ROCK HILL, S.C. (theSAC.com) – Catawba forward Bree Ehmer was voted the 2026 South Atlantic Conference Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, while teammate Ali Skinner earned SAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Carson-Newman's Olivia Shannon was selected as the Freshman of the Year, and Catawba head coach Nick Brown was named the Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career.

Ehmer continued to shine for Catawba, finishing tied for the conference lead with 11 goals while adding five assists for 27 points in 18 matches. Her 27 points ranked second in the SAC, while her five game-winning goals led the conference. Ehmer also recorded 52 shots, including 30 on goal, helping lead a Catawba offense that paced the league with 48 goals and an average of 2.67 goals per match. The senior, who entered the season as the reigning Ron Lenz National Player of the Year, becomes a back-to-back recipient of the conference's top offensive honor after also earning the award in 2025.

Skinner anchored the Catawba defense while helping the Indians capture the SAC regular-season championship. Catawba finished conference play with an 8-1-1 record and 25 points, securing the top seed in the SAC Women's Soccer Championship. Skinner also contributed offensively, recording an assist on Ehmer's game-winning goal in Catawba's 2-0 SAC quarterfinal victory over Anderson.
Shannon made an immediate impact in her freshman campaign with Carson-Newman, recording five goals and four assists for 14 points in 16 matches. She helped lead the Eagles to a third-place finish in the conference standings with a 4-2-4 SAC record. Shannon delivered one of her biggest performances of the season against Catawba on October 24, scoring twice in Carson-Newman's 3-2 victory over the Indians.

Brown earned SAC Coach of the Year honors for the fourth time in his career and second consecutive season after guiding Catawba to another conference regular-season championship. The Indians finished conference play with an 8-1-1 record and posted a 12-4-2 overall mark through the SAC quarterfinals. Under Brown's direction, Catawba led the conference in scoring with 48 goals in 18 matches, averaging 2.67 goals per contest. The Indians also ranked among the league's offensive leaders with 273 shots and 113 corner kicks.

Catawba and Lenoir-Rhyne led all conference programs with seven All-Conference selections apiece. Joining Ehmer and Skinner on the first team for Catawba were Cadence Setzer, Ella Matthews and Lucy Hack. Setzer led the conference with 11 assists while adding six goals for 23 points, ranking fourth in the league in total scoring.

Wingate followed with six All-Conference selections, while Carson-Newman and Lincoln Memorial each earned five. Coker placed four players on the All-Conference teams, while Anderson and Mars Hill each earned two selections and Emory & Henry had one.

2026 South Atlantic Conference Women's Soccer All-Conference Teams

First Team
F – Bree Ehmer, Catawba
F – Cadence Setzer, Catawba
F – Leah Krugh, Mars Hill
F – Audur Halldorsdottir, Wingate
MF – Ella Matthews, Catawba
MF – Mya Rivera, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Isabella Rychel, Coker
MF – Katie Ensalaco, Wingate
D – Ali Skinner, Catawba
D – Lucy Hack, Catawba
D – Donna van der Zalm, Lincoln Memorial
D – Lauren Monday, Anderson
GK – Rhyan Parkin, Coker

Second Team
F – Olivia Shannon, Carson-Newman
F – Paige Branam, Lincoln Memorial
F – Kalyssa Carter, Emory & Henry
F – Kaitlyn Gregory, Anderson
MF – Ava Hartman, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Ella Wilke, Coker
MF – Tilde Wahrenberg, Wingate
MF – Grace Sykes, Coker
D – Rosa Gonzalez, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Alayna Corbitt, Carson-Newman
D – Emma Rainey, Carson-Newman
D – Skylar Noll, Lenoir-Rhyne
GK – Lexie Guy, Mars Hill

Third Team
F – Kennedy McGuire, Catawba
F – Sifa Morgan, Carson-Newman
F – Lucia Hidalgo, Lenoir-Rhyne
F – Elizabeth Butler, Lincoln Memorial
MF – Malia Kim, Carson-Newman
MF – Alexis Cagno, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Kennedy Flowers, Lenoir-Rhyne
MF – Edie Wilds, Lincoln Memorial
D – Avery Brown, Wingate
D – Sydnee Barndt, Wingate
D – Reese Robinson, Catawba
D – Mary Eunice, Lincoln Memorial
GK – Amelia Forsling, Wingate

Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Bree Ehmer, Catawba
Defensive Player of the Year – Ali Skinner, Catawba
Freshman of the Year – Olivia Shannon, Carson-Newman
Coach of the Year – Nick Brown, Catawba
  All-Conference Selections by School
Catawba – 7
Lenoir-Rhyne – 7
Wingate – 6
Carson-Newman – 5
Lincoln Memorial – 5
Coker – 4
Anderson – 2
Mars Hill – 2
Emory & Henry – 1