AUGUSTA, Ga. — For the second consecutive year, the Flagler College women's soccer team had a record eight all-conference selections while Andrea Fernandez was tabbed the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year, PBC Freshman of the Year and PBC Gold Ball honoree.
 
Joining Fernandez on the All-PBC first team is Sara Carr, Annie Habeeb and Hannah Dolores. Chloe Byrne, Josefine Nilsen, Brin Wexler and Shannon Matthaei round out the eight student-athletes with a place on the All-PBC second team.
 
"To have eight players in the All-Conference teams is a wonderful achievement for the program, and they all deserve the recognition after a lot of solid performances all season," Flagler head coach Ashley Martin said.  "Andrea Fernandez has had a spectacular season so far and made an enormous impact on the team. Her goals and assists speak for themselves, but her passion for the game is incredible. I couldn't be happier to see Andrea win the Gold Ball, PBC Freshman of the Year, and Player of the Year all in her first season at Flagler."
 
Fernandez was nothing short of a game-changer for the Saints as she hauled in the program's third straight PBC Player of the Year award, while completing the sweep with the Saints' first PBC Freshman of the Year honoree since Nilsen in 2019. The standout forward was also lauded with the PBC Gold Ball as 13 of her 14 goals came in conference play to lead the league.
 
The freshman from Pozoblanco, Spain didn't only impact the team on the scoring end, either, as she compiled 10 assists to pair with her 14 goals for 38 points, which were 18 more than the next player across the league. Fernandez played in all 16 games for the Saints, while starting in 10 and racking up a third-most 1,127 minutes. She netted four multi-game goals — all coming against PBC teams —and scored a trio of game winners. Additionally, her 14 goals are the 13th best in Division II while her 10 assists ranked eighth.
 
Habeeb, Carr and Dolores all hauled in their third All-PBC honor.
 
Habeeb, a super senior from Salisbury, North Carolina, started in every game she played (15) as she scored seven goals, registered four assists over 1,058 minutes played. The midfielder netted two multi-goal games. Carr played in all 16 games for the Saints while starting in 15 and netting her first career goal for the game-winning shot at Georgia Southwestern. The junior defender from Charleston, West Virginia, also had an assist and logged the fourth-most minutes (1,124). Dolores, a St. Johns, Florida native, led the team in minutes played (1,222) and registered two assists. One of the super senior defender's assists came in game-winning fashion at Florida Southern College.
 
Nilsen makes her way back to the All-PBC team following her PBC Freshman of the Year accolades in 2019. The Färjestaden, Sweden native scored two of her three game-winning goals within a two-match stretch that earned her the program's first United Soccer Player of the Week honors on Sept. 15. The forward played in 13 matches while starting 11 and scoring eight goals and passing across four assists. Her 20 points is second-best in the conference — behind only her teammate Fernandez.

Byrne, a junior midfielder, earns her second straight All-PBC honor after being the only player to start and play in every match (16) this season. The Annoplis, Maryland native scored one goal and logged a team-fifth best 1,089 minutes.

Wexler, a junior midfielder, started her first All-PBC campaign in the first match as she scored the team's first of the season versus Saint Leo. The Orlando, Florida native would go on to score six goals on the season, including a PBC-leading four game-winning goals, paired with one assist over 16 matches played.

Matthaei, a St. Augustine, Florida native, hauls in her third All-PBC honor. The junior defender played and started in 14 games, while logging 977 minutes and registering five (four in conference) assists.
 
The Saints' season continues this weekend as they head to the PBC Tournament in Evans, Georgia. Third-seeded Flagler and second-seeded Lander square off for a spot in the championship game at 8 p.m.


2021 PBC Women's Soccer
All-Conference Team
 
First Team
 
Forwards
Cassie Balzano, Georgia College
Emma Beddow, Columbus State
Andrea Fernandez, Flagler
Emma Sexton, Lander
 
Midfielders
Vanessa Aviles, Columbus State
Maysoon El-Shami, North Georgia
Annie Habeeb, Flagler
Rachael Sweigard, Columbus State
 
Defenders
Carley Canzoneri, Columbus State
Sara Carr, Flagler
Hannah Dolores, Flagler
Parker Morgan, Columbus State
 
Goalkeeper
Sara Halilhodzic, Columbus State
 
Second Team
 
Forwards
Abbie Crane, North Georgia
Reia Henry, Clayton State
Taylor Malasek, North Georgia
Josefine Nilsen, Flagler
 
Midfielders
Chloe Byrne, Flagler
Anna Grady, Columbus State
Brin Wexler, Flagler
Maren White, Lander
 
Defenders
Mara Kilset, Columbus State
Shannon Matthaei, Flagler
Mia Piazza, Lander
Bailey Vessel, North Georgia
 
Goalkeepers
Valentina Bonaiuto, Clayton State
Alexa Vivas Castro, Albany State
 
Elite 16 Award
Isabel Massa Pulido, Clayton State
 
Select Sport Gold Ball Award
(most goals scored in conference games)
Andrea Fernandez, Flagler
 
Freshman of the Year
Andrea Fernandez, Flagler
 
Player of the Year
Andrea Fernandez, Flagler
 
Coach of the Year
Jay Entlich, Columbus State
 
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