MOUNT OLIVE, North Carolina – Led by senior defender
Baley Edwards, junior goalkeeper
Sydney Schneider and redshirt sophomore midfielder
Morgan Nanni, UNCW had five student-athletes selected to the 2019 North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) All-State Women's Soccer Teams.
Edwards, Schneider and Nanni were named All-State First Team selections while junior forward
Audrey Harding and freshman forward
Emily Moxley received Second-Team All-State recognition.
Edwards, a Second-Team All-East Region pick by the United Soccer Coaches, anchored a stingy UNCW defensive unit that conceded just 18 goals in 17 games, tying for the fewest in the CAA. The Wilmington, N.C., product helped the Seahawks defeat James Madison, 2-0, on Oct. 24 when she scored her first goal of the season in the second half off an assist from senior defender
Ashley Johnson.
A four-year starter for the Seahawks, Edwards tallied nine goals with six assists and started 65-of-68 games in her career.
Schneider, the first-ever recipient of the CAA's Goalkeeper of the Year award, received her first career All-State honor following an impressive junior campaign.
After spending the summer serving as the starting goalkeeper for Jamaica in the FIFA Women's World Cup, the First-Team All-CAA pick returned to her UNCW squad and did not miss a beat, starting all 17 games for Coach
Chris Neal's squad. The Dayton, N.J., product authored a 1.06 goals against average while stopping 73.5 percent of the shots she has faced.
Schneider was named the CAA's Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 14 after leading the Seahawks to back-to-back shutouts against William & Mary and Drexel. She has registered nine career shutouts, including five this season, posting 130 saves in 43 appearances.
Nanni, meanwhile, was a key member of the Seahawks' offensive efforts by contributing five goals with two assists this season. The Raleigh, N.C., product started 16-of-17 games and earned All-Tournament Team honors at the Charleston Under Armour Invitational after a two-goal performance in the Seahawks' 3-0 win over Stephen F. Austin.
In addition, the Second-Team All-CAA performer netted the game-winning marker in a 2-0 victory over Northeastern on Sept. 29 and contributed goals against Drexel and VCU. Nanni has tallied nine goals with four assists over the last two seasons.
Harding, from Akron, Ohio, garnered Second-Team All-State accolades after netting seven goals with five assists. The Second-Team All-CAA honoree earned CAA Offensive Player of the Week plaudits on Sept. 16 after posting a two-goal, two-assist effort in a 5-1 victory over Middle Tennessee. She also contributed two goals in an Aug. 29 victory over Coastal Carolina.
A starter in 12-of-17 games this season, Harding has fashioned 10 goals with nine assists in her career.
Moxley made an immediate impact on the Seahawks' offense in her rookie year and ranked second on the team with 18 points after netting five goals and eight assists. The Cary, N.C., native was recognized by the CAA three times during the regular season, including a pair of Rookie of the Week accolades, and earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team.
Moxley opened her career by earning CAA Offensive Player of the Week honors following a goal in each of the Seahawks' wins against Furman and Stephen F. Austin at the Charleston Under Armour Invitational. She was also a two-time CAA Rookie of the Week selection while tallying two goals with five assists in league play.
Nominations were submitted by North Carolina sports information professionals and voted on by NCCSIA members.
Founded in 2002, the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) is comprised of sports information professionals from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions from the state of North Carolina. The purpose of the organization is to promote collegiate athletics at all schools. Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina, and whose area of responsibility lies within sports information.
NCCSIA selects all-state teams in the University (Division I) and College (Division II, III, NAIA) divisions for men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, softball and baseball.
Notes of Interest:
- UNCW and Charlotte led all schools with five All-State selections, including a trio of First-Team awards … Gardner-Webb followed with four honorees.
- The Seahawks matched a program record with their five All-State picks, equaling the record set during the 2015 season.
- UNCW has had multiple players named to the All-State First Team for the fourth time in the last five years … In addition, this year marked the fourth time the Seahawks have placed at least three players on the All-State First Team (2012, 2015, 2016).
- All five UNCW selections earned their first career All-State honor.
