Five Panthers Earn Spots on Daktronics All-South Region Team

Number of honorees is second-most among nine schools represented on squad

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Women’s Soccer) – Five Florida Tech Panthers graced this year’s Daktronics All-South Region Team, including junior goalkeeper Mist Eliasdottir, who earned first team recognition on Tuesday.

Also catching the eyes of the region’s sports information directors were defenders Ann-Marie Helgestad and Brittany Rainbow, midfielder Paula Lillsjo and forward Casey Lademann. The quartet helped fill over a quarter of the region’s second team as 14 student-athletes were honored on that squad.

Eliasdottir was the lone goalkeeper selected to the first team. She currently boasts a 0.69 goals against average, a .845 save percentage and eight shutouts. Her goals against average is tied for the league’s lowest, while her save percentage paces all Sunshine State Conference netminders.

Aiding in Eliasdottir’s impressive season have been her defenders. Helgestad and Rainbow have helped Tech comprise one of the top backlines in the region. While both have different playing styles, they have been instrumental in shutting down numerous key players and tough opponents this season.

Lillsjo has not missed a beat this year as she has started all 19 games along with Eliasdottir, Lademann and Rainbow. The tough midfielder has recorded four assists thus far. Her last dish came on Lademann’s 15th goal of the season in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Rollins in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. By assisting Lademann’s goal, she played a substantial part in the Palm Coast High School product setting the program’s single-season record for goals.

Lademann’s 15 tallies ranks third in the league. Along with her goal output, she has accumulated three assists for 33 points, fourth-most among her peers in the SSC. More often than not, the junior transfer has come up big for her team. She has scored Tech’s game-winning goal in eight of the team’s 10 wins.

Players selected to the all-South Region First Team will advance to the ballot for the Daktronics All-America team. Voting for the Daktronics All-America program is powered by ATHLETICSITE.COM and voted on by Division II sports information directors.

Tech resumes tournament play on Friday when it faces the Tampa Spartans in the NCAA South Region Final. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. at Pepin Stadium in Tampa.


Daktronics All-South Region Team:

G - Mist Eliasdottir, Florida Tech
D - Meagan Thomas, Rollins
D - Noha Saleh, West Florida
D - Jordan Stone, West Florida
D - Leah Hirsch, Rollins
M - Monica Malavassi, West Florida
M - Tina Murray, West Florida
M - Nikki Brown, North Alabama
M - Alexis Garrand, West Florida
F - Shakira Duncan, West Florida
F - Chloe Roberts, North Alabama
F - Pia Soesemann, Saint Leo
F - Emma Karp, Barry
Player of the Year: Shakira Duncan, West Florida

Second Team:
G - Alex McLay, North Alabama
G - Libby Hake, Christian Brothers
D - Julia Osmond, North Alabama
D - Ann-Marie Helgestad, Florida Tech
D - Jasmine Johnson, Saint Leo
D - Brittany Rainbow, Florida Tech
M - Courtney Peffley, Tampa
M - Charlotte Murrell, Rollins
M - Paula Lillsjo, Florida Tech
M - Lainie Ferring, Barry
F - Jodi-Ann Robinson, West Florida
F - Princess Haley, Florida Southern
F - Melissa Madrid, Barry
F - Casey Lademann, Florida Tech