Chancey, Rice Coaching Staff Headline Conference Awards; Four Named All-AAC

IRVING – The Rice soccer team was well-represented in the American Athletic Conference Honors for women's soccer, having four All-Conference honorees while also claiming two major awards, with Leah Chancey being named Offensive Player of the Year and Brian Lee's staff earning the Coaching Staff of the Year award.

Chancey (First Team), Faith Hutchins (Second Team) and Kat Lazor (Third Team) earned All-Conference selections, while Lilly Reuscher was named to the All-Freshman Team.

"We have a great history of transfers coming in and developing into the best versions of themselves, and these three are each great examples of that phenomena," Lee said. "Kat came across town and has become the key piece in our hard-to-crack defense alongside [Mikala Furuto] and Lilly. Faith turned herself into a legitimate pro prospect this fall and is just scratching the surface on what she can do as a goalkeeper. Leah scored two goals in three years in our league prior to coming to Rice. Nine months later, she led the AAC in scoring while playing as a box-to-box midfielder with significant defensive responsibilities. All three embody the work ethic and quality of teammate ethos our program is built on."

Chancey earns the Offensive Player of the Year honor after an incredible regular season, leading the conference in points (22), goals per game (.50), points per game (1.22), and tied for the lead in goals (nine) and game-winning goals (four).

She had the longest goal-scoring streak in the NCAA this season, with eight consecutive matches with a goal scored, breaking the Rice program record.

Chancey is the third athlete in program history to earn the Offensive Player of the Year award (Lauren Hughes 2014, 2015 and Grace Collins 2022). She is also the 23^rd athlete to earn All-Conference First Team honors.

Hutchins was named All-Conference Second Team after pitching seven shutouts this season. Her .822 save percentage is second best in the conference and is second in goalie minutes this season. She is third in total saves with 88, the sixth most in a single season for a Rice goalie.

Lazor earns her third career conference honor, being named All-Conference Third Team. She is tied with Hutchins for the team lead in most minutes played this season with over 1,600 minutes. She's recorded two assists on the season, including on the record-breaking goal by Chancey for consecutive games with a goal scored.

Reushcer was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team after leading the defensive line all season, finishing third on the team in total minutes played. Reuscher has played a full 90-minute game 15 times this season, helping lead the team to seven shutouts on the season.

"Lilly is having a great debut season," Lee said. "We recruit with personality and upside at the forefront of our decision making and she is a great example of the staff profiling a winner that an awesome team culture can be built around. She represents a class that certainly had at least three to four worthy candidates for post-season accolades"

Lee earns his second coaching honor with the Owls, being named CUSA Coach of the Year during the 2020-21 season. This is also his seventh conference honor of his career. The staff of Lee, Travis Curson, Genessee Puntigam, Bella Killgore (goalkeeper coach) and Bailey Deering (strength and conditioning coach) improved the team's win total by eight this season, marking the best year-to-year improvement in program history.

Coach Lee's staff secured its fifth 10-plus win season in his six seasons as Rice's head coach.

"I am happy for the staff's hard work to be recognized, but it's more an award that reflects the long-term daily commitment of all 32 players and 8 staff members to excelling in each of their roles," Lee said.

The Owls will face UAB in the AAC Quarterfinals on Monday in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.

2024 AAC Awards
Offensive Player of the Year
Leah Chancey, Gr., M, Rice

Defensive Player of the Year
Finley Lavin, So., D, Memphis

Midfielder of the Year
Sadie Sider-Echenberg, Jr., South Florida

Goalkeeper of the Year
Leire Herraez Gallach, Jr., South Florida

Freshman of the Year
Ai Kitagawa, M/F, Memphis

Coaching Staff of the Year
Rice

Team Fair Play Award
Memphis

All-Conference First Team
Abbey Burns, Jr., M, UAB
Macey Bader, Sr., F, Charlotte
Sydney Smith, Gr., D, Charlotte
Sydney Schnell, Gr., F, East Carolina
Finley Lavin, So., D, Memphis
Momo Nakao, Sr., M, Memphis*
Rachel Roebuck, Gr., D/M/F, North Texas
Leah Chancey, Gr., M, Rice
Georgia Brown, Sr., D, South Florida
Leire Herraez Gallach, Jr., GK, South Florida
Sadie Sider-Echenberg, Jr., M, South Florida

All-Conference Second Team
Jette Zimmer, Jr., F, UAB
Abby Sowa, Sr., D, East Carolina
Jodi Smith, Sr., D, Florida Atlantic
Anna Hauer, So., F, Memphis
Ashley Henderson, So., F, Memphis
Anne-Valerie Seto, Sr., M, Memphis
Ai Kitagawa, Fr., M/F, Memphis
Faith Hutchins, Gr., GK, Rice
Anna Sutter, Sr., F, South Florida
Gentiana Fetaj, Jr., M, South Florida
Leah Diaz, So., F, Tulsa

All-Conference Third Team
Annabelle Abbott, M, East Carolina
Maeve English, Gr., GK, East Carolina
Juliana Viera, Jr., D, East Carolina
Michelle Horan, Jr., F, Florida Atlantic
Maddie Eskin, Gr., F, Memphis
Alexis Miller, So., M, North Texas
Claire Niedermeier, Fr., F, North Texas
Kat Lazor, Gr., D, Rice
Micahela Hill, So., F, South Florida
Phoebe Hollin, Sr., D, Temple
Sasjah Dade, Sr., D, UTSA
Blaine Schutte, Fr., F, Tulsa

All-Freshman Team
Louise Larsson, D, UAB
Reese Black, M, Charlotte
Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram, F, East Carolina
Ai Kitagawa, M/F, Memphis
Ella Bushko, D, North Texas
Claire Niedermeier, F, North Texas
Lilly Reuscher, D, Rice
Sophia Cabral, F, South Florida
Brooke Fabri, M, South Florida
Addy Johnson, F, UTSA
Aniya Facen, F, Tulsa
Blaine Schutte, F, Tulsa

* denotes unanimous selection

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