Complete WAC Release
DENVER - Four NM State women's soccer players found themselves on the receiving end of various All-WAC honors Tuesday afternoon.
As announced in a release issued by the WAC, junior forward Hannah Leitner and junior midfielder Xitlaly Hernandez each earned All-WAC Second Team honors while freshman Mya Hammack and Thalia Chaverria were two of the individuals who made up the 11-woman All-WAC Freshman Team.
A repeat selection to the All-WAC Second Team, Leitner again served as one of the best offensive players on the Aggies' roster. The Tucson, Ariz., product led the team in goals (three), assists (four), points (10) and game-winning goals (two) despite missing six games due to injury. Her lone goal in league action came Saturday night and proved to be the game-winner in the Aggies' 2-1 WAC triumph over Dixie State.
Since the season started, Leitner has been climbing up the Aggies' all-time statistical charts as well. She currently serves as the program's all-time leader in assists with 12 while her 11 goals are tied for the seventh-most by any player in the history of the program.
""I would have loved to see what Hannah could have accomplished in WAC play if she did not get hurt," commented NM State head coach Rob Baarts. "I am incredibly happy for her and can't wait to see her continue to grow and improve."
After an All-WAC Honorable Mention selection in the spring 2021 season, Hernandez remained one of the Aggies' most consistent scoring threats heading into the fall. Placed on the All-WAC Second Team for the first time in her career, Hernandez ranked third among the Aggies' ranks in total shots (21) while leading the squad in shots on goal (11) through the regular season.
Starting all 17 games she took part in, the native of Phoenix, Ariz., tallied one goal this year. That strike came in the team's season-opening victory over Abilene Christian.
"Xitlaly has been a tremendous team leader off the field as well as playmaker on the field," Baarts stated. "She has only scratched the surface of her full potential."
No other team in the league boasted more players on the All-WAC Freshman team than NM State and making an immediate impact on the Aggies' back line in her debut collegiate campaign was Chaverria. Hailing from Bakersfield, Calif., Chaverria was one of seven players who took part in each of the Aggies' 19 engagements this year and was one of one two freshman who could make that claim.
Ranking fifth on the team in minutes played (1,214), Chaverria appeared in the starting lineup for each of her first 16 collegiate matches.
The only other NM State freshman who competed in all 19 of the team's regular-season matches aside from Chaverria was Hammack. In her first season of collegiate soccer, the product of Aurora, Ore., started 14 of the 19 matches she took part in while ranking third on the team in total minutes (1,428).
Hammack wrapped up the regular season with a pair of assists with both of them coming on either game-winning or game-tying goals. Her first assist came on NM State's game-winning strike during a 1-0 victory over California Baptist (Oct. 3) while her second occurred in the Aggies' 2-1 overtime victory over eventual WAC West Division champion Grand Canyon (Oct. 23).
"Mya and Thalia have transitioned into the college game with flying colors," remarked Baarts. "They did not skip a beat from the high school and club level and have owned starting positions from the beginning. The next three years will be exciting years for both."
Chaverria, Hammack, Hernandez, Leitner and the rest of the Aggies are one of six teams around the league vying for the right to serve as the WAC's automatic entrant to the NCAA Tournament. As the third seed in the WAC's West Division, the Aggies are making their second-straight appearance in the WAC Tournament this week and begin their quest for the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance Wednesday afternoon in Abilene, Texas, when they tangle with Lamar at 3:00 p.m. MT. The first of two first-round matchups from Elmer Gray Stadium will be streamed nationwide on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
2021 Women's Soccer All-WAC Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Marleen Schimmer, Sr., F, Grand Canyon
Defensive Player of the Year: Hannah Edwards, Sr., D, Grand Canyon
Freshman of the Year: Breanna Eves, Fr., MF, Utah Valley
Coach of the Year: Chris Cissell, Grand Canyon
2021 First Team All-WAC
Devyn Kelsey, Sr., D, California Baptist
Hannah Edwards, Sr., D, Grand Canyon
Jenna Shepherd, So., D, Utah Valley
Gianna Gourley, Jr., F, Grand Canyon
Marleen Schimmer, Sr., F, Grand Canyon
Sadie Brockbank, Jr., F, Utah Valley
Amber Tripp, Sr., MF, Utah Valley
Brenna Alderson, So., MF, Grand Canyon
Caylon McMillan, Sr., MF, Stephen F. Austin
Heather Stainbrook, So., MF, Utah Valley
Romy Salvador, Sr., GK, California Baptist
2021 Second Team All-WAC
Carli Arthurs, Sr., D, Stephen F. Austin
Sydney Bushman, So., D, Utah Valley
Tess Donaldson, Sr., D, Dixie State
Christine Kitaru, Sr., F, Lamar
Hannah Leitner, Jr., F, NM State
Isela Ramirez, Fr., F, Lamar
Julianna Carter, Jr. F, Utah Valley
Brooke Jones, Jr., MF, Sam Houston
Natalie Jones, Jr. MF, Abilene Christian
Xitlaly Hernandez, Jr. MF, NM State
Nicole Panis, Jr., GK, Lamar
Freshman All-WAC Team
Breanna Eves, MF, Utah Valley
Isela Ramirez, F, Lamar
Jayla Gage, F, Chicago State
Jayme Bailey, MF, Stephen F. Austin
Kait Raffensperger, D, Seattle U
Malia Cerdon, MF, California Baptist
Morgan Witz, F, California Baptist
Mya Hammack, MF, NM State
Nicole Ray, MF, Utah Valley
Renee Sainz, MF, Grand Canyon
Thalia Chaverria, D, NM State
++NM State++
