Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
SSC Women's Soccer All-Decade Team
SSC Women's Soccer All-Decade Team
December 16, 2020

Cici Gonzalez Highlights Five Spartans on SSC All-Decade Team

MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Sunshine State Conference announces its 2010 to 2019 Women's Soccer All-Decade honors. Voters named 23 student-athletes from seven programs as All-Decade and selected Saint Leo University's Arielle Kabangu as Player and Offensive Player of the Decade. Rollins College alum Azure Dorsey earned Defensive Player of the Decade honors, while former Barry University coach Denise Brolly was honored as Coach of the Decade. All-Decade voting took place among the league's administrators and women's soccer coaches.

The University of Tampa had five players recognized, with Cici Gonzalez headlining the list as a first-teamer. Spartans recognized as second-team performers are Nastasia Asgedom, Lauren Moore, Gabby Russo and Shannon Walisch.

SSC Women's Soccer History: ALL-SSC Teams | Players & Coaches of the Year | Conference Champions | National Champions | All-Americans

Kabangu garnered SSC Women's Soccer Player of the Decade and Offensive Player of the Decade accolades following a distinguished career at Saint Leo. The Ottawa, Canada native bookended her time with the Lions by winning Player and Offensive Player of the Year in her freshman and senior seasons. In 2013, coaches also tabbed her Freshman of the Year, making her the second player in league history to win all three awards in one season. Additionally, she is one of six women to receive four First Team All-SSC honors in a career. Kabangu earned six All-American awards from 2013 to 2016, including First Team honors by Daktronics in 2014. She is currently Saint Leo's all-time career leader in goals (65), points (151), shots (305), multiple-goal games (18).

VIDEO: Arielle Kabangu discusses her SSC decade awards

Voters selected Dorsey as the Defensive Player of the Decade following her strong play for the Tars from 2011 to 2014. The Rio Rancho, New Mexico native, guided Rollins to four NCAA Division II tournament appearances, two SSC tournament championships, the 2012 conference regular-season championship, and the 2014 NCAA Division II national title game. Dorsey, Rollins' career leader in games played, earned seven conference awards during her time as a Tar, including Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.  She captured six All-Region honors and received a Second Team All-America nod from Daktronics in 2014.

Brolly receives SSC Coach of the Decade recognition for her tremendous three-year run as the Buccaneers head coach. From 2013 to 2015, she guided Barry to a 38-9-7 (76.9%) record and four conference championships, including three regular-season titles. She is a three-time SSC Coach of the Year honoree and a two-time NSCAA South Regional Coach of the Year winner.  In 2015, Brolly led the Buccaneers to the South Region Championships and the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals. Her teams led the SSC in goals allowed twice and shutouts once, combining for a 0.73 goals-against average and 26 shutouts. Her players won 19 All-SSC awards, 21 All-South Region Awards, and two All-America awards.

The 2010-19 SSC All-Decade honorees include seven First Team All-Americans and six SSC Player of the Year winners. Additionally, nine women earned more than two All-SSC First Team nods during the decade, including four-time winners Kabangu, Cici Gonzalez from the University of Tampa, and Paxton Sickler of Rollins College. Three-time winners represented on the All-Decade Team are Kelly Rowswell of Rollins, Emma Heikkila of Nova Southeastern University, and Melissa Ortiz of Lynn University, along with Barry's Christy Grimshaw, Lavinia Nkomo, and Katie Turner.

SSC Women's Soccer from 2010 to 2019

Over the last 10 years, nine SSC programs earned a combined 34 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament berths. Rollins led the way, representing the league eight times, while Barry gained entry six times. Nova Southeastern and Tampa tied for third at five appearances, followed by Florida Tech (4), Saint Leo (3), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (1), Florida Southern College (1), and Lynn (1). Five SSC Women's Soccer squads reached the NCAA Elite Eight once during the decade. Most recently, NSU reached the national quarterfinals in 2019. Florida Tech made the Final four in 2010, and Rollins finished as National Runner-Up in 2014.

2010-19 SSC Women's Soccer All-Decade First Team (Listed in alphabetical order by last name)

Jade Adams, Barry (D - 2015-18)
- Adams led Barry to two SSC regular-season championships and two conference tournament titles during her time in Miami Shores. The team posted a 50-10-6 record with shutouts in 63.8 percent of her games. For her efforts, she earned First Team SSC honors in 2017 and 2018. Additionally, in 2018, Adams was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year and an All-American by the United Soccer Coaches and D2CCA.

Michelle Dillingham, Rollins (G - 2008-11)
- Dillingham, the 2011 SSC Defensive Player of the Year, led the league in goals-against average from 2008 to 2011. She was instrumental in Rollins' four tournament appearances from 2008 to 2011 and was named All-South Region in 2009 and 2011. She grabbed First Team All-Conference honors in 2008 and 2011 as well as Second Team honors in 2009 and 2010. Dillingham remains the Tars' leader in shutouts and goals-against average.

