DAHLONEGA, GA -- The Peach Belt Conference has released the 2023 women's soccer All-Conference team, as selected by the league's head coaches. Flagler's Andrea Fernandez was named the PBC Offensive Player of the Year with North Georgia's Bailey Vessell the Defensive Player of the Year. Flagler's Paige Churchill was named the Freshman of the Year with UNG's Kayley Ralton the Coach of the Year. All 'of the year' awards are presented by College Ave. Student Loans.

Offensive Player of the Year, presented by College Ave. Student Loans - Andrea Fernandez, Flagler

• A junior forward from Pozolanco, Spain, she becomes the first women's soccer player in PBC history to be named the Offensive Player of the Year three times in a row and the second player ever to win the honor three times
• Tied for second in the PBC with 14 goals on the season but led the league with 11 goals in league-only games; also tied for second in the conference in assists and led the league with 37 total points
• Currently has 51 career goals which is tied for sixth all-time in PBC history; she is also fifth in career points with 134 and sixth in career assists with 32

Defensive Player of the Year, presented by College Ave. Student Loans - Bailey Vessell, North Georgia

• A senior defender from Fayetteville, Ga., she becomes the first Nighthawk to win the Defensive Player of the Year award
• Started all 18 games for UNG in 2023 with the second-most amount of minutes played, scoring one goal and adding one assist
• Anchored a defense that led the PBC and is ranked 23rd in NCAA Division II with a 0.56 team goals against average with just 10 scores allowed in 18 games; North Georgia also led the conference and is ranked 11th nationally in shutout percentage with 12 clean sheets in 18 contests

Freshman of the Year, presented by College Ave. Student Loans - Paige Churchill, Flagler

• A freshman forward from Tallahassee, Fla., she is the third Flagler player in the last five years to win the Freshman of the Year award following Josefine Nilsén in 2019 and Andrea Fernandez in 2021
• Tied for the team lead and second in the PBC with 14 goals on the season; also added four assists and is third in the conference with 32 points
• The PBC Player of the Week on Oct. 23, she had two hat tricks during the season including in the PBC Tournament quarterfinal against Clayton State; had five multi-goal games

Coach of the Year, presented by College Ave. Student Loans - Kayley Ralton, North Georgia

• In her third season at the helm of the Nighthawks, she earns her first Coach of the Year honor after leading the team to their first PBC regular-season championship since 2017 and the #1 seed in the PBC tournament for the second time in program history
• Currently ranked #22 nationally by United Soccer Coaches and #2 in the southeast region by the NCAA, UNG went 8-0-1 in conference play, their first season going unbeaten in the league, and are 14-2-2 heading into the PBC Tournament this weekend
• UNG currently leads the PBC in scoring defense and is ranked third in scoring offense; they also led the league with 12 shutouts

2023 Women's Soccer All-Conference Team

First Team

Forwards
Emma Beddow, Columbus State
Andrea Fernandez, Flagler
Emma Sexton, Lander
Amiah Sprunger-Hightower, Clayton State

Midfielders
Moa Arlebo, Flagler
Maysoon El-Shami, North Georgia
Mari Kalvatn, USC Beaufort
Maren White, Lander

Defenders
Brooke Ouimette, Columbus State
Mia Piazza, Lander
Bailey Vessell, North Georgia
Cat Watry, North Georgia

Goalkeeper
Sierra Fowler, North Georgia

Second Team

Forwards
Arielle Aronoff, North Georgia
Synne Bye-Andersen, USC Beaufort
Paige Churchill, Flagler
Katey Derkay, North Georgia
Anna Grady, Columbus State

Midfielders
Alex Clark, North Georgia
Chloe Flannaghan, Clayton State
Samantha St. Pierre, Flagler
Sage Smith, Columbus State
Adleigh Wheeler, North Georgia

Defenders
Alizee Buresi, North Georgia
Carley Canzoneri, Columbus State
Mychael Fruits, North Georgia
Kara Yandle, Lander

Goalkeeper
Leah Hayes Coen, Lander

Elite 18 Award Presented by Barnes & Noble College
Carley Canzoneri, Columbus State

Select Sport Gold Ball Award (most goals in conference games)
Andrea Fernandez, Flagler

Offensive Player of the Year presented by College Ave. Student Loans
Andrea Fernandez, Flagler

Defensive Player of the Year presented by College Ave. Student Loans
Bailey Vessell, North Georgia

Freshman of the Year presented by College Ave. Student Loans
Paige Churchill, Flagler

Coach of the Year presented by College Ave. Student Loans
Kayley Ralton, North Georgia