. - Senior midfielder
were named to the All-WAC Second Team the WAC announced on Monday afternoon.
Smith, a Sherwood, Ore., native, started 16 games for the Aggies and tallied the most minutes on the team. Smith was a staple for the Aggie defense that allowed just 37 goals on the season. Smith took eight shots for the Aggies and had one assist against UTEP on Feb. 11.
Leitner had a breakout season for the Aggies, as she scored five goals and assisted on two goals in the 2020-21 season. Leitner battled injuries towards the end of the season, but she still finished second on the team in the goals and assists categories.
Coming back from an ACL injury in the 2019 season, Hernandez has exploded for the Aggies, as she has knocked in a team-high six goals. Hernandez recorded the sixth hat trick in Aggie history and her first hat trick of her career on Feb. 22 against Chicago State.
Kizer had a solid junior season for the Aggies, as she started 16 games and recorded one goal against Chicago State on Feb. 20. Kizer leads the team in assists with three and has taken 21 shots this season.
Aviles has continued to be a staple on the back line for the Aggie defense. Aviles started 16 games and recorded the second-most minutes on the team with 1,288.
A junior transfer from Daytona State College, Gottschalk started 12 games for the Aggies in the net. She's recorded 59 saves including a season-high 11 saves against Grand Canyon on Mar. 6. Gottschalk's performance against the Antelopes earned her WAC Defensive Player of the Week.
The Aggies will be looking to earn its first win in the WAC Tournament since 2014 on Tuesday when they take on UTRGV. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. MDT and will be broadcasted live on ESPN+.
For updates, follow the Aggies on Twitter (@NMStateWSOC), Instagram (@nmstatewsoc) and Faceobook (NM State Women's Soccer).
Offensive Player of the Year: Sydney Carr, R-Jr., F, Seattle U
Defensive Player of the Year: Jenna Shepherd, So., D, Utah Valley
Freshman of the Year: Hallie Bergford, F, Seattle U
Coach of the Year: Chris Cissell, Grand Canyon
2020-21 First Team All-WAC
Rola Badawiya, Sr., F, California Baptist
Sydney Carr, R-Jr., F, Seattle U
Whitley Griffiths, Jr., F, Dixie State
Emily Zapata, Jr., F, UT Rio Grande Valley
Ava Benedetti, So., MF, Seattle U
Marleen Schimmer, Jr., MF, Grand Canyon
Amber Tripp, Sr., MF, Utah Valley
Michele Adam, So., D, Seattle U
Erin Gallagher, Jr., D, California Baptist
Jenna Shepherd, So., D, Utah Valley
Romy Salvador, Sr., GK, California Baptist
2020-21 Second Team All-WAC
Sadie Brockbank, Jr., F, Utah Valley
Jaycee Iranshad, Grand Canyon
Hannah Leitner, So., F, NM State
Emily Bunnell, Jr., MF, Seattle U
Ari Coronado, Jr., F, California Baptist
Karley Weeks, Jr., MF California Baptist
Sydney Bushman, So., D, Utah Valley
Natalie Dixon, Jr., D, Seattle U
Tess Donaldson, Jr., D, Dixie State
Emma Smith, Sr., D, NM State
Isabel Jones-Dawe, Sr., GK, Utah Valley
2020-21 All-Freshman Team
Brenna Alderson, MF, Grand Canyon
Grace Beeston, D, Utah Valley
Hallie Bergford, F, Seattle U
Sarah Creighton, MF, Seattle U
Breanna Eves, MF, Utah Valley
Jordan Ferguson, GK, Grand Canyon
Anna Frida Groedem, F, UT Rio Grande Valley
Mari Liis Lillemae, F, UT Rio Grande Valley
London Miller, F, Utah Valley
Jayden Ramirez, MF, California Baptist
Deniah Wells, F, California Baptist
2020-21 Honorable Mention
Amy Aquino, F, California Baptist
Jill Bennett, F, Dixie State
Julianna Carter, F, Utah Valley
Corey Kizer, F, NM State
Mari Liis Lillemae, F, UT Rio Grande Valley
Leahi Manthei, F, Seattle U
Barbara Castellanos, MF, Chicago State
Kelsey Cook, MF, Dixie State
Xitlaly Hernandez, MF, NM State
Heather Stainbrook, MF, Utah Valley
Gina Steiner, MF, UT Rio Grande Valley
Sophie Stewart, MF, Dixie State
Anna Torslov, MF, UT Rio Grande Valley
Lece Aviles, D, NM State
Anna Barkey, D, UT Rio Grande Valley
McKinley Barney, D, UT Rio Grande Valley
Elizabeth Beilfuss, D, UT Rio Grande Valley
Hannah Edwards, D, Grand Canyon
Shi'Anne Swift, D, UT Rio Grande Valley
Makenna Gottschalk, GK, NM State
Maile Lunardi, GK, UT Rio Grande Valley
