BEAUMONT, Texas - Lamar University's women's soccer team is coming off its best season in recent history and the accolades for the team keep coming in. Five Cardinals were honored as members of the United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region team with one as a first-teamer while four claimed second team spots.
 
Christine Kitaru was selected as the lone member on the first team. In a season that saw her earn first-team All-Southland Conference honors and two offensive player of the week honors on the field, Kitaru netted a career-high and team-leading 13 goals, which included a hat-trick against Tarleton State while also dishing out six assists. Kitaru led LU to the conference championship where she earned a spot on the tournament team and was named the MVP.
 
Earning second team honors were Arely Alaniz, Cariel Ellis, Nicole Panis, and Isela Ramirez. Alaniz earned first team All-Southland Conference after a season that saw her score two game-winning goals and record two assists. Helping LU produce 10 shutouts on defense, Alaniz was tabbed as the conference's defensive player of the year.
 
Ellis made the most of her first season as a Cardinal scoring 10 goals and recording six assists in the 17 matches she played. Four of the goals were game-winners, including the conference championship game against Texas A&M-Commerce. This season saw her win two Southland Conference Player of the Week honors and also a spot on both the SLC tournament team and first team.
 
Panis had a record-breaking season in goal for Big Red. Setting new school marks for career wins (30) and shutouts (20), Panis led LU to 15 wins this past season while earning four goalkeeper of the week awards by the SLC. In all 19 starts, Panis recorded a .66 goals against average and made 82 saves. Like Kitaru, Ellis, and Linares, she was also named to the all-tournament team.
 
Ramirez scored two goals in games against A&M-Commerce and Nicholls. She also had six assists, which included two against Houston and Louisiana. The SLC rewarded her play by having her as a member of their all-conference first team.
 
Claiming the double by achieving both the regular season and tournament conference titles this season, LU would reach the NCAA tournament for the third time in program history. Their run would end with a 3-1 loss to LSU, which ended their season at 15-2-2 overall.

To be nominated for region, a player has to be a starter or significant reserve, played in 50% of the games, maintained a 3.0 GPA, and must be academically a sophomore.
 

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