Marshall University Athletics
@HerdWSoccer Duo Earns All-Conference USA Honors
11/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
IRVING, Texas - Marshall women's soccer midfielders Kelly Culicerto (Charlotte, N.C.) and Sydney Arnold (Stafford, Va.) have earned first and second team All-Conference USA honors, respectively, the league announced on Tuesday.
The awards are the first of each player's career. Culicerto, a junior, is the first player in Thundering Herd history to earn first team All-C-USA honors. Arnold, a sophomore, is the third Marshall player to make the second team, and is the first since Erika Duncan -- now an assistant coach for the Herd -- did in 2010.
"I'm thrilled for them both," coach Kevin Long said. "It says great things about the future of our program: that we're doing the right things and moving in the right direction."
This is the seventh consecutive season that a Marshall player has earned All-C-USA honors, and the awards mark the fourth time -- and the first time since 2010 -- that the Herd has placed two or more players on an all-league team in a single season.
This year, Culicerto has scored twice in three matches, leading Marshall past Eastern Illinois (Aug. 29), UAB (Oct. 17) and Southern Miss (Oct. 14). The Herd is 5-0-0 when she finds the net, and she and older sister Kristine Culicerto (Charlotte, N.C.) lead the Herd with eight goals and one assist apiece for 17 points. Her 69 shots are the most since Angela DeSumma fired 77 in 2011.
"Kelly is one of the most, if not the most dominant player in the center midfield," Long said. "While there are other types of midfielders that do a great job in the conference, it's great to see that Kelly was recognized. I have to feel that coaches across the conference recognize her ability to win balls in the air as well as her distribution. She's a central part of our team - kind of the hub that keeps everything together - offensively and defensively. A first-team selection is something that we've been looking for and we've been excited about for many years. I couldn't think of a better player to receive it."
Arnold is second on the Herd with nine points on career-highs of three goals and three assists. In addition to netting the 2-1 game-winner versus Appalachian State (Sept. 7), Arnold contributed a goal against Eastern Illinois (Aug. 29) and FIU (Oct. 30). Her three assists rank second on the team, and she has started all but one match of her two-year career.
"Sydney has been dangerous on the right side all season, and really on either side of the field that she has played," Long said. "It's great to see her acknowledged for that. She brings danger to the field on every touch she gets on the ball. She's a catalyst for our attack, so it's great to see her being recognized by the conference. The other kicker on Sydney is that she's been a huge part of our midfield defense. Her work rate is undying. I'm really happy for her."
Next, No. 8 seed Marshall (7-6-5, 4-3-3) will face No. 1 seed North Texas (14-4-1, 8-1-1) in the first round of the Conference USA Championship on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. ET at Transamerica Field in Charlotte, N.C. For all the latest information about Marshall women's soccer, follow @HerdWSoccer on Twitter.
The complete list:
Offensive Player of the Year - Lauren Hughes, Rice
Defensive Player of the Year - Olivia MBala, Florida Atlantic
Midfielder of the Year - Quinny Truong, Rice
Freshman of the Year - Martha Thomas, Charlotte
Coach of the Year - Nicky Adams, Rice
First Team All-Conference:
F: Holly Hargreaves, Rice
F: Rachel Holden, North Texas
F: Lauren Hughes, Rice
MF: Kelly Culicerto, Marshall
MF: Aleah Davis, UTEP
MF: Karla Pineda, North Texas
MF: Quinny Truong, Rice
D: Hannah Asuchak, UTEP
D: Taylor Dulaney, Charlotte
D: Olivia MBala, Florida Atlantic
GK: Sarah Dilling, UTEP
Second Team All-Conference
F: Claire Emslie, Florida Atlantic
F: Chelsea Leiva, FIU
F: Kathryn Sloan, Louisiana Tech
F: Martha Thomas, Charlotte
MF: Sydney Arnold, Marshall
MF: Amanda Jones, Charlotte
MF: Morgan Key-Adams, UAB
D: Mary Catherine Combs, UAB
D: Jenny Fichera, Rice
D: Marie Egan, FIU
GK: Jackie Kerestine, North Texas
Third Team All-Conference
F: Angela Cutaia, UTEP
F: Jessie Klamut, Old Dominion
F: Ashleigh Shim, FIU
F: Grace Summers, Middle Tennessee
MF: Angie Lai, Middle Tennessee
MF: Donya Salomon-Ali, Louisiana Tech
MF: Sara Trexler, Charlotte
D: Casey Adkins, Southern Miss
D: Ashton Geisendorff, Rice
D: Natalie Johnson, Old Dominion
GK: Amy Czyz, Rice
All-Freshman Team
Martha Thomas, F, Charlotte
Nevena Stojakovic, GK, FIU
Asta Arnadottir, MF, Florida Atlantic
Hildur Hauksdottir, MF, Florida Atlantic
Peyton McCollum, F, Middle Tennessee
Madison Hogan, F, Old Dominion
Samantha Chaiken, MF, Rice
Mary Claire Danilevics, D, Rice
Amy Brewer, D, UAB
Sydney Rapp, D, UTEP
Allison Leone, GK, WKU
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