University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Luke Della
Seven-Time C-USA Champs Receive Rings
5/9/2019 9:55:00 AM | Women's Soccer
DENTON – For the fifth year in a row, the North Texas soccer team concluded its end of the season banquet by handing out the team's Conference USA championship rings.
UNT posted a 15-3-3 overall record, earned a top 25 national ranking and claimed the league's regular season and tournament title to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament for a third time in the last four seasons.
This past season's regular season and tournament championship brings the program's total to 15, seven of which they've earned since joining C-USA in 2013.
"It's never easy to win both championships in one year," said head coach John Hedlund. "We were fortunate to win both in 2012 (Sun Belt), 2015 and now in 2018. It takes a great team to win the regular season and tournament title all in the same year but when achieved there is no doubt in our highly competitive 14-team league who has the best team and is number one."
Junior defender Dominique James was named an NCAA All-American as she also collected C-USA hardware as the league's player of the year.
Senior forward Aaliyah Nolan was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region team and redshirt freshman goalie Kelsey Brann was recognized as one of the top young keepers in the country by collegiate soccer publications.
In the conference tournament, senior Carissa Sanders took home the tournament defensive MVP award and senior Lauryn Bruffett was named offensive MVP after she scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the championship match against Southern Miss.
Junior Madeline Guderian and Brann were also named to the all-tournament team.
Eight Mean Green players were named to a all-conference honor, which was more than any other team in the league.
North Texas' six seniors, four of which played all four years with UNT, graduated with an all-time record of 63-15-9 – the second-most wins by a UNT senior class.
"I'm extremely proud of what this team accomplished last fall -- being ranked in the top 25 and Dominique (James) receiving All-American was simply the icing on the cake," Hedlund said. "The best feeling in sports is when your team is hoisting the championship trophy and then receiving their rings a few months later, there is simply nothing better."
North Texas will play its 25th season next year and do so in its brand new soccer facility. The Mean Green have still yet to have a losing season ever and haven't lost a home conference game since Oct. 31, 2008.
UNT posted a 15-3-3 overall record, earned a top 25 national ranking and claimed the league's regular season and tournament title to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament for a third time in the last four seasons.
This past season's regular season and tournament championship brings the program's total to 15, seven of which they've earned since joining C-USA in 2013.
"It's never easy to win both championships in one year," said head coach John Hedlund. "We were fortunate to win both in 2012 (Sun Belt), 2015 and now in 2018. It takes a great team to win the regular season and tournament title all in the same year but when achieved there is no doubt in our highly competitive 14-team league who has the best team and is number one."
Junior defender Dominique James was named an NCAA All-American as she also collected C-USA hardware as the league's player of the year.
Senior forward Aaliyah Nolan was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region team and redshirt freshman goalie Kelsey Brann was recognized as one of the top young keepers in the country by collegiate soccer publications.
In the conference tournament, senior Carissa Sanders took home the tournament defensive MVP award and senior Lauryn Bruffett was named offensive MVP after she scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the championship match against Southern Miss.
Junior Madeline Guderian and Brann were also named to the all-tournament team.
Eight Mean Green players were named to a all-conference honor, which was more than any other team in the league.
North Texas' six seniors, four of which played all four years with UNT, graduated with an all-time record of 63-15-9 – the second-most wins by a UNT senior class.
"I'm extremely proud of what this team accomplished last fall -- being ranked in the top 25 and Dominique (James) receiving All-American was simply the icing on the cake," Hedlund said. "The best feeling in sports is when your team is hoisting the championship trophy and then receiving their rings a few months later, there is simply nothing better."
North Texas will play its 25th season next year and do so in its brand new soccer facility. The Mean Green have still yet to have a losing season ever and haven't lost a home conference game since Oct. 31, 2008.
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Midfield
/ Women's Soccer
Defense
/ Women's Soccer
Defense
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defense
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