INDIANAPOLIS — Bellarmine University's Olivia Taylor was named Freshman of the Year and four other Knights earned All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors as the league announced its women's soccer awards Thursday night.

In addition to Taylor's major award, senior forward Mary Beth Gorham and senior midfielder Lauren Holder were named first-team All-GLVC while senior defender Lexy Hazle and senior goalkeeper Hannah Poteet were recognized on the second team.

"We are very excited for all of our All-GLVC recipients," Bellarmine Coach Chris Tinius said. "This senior class has meant so much to our program and to see four of them honored in this way is wonderful. It is also a snapshot of why we've been so steady the last few years. You have the two most prolific offensive players in the history of the program, and you have two cornerstones of a defensive group that has been difficult to crack over the last several years. I also want to extend congratulations to Olivia on her Freshmen of the Year award."

Taylor is the third player from Bellarmine to garner the accolade following Sarah Barton in 2002 and Gorham in 2013. In her debut season, the forward from Brandon, Mississippi, was second on the team in goals (six) and points (16) and tied for second in assists (four). Taylor, who tallied two game-winning goals, appeared in all 18 matches with 14 starts.

"She had an immediate impact like we thought she could with her pace and energy in the attack, and hopefully this gives her even more confidence moving forward," Tinius said. "It is a little weird for her not to end up on one of the teams, but no freshman made any of the All-GLVC teams, which I think speaks to the overall strength of the league."

Gorham locked down a career sweep of first-team All-GLVC accolades. The Nicholasville, Kentucky, native led Bellarmine in goals (seven) and points (18) and tied for second in assists (four). She also recorded four game-winning goals for the Knights and became the program's all-time leader in goals. Gorham was one of only two unanimous selections.

Holder garnered first-team All-GLVC plaudits for the third straight season. The native of St. Louis led Bellarmine in assists (six) and added three goals. She became the program's all-time leader in assists.

"Mary Beth and Lauren are kind of like your leadoff hitters or point guards: As they go, you go," Tinius said. "That's an enormous responsibility that quite frankly isn't necessarily fair to place on people all the time. Once again they shouldered that and led the way for our team, and the totality of their careers speak for themselves." 

Hazle landed second-team All-GLVC notice for the second consecutive season. The product of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, led Bellarmine in minutes with 1,582 while starting in 17 of 18 matches. She chipped in a goal and two assists.

Poteet reaped second-team honors for the second time in her career. The native of Lebanon, Illinois, posted a 0.61 goals-against average, 33 saves and four shutouts while starting 13 matches.

"Hannah was absolutely brilliant down the stretch for us," Tinius said. "In a time where we struggled in some other areas, she kept us in several games to even give us a chance. Lexy is simply one of the hardest working and most consistent players I've ever had the pleasure of working with, and it's great to see her get this recognition."

McKendree's Sydnee Carroll was voted Offensive Player of the Year, Truman State goalkeeper Katie Mattingly was named Defensive Player of the Year and Truman State Coach Mike Cannon was tabbed as the Coach of the Year.

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2016 WOMEN'S SOCCER ALL-GLVC TEAMS & POSTSEASON HONORS
Offensive Player of the Year
Sydnee Carroll, F, So., MCK
Defensive Player of the Year
Katie Mattingly, GK, Jr., TSU
Freshman of the Year
Olivia Taylor, F, Fr., BU
Coach of the Year
Mike Cannon, TSU

FIRST TEAM
Mary Beth Gorham, F, Sr., BU#
Lauren Holder, MF, Sr., BU
Sydnee Carroll, F, So., MCK
Meghan Kilkenny, MF, Sr., RU
Kaley Nieters, F, Jr., RU
Courtney Silberberg, MF, Sr., RU#
Jessica Smelcer, B, So., RU
Laura Ney, B, So., TSU
Katie Mattingly, GK, JR., TSU
Caity Schmitt, B, Jr., TSU
Jillian Hetfleisch, F, Sr., UWP

SECOND TEAM
Lexy Hazle, B, Sr., BU
Hannah Poteet, GK, Sr., BU
Allyssa Reiniger, B, Sr., MCK
Kayla Delgado, B, Sr., UMSL
Abby Pulliam, F, So., QU
Natalie Quisenberry, B, Jr., QU
Kristin Wolff, F, Sr., RU
Brandi Vollmer, MF, Sr., RU
Stephanie Williams, F, Sr., TSU
Megan Whitehead, MF, Sr., TSU
Lauren Bialas, MF, Sr., UWP

THIRD TEAM
Jessica Chavez, F, Gr., LEWIS
Allison Verville, MF, So., MU
Sydnie Markowski, B, So., MCK
Chelsea Whittaker, MF, Jr., MCK
Kirsten Crabtree, MF, Sr., UMSL
McKayla Harder, F, So., UMSL
Emily Mosier, B, Jr., UMSL
Miriam Taylor, F, Sr., UMSL
Taylor Tosovsky, MF, Sr., UMSL
Ali Wallner, GK, Sr., RU
Megan Casserly, MF, Sr., TSU
Casey Maloney, B, Sr., TSU
*additional member due to tie
# Unanimous Selection