SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina women's soccer had three players recognized with league post-season honors as Isabella DeMarco was named to the Southern Conference First Team All-Conference squad as well as the SoCon All-Freshman Team. Junior Maggie Lloyd was honored on the SoCon Second Team while rookie Ava Robitaille joined DeMarco on the All-Freshman list.
DeMarco is the first Catamount rookie to be honored on the first-team list and the all-freshman squad since Markie-Lynn Studnicky in 2012. Robitaille and DeMarco's spots on the all-freshman team represent the second-straight year WCU has placed a pair of newcomers on the conference all-freshman squad.
In conference play, DeMarco, a forward from Charleston, S.C., was on fire scoring all four of her goals and her four assists against league opponents. She recorded a hat-trick in the key 6-1 victory at The Citadel on Oct. 11. DeMarco was only the fourth Catamount to score three goals in a match in the program's history and it was the fifth time overall as Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame member Jordan Howell recorded two hat tricks in her career. She provided the assist in the match-winning goal against ETSU on Oct. 23, lending a foot to Abbie Lainhart's goal, which gave the Catamounts a first-round bye and a spot in the SoCon Tournament quarterfinals.
DeMarco's four goals and 12 points lead the Catamounts while her four assists rank second. In conference-only matches, she is second with her 12 points, and tied for second with four goals.
Lloyd, a junior forward from Shelby, N.C., earns the second conference post-season honor of her career. She was named to the conference all-freshman team in the 2021 spring season. Lloyd tied her season-high with three goals this season and dished out a career-season-high five assists. Two of Lloyd's goals were game-winners this season.
Robitaille, a freshman midfielder from Rock Hill, S.C., has played in all 18 matches and started 15. She is a massive ball winner in the air winning set pieces for the team. Defensively she is a great pivot player playing the holding spot – being the quarterback on the field. She has also contributed to the Catamount defense's six shutouts this season.
2022 SOUTHERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW
AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE CATAMOUNTS:
- Western Carolina closed out the regular season with a 1-0 shutout against ETSU. It was the sixth shutout for the Catamounts in 2022.
- The Catamounts finished just one spot below its preseason projection with a No. 5 seed after being picked to finish fourth.
- WCU and UNCG meet for the season-straight year in the SoCon Tournament quarterfinals. The Catamounts defeated the Spartans 1-0 in overtime last year.
- The Catamounts are 2-5 against UNCG in the conference championships. Overall, the Spartans hold a 24-4-4 record against WCU. In the meeting earlier this season, the two teams ended the match deadlocked in a 0-0 tie.
- Western Carolina scored a season-high six goals in the win over The Citadel which was the second-most goals scored in a match in program history.
MATCH DAY INFORMATION AT UTC SPORTS COMPLEX:
Admission is free. Bring chairs and blankets as bleacher seating is limited.
Concessions will be available.
The Mocs' clear bag policy will be in effect.
For the latest information on Western Carolina women's soccer, follow @catamounts for @catamountsoccer on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.
