JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — McKenzie Carle has made Bellarmine University women's soccer program history in multiple ways after the announcement of the Atlantic Sun Conference postseason awards.

Carle was recognized as the ASUN Freshman of the Year, marking the program's first-ever ASUN superlative acknowledgment. The forward garnered another groundbreaking honor with her first-team All-ASUN citation — the Knights previously had not had higher than a second-team selection. Rounding out her trio of laurels, Carle was the lone unanimous ASUN All-Freshman Team recipient.

Junior defender Sidney Rigsby earned a pair of recognitions after being tabbed as second-team All-ASUN along with her second selection to the ASUN All-Academic Team, and senior midfielder Emma Nicholson garnered her second consecutive second-team All-ASUN award.

Carle broke out during ASUN play, with all six of her goals this season coming in conference action. The native of Cincinnati netted two goals against Queens, including the game-winner, and added one apiece against FGCU, Central Arkansas, West Georgia and Eastern Kentucky. She also notched two assists, with one helper coming on the game-winning goal against West Georgia, and landed an ASUN Player of the Week nod.

Rigsby battled through an early season injury to start the last 14 games. The native of Lebanon, Ohio, has amassed 1,061 minutes while warding off attackers and leading the defense at center back. She also distributed an assist against FGCU. In addition to her defensive prowess, Rigsby maintains a 3.90 GPA majoring in psychology, with the combined achievements once again leading her to ASUN All-Academic Team plaudits.

Nicholson has been on the ASUN leaderboard throughout the season. The Louisville native is tied for third in the league in points (20) and assists (six) while tying for fourth in goals (seven), all of which are D1-era program records. Nicholson had a four-goal game against Asbury and a three-assist performance against Queens while landing an ASUN Player of the Week accolade. She tallied goals in ASUN play against Stetson and Central Arkansas.

In addition to Carle getting voted Freshman of the Year, the ASUN superlative awards went as follows: Player of the Year (Kiara Pralle, Lipscomb); Defensive Player of the Year (Zara Siassi, North Florida); Midfielder of the Year (Ashley Labbe, FGCU); Goalkeeper of the Year (Olivia Molina, FGCU); Coach of the Year (Jim Blankenship, FGCU); and Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Kelly Van Gundy, Central Arkansas).

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