Azure Dorsey, Rollins (D - 2011-14)
- Dorsey guided Rollins to four NCAA Division II tournament appearances, two SSC tournament championships, the 2012 conference regular-season championship, and the 2014 NCAA Division II national title game. Dorsey, Rollins' career leader in games played, earned seven conference awards during her time as a Tar, including Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.  She captured six All-Region honors and received a Second Team All-America nod from Daktronics in 2014.

Cici Gonzalez, Tampa (F - 2012-15)
- Gonzalez is one of six women to earn four First Team All-SSC honors in a career. She follows Malana Winskas as the second Spartan to be named First Team All-Conference four times. Additionally, Gonzalez was named the 2012 SSC Freshman of the Year and All-Tournament in 2014 and 2015. Regionally, Gonzalez earned a combined eight First Team honors from the NSCAA and D2CCA. Nationally, she was a 2015 Third Team All-American selection by the D2CCA and First Team in 2014 by Daktronics. Gonzalez has the most game-winning goals in Spartan program history and ranks second in points.

Christy Grimshaw, Barry (M - 2014-18)
- Grimshaw has a litany of league awards to accompany her three conference titles and two SSC tournament titles. She was named SSC Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018, Freshman of the Year in 2014, Tournament MVP in 2015 and 2018, and First Team All-Conference in 2015, 2017, and 2018. Grimshaw led the Buccaneers to multiple postseason appearances, including the 2015 regional championship and NCAA Division II quarterfinals. The midfielder garnered All-American awards from both the United Soccer Coaches and D2CCA in 2017 and 2018.

Emma Heikkila, Nova Southeastern (M - 2016-19)
- Heikkila is arguably the most decorated NCAA Division II women's soccer athlete in Nova Southeastern history. The midfielder was named All-American by the D2CCA and United Soccer Coaches in 2019. Both awards came after she led the Sharks to the 2019 NCAA Division II South Region Championship. In total, the Sharks reached four NCAA tournament appearances with Heikkila on the pitch. Heikkila sports five All-Region awards, three All-SSC First Team honors, and three SSC All-Tournament team nods. With the play Heikkila, NSU won the 2017 SSC regular-season championship, the program's first outright championship in women's soccer.

Arielle Kabangu, Saint Leo (F - 2013-16)
- Kabangu bookended her time with the Lions by winning Player and Offensive Player of the Year in her freshman and senior seasons. In 2013, coaches also tabbed her Freshman of the Year, making her the second player in league history to win all three awards in one season. Additionally, she is one of six women to receive four First Team All-SSC honors in a career. Kabangu earned six All-American awards from 2013 to 2016, including First Team honors by Daktronics in 2014. She is currently Saint Leo's all-time career leader in goals, points, shots, multiple-goal games.

Brenna McKee, Rollins (F - 2010-14)
- McKee provided the offensive spark for a Tars squad that reached four consecutive NCAA Division II tournaments during her career, including a National Runner Up finish in 2014. The forward earned First Team and Second Team All-America honors in 2014 along with an Honorable Mention nod in 2012. McKee was selected SSC Offensive Player of the Year twice (2012 & 2014), First Team All-SSC twice (2012 & 2014), and SSC Tournament Most Outstanding Player twice (2013-14). She won three SSC Championionshiops (2013-14 tournament, 2012 regular season) and a South Region championship in 2014.

Lavinia Nkomo, Barry (M - 2013-15)
- Nkomo, the 2014 SSC Player of the Year, propelled the Buccaneers to three straight SSC regular-season titles and the 2015 tournament title. She was influential on Barry's multiple postseason appearances during her career, including the 2015 regional championship and NCAA Division II quarterfinals. Along with her 2014 Player of the Year award, Nkomo earned First Team All-SSC nods from 2013-15 and Second Team All-America by the NSCAA in 2014.

Kelly Rowswell, Rollins (G - 2016-19)
- Rowswell adorned the SSC's All-Conference First Team three times (2016-18) in her career, becoming the third goalkeeper to achieve the feat and the first since 2007. Rollins found success with Rowswell in goal, reaching the NCAA Division II tournament three times (2016-18). She earned All-South Region honors each year from 2016-18, including First Team in 2017.

Paxton Sickler, Rollins (M - 2013-16)
- Sickler is one of six women and the only Tar to earn four First Team All-SSC honors in a career. In addition to her conference honors, Sickler collected First Team All-America recognition from Daktronics in 2013 and 2014 and six All-South region awards. She won two SSC Tournament Championships during her career, reached the NCAA Division II Tournament three times, and finished 2014 as a National Runner Up. The midfielder ranks Top-5 in Rollins goals, assists, points, and games played.

