barry Elkins and assistant Charis Hill earned the ASC’s Coaching Staff of the Year award, leading UMHB to a near-perfect 17-0-1 record as the Cru became the first ASC program other than Hardin-Simmons to win a conference championship since 2002.
Kristen Burdick, the ASC Tournament MVP, was named the ASC’s Defensive Player of the Year, after a stellar senior season. The Flower Mound, Texas native played 1,447 minutes, a team-high, while anchoring the back line for the Cru, which allowed just seven goals during the course of the regular season and zero goals in ASC Tournament wins over McMurry and Hardin-Simmons. Burdick also earned First Team All-ASC honors.
Joining her on the First Team were five of her teammates; defender Maren Fields, forwards Maria Rico and Mackenzie Worthy, and midfielders Shay Taylor, and Kelsey White.
Fields has started 17 games for the Cru this season, contributing to the back line that has put together 12 shutouts this far. Rico continued her offensive prowess this season, leading the ASC in goals, with 10, points (22), and shots on goal (29). Also on the offensive attack, Worthy tallied three game-winning goals, and ranked fourth in the ASC in points, with 17. Taylor and White have been stellar in the midfield for UMHB, with Taylor playing 1,331 minutes and aiding the defensive efforts greatly, while While contributed to the ASC’s top offense in 18 starts.
UMHB’s season continues on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT, when the Crusaders make the program’s second NCAA Tournament appearance, facing Pacific Lutheran. There will be more to come on UMHB women’s soccer in a feature later this week. Stay tuned.
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