FRISCO, Texas –
Marissa Gross was named Southland Conference Player and Forward of the Year as Lamar University captured five of the league's eight major awards, conference officials announced Monday. The Cardinals also placed six players on the all-conference teams, including five first-team selections and one second-team honoree.
Other major award winners for Big Red include Goalkeeper of the Year
Keely Thomas, Midfielder of the Year
Sofia Wilby and Coach of the Year
Nathan Kogut.
Gross (South Grand Prairie, Texas) became the fourth Cardinal to earn player of the year honors and the first since
Hollie Massey in 2023. This season, she led the conference with 11 goals, including six game-winners. She also recorded three multi-goal games and converted three penalty kicks. Gross became the fourth Cardinal to score in four consecutive matches and earned her first Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Thomas (Richmond, Virginia) became the second Lamar goalkeeper to earn the conference's top goalkeeper award, joining two-time recipient
Nicole Panis (2022, 2023). She went undefeated in 12 starts (9-0-3) and led the conference in goals-against average (0.42), save percentage (.880) and fewest goals allowed (five). Thomas also ranked second in the league with six shutouts, recorded 37 saves and earned three SLC Goalkeeper of the Week honors.
Wilby (Manchester, England) became the fourth Cardinal to earn the conference's midfielder of the year award and the first since
Alana Clark (2023). She scored three goals and added four assists while appearing in all 17 matches. Among her highlights, she recorded game-winning goals against Stephen F. Austin (Oct. 11) and Southeastern Louisiana (Oct. 25). Wilby also assisted on Gross' game-winning goal vs. McNeese (Nov. 5) that secured the outright regular-season conference title for the Cardinals.
Gross, Thomas and Wilby were also named First-Team All-SLC along with defenders
Anneliese Switzer and
Riley Wilson, who helped anchor a defense that allowed a conference-low 11 goals and posted a 0.65 goals-against average.
Switzer (Houston, Texas) appeared in 16 matches and made five starts. She scored goals against Our Lady of the Lake (Sept. 3) and Texas A&M-San Antonio (Sept. 10).
Wilson (Round Rock, Texas) started all 17 matches, took five shots with two on goal and was the team leader in minutes (1,422). She was never subbed off in 13 matches and earned two SLC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Lauryn Woodard (Mansfield, Texas) was Lamar's lone second-team selection. She appeared in 14 matches and recorded her first career assist against Texas A&M-San Antonio (Sept. 10.).
Kogut earned his third Southland Conference Coach of the Year honor after previously receiving the award in 2022 and 2023. In five seasons at Lamar, Kogut has guided the Cardinals to 28 all-conference honors (20 first-team and eight second-team selections), three goalkeepers of the year, one newcomer of the year and two recipients each for midfielder, forward, defender and player of the year.
The Cardinals clinched the regular season SLC title at 10-2-5 overall and 7-1-2 in conference play, recording nine shutouts while also going unbeaten at home (6-0-2). As the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament, LU has received a first round bye and begins its run in the tournament semifinals Thursday at 3:30 p.m. against the winner of No. 4 UIW and No. 5 Nicholls.