Katie Turner, Barry (D - 2013-16)
- Turner, the 2014 SSC Defensive Player of the Year, anchored a Buccaneer defense that won three straight league regular-season championships and the 2015 tournament title. The 2015 squad went on to win the South Region championship and reach the NCAA Division II quarterfinals. Turner, a work-horse for the Buccaneers, played 96-percent of possible minutes throughout her career. She is the only defender on the All-Decade teams to earn three First Team All-Conference awards. She was also named to All-South Region teams three times.

2010-19 SSC Women's Soccer All-Decade Second Team (Listed in alphabetical order by last name)

Nastasia Asgedom, Tampa (M - 2015-18)
- Asgedom garnered All-SSC honors four times during her time at Tampa, including First Team honors in 2016 and 2018. She was an NSCAA and D2CCA Second Team All-Region selection in 2015, Second Team D2CCA All-Region pick in 2018, and First Team United Soccer Coaches All-Region choice in 2018.NSCAA

Anita Cox, Rollins (D - 2010-12)- 
- Cox, the 2012 SSC Defensive Player of the Year, claimed the 2012 SSC Regular-Season Championship and reached the NCAA Division II Tournament three times during her career at Rollins. She was a First Team All-South Region selection three times from 2011-12 and an NSCAA Honorable Mention All-American in 2012.

Mist Eliasdottir, Florida Tech (G - 2008-11)
-  In 2010, Eliasdottir led Florida Tech to the program's only SSC regular-season title in women's soccer and the NCAA Division II Final Four. She was an NSCAA Second Team All-Region selection and First Team All-SSC selection in 2010. Eliasdottir also piloted the Panthers to tournament berths in 2009 and 2011. In Florida Tech program history, she ranks Top-5 in season saves, season shutouts, and career shutouts.

Selena Jaimes, Saint Leo (D - 2013-16)
Jaimes, the 2016 SSC Defensive Player of the Year, captained Saint Leo's defense as the Lions captured the conference regular-season and postseason championships in the same year. Furthermore, she was named a Third Team All-American and First Team All-Region by the NSCAA in 2016. Jaimes was an All-SSC First Team and All-Tournament Selection in 2016 after being named Second Team in 2014 and 2015.

Lauren Moore, Tampa (M - 2011-15)
- Moore, the 2012 SSC Player of the Year, helped the Spartans to the 2011 and 2012 conference tournament titles as well as three NCAA Division II appearances, including the Elite Eight in 2011. Moore was named a First Team All-American by Daktronics in 2012 and then a Third Team member in 2014. During her career, she received First Team All-Region three times and Third Team All-Region twice.

Kathryn O'Brien, Rollins (F - 2015-19)
- O'Brien, the 2019 SSC Player and Offensive Player of the Year, helped Rollins win its first conference regular-season championship since 2012. Also, in 2019, O'Brien was named a Third Team All-American and First Team All-South Region by United Soccer Coaches. During her time as a Tar, she reached three NCAA Division II Tournaments, earned All-South Region five times, and grabbed six All-SSC honors.

Melissa Ortiz, Lynn (F - 2008-11)
- SSC Coaches bestowed the SSC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year honors on Ortiz in 2011. She remains the only Fighting Knight to win Offensive Player of the Year and the last to win Player of the Year. She was named a First Team All-Region member in 2011 as well as First Team All-SSC. In 2010, she garnered Second Team All-SSC honors.

Becca Rogers, Barry (G - 2011-14)
- Rogers, the 2013 SSC Defensive Player of the Year, was in goal for Barry's tremendous 2015 run, including the SSC regular season, SSC tournament, and South Region Tournament championships. During her career, she earned two First Team All-SSC honors and two South Region awards.

Gabby Russo, Tampa (M - 2011-14)
- Russo was part of Tampa's run of two consecutive SSC tournament championships from 2011 to 2012 and three straight NCAA Division II tournament appearances from 2011 to 2013, including the Elite Eight in 2011. She was a First Team All-SSC honoree in 2011 and 2012. Regionally, she earned four All-South Region team honors, including First Team from Daktronics in 2011.

Molly Sharpe, Barry (F - 2015-18)
- Sharpe, the 2018 SSC Offensive Player of the Year, helped Barry capture the SSC regular season and tournament titles in the same year. She was also an SSC Tournament Team, All-South Region, and Third Team All-American selection in 2018. Sharpe earned back-to-back conference Second Team honors before breaking through to the First Team in her senior season.

Shannon Walisch, Tampa (D - 2010-13)- 
- Walisch reached four consecutive NCAA Division II tournaments with the Spartans from 2010 to 2013, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2011. She also captured the 2011 and 2012 SSC Tournament Championships in the backfield for Tampa. Daktronics named Walisch an honorable mention All-American in 2013 and First Team All-South Region in 2011, 2012, and 2013. The NSCAA also named her First Team All-Region in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Additionally, SSC coaches tabbed her as First Team All-Conference in 2012 and 2013 as well as Second Team in 2011.