Photo by: Luke Della
Soccer Earns Five All-Conference Honors
4/12/2021 2:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DALLAS — The North Texas soccer team earned five 2020-21 Conference USA All-Conference honors headlined by two first team selections the league announced on Monday.
Voted on by the 14 C-USA head coaches, the Mean Green's Brooke Lampe and Allie Byrd were voted to the first team, Michelle Gonzalez and Kelsey Brann were selected to the third team and freshman Madi Starrett earned all-freshman honors.
This is the third year in a row Brann has been named all-conference making her the first UNT keeper to accomplish that and it's the second year in a row for the sophomore Byrd who was tabbed third team and all-freshman last season.
For Lampe — a second-year team captain — and Gonzalez, it is their first all-conference honor. Lampe was named to the 2019 C-USA All-Tournament team last year.
Byrd joins UNT soccer alums Dominique James (2019), Rachel Holden (2016), Karla Pineda (2015), Kelsey Hodges (2014), Kendall Juett (2009), Heather Hutyra (2007), Melinda Pina (2004), Marilyn Marin (2003), Christy Johnson (2000) and Krista Davey (1999) to be voted first team all-conference as a sophomore or younger. Hodges, Juett, Hutyra, Pina, Marin, Johnson and Davey are all in the North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame.
BROOKE LAMPE, SR., DEFENDER
After moving around and playing literally every position her first three years including goalkeeper, senior Brooke Lampe has taken over for all-American Dominique James as the team's centerback and not skipped a beat. In this abbreviated season, Lampe has played in all but one match and played every minute of the matches she has played. As a captain and field director, Lampe has guided her Mean Green to five shutouts this season. She's also added two assists this season and scored a goal on March 7 in UNT's 2-1 win at Rice.
ALLIE BYRD, SOPH., FORWARD
One of the most difficult matchups for opposing C-USA defenders, Byrd has followed up her stellar freshman season with another tremendous sophomore campaign. North Texas, which leads the nation in shots per game (25.9 per game) and shots on goal per game (10.7 per game), is led in both of those categories by Byrd and it's not even close. Through 10 matches this season, Byrd has taken 41 shots and put 21 on target. Both of those lead C-USA and rank in the top 25 in the nation. Byrd was a preseason all-conference award winner headed into this season. She has three goals and an assist in this shortened season.
KELSEY BRANN, R-JR., GOALKEEPER
Third-year UNT keeper Kelsey Brann has been voted all-conference every season. The 2019 C-USA Goalkeeper of the Year has played in nine matches this season and shutout five opponents, including two conference opponents and Oklahoma at home. The all-academic performer has a 7-1-1 record on the year. In the one match she missed this season due to injury the Mean Green lost 2-1. Brann becomes this first UNT keeper in program history to be named all-conference three or more times.
MICHELLE GONZALEZ, SOPH. MIDFIELDER
UNT's starting midfielder, Michelle Gonzalez has been critical to the team's success this season on the attack. She's a huge reason for the team's No. 1 national ranking in shots and shots on goal per game. The Garland native has two assists and a goal on the shortened season but is widely recognized by the league's coaches for her skill and ability to create in space. North Texas has been lethal this season on counters and Gonzalez has been a huge part of that. This is the sophomore's first all-conference honor.
MADI STARRETT, FR., DEFENDER
Freshman Madi Starrett has taken the reigns as the team's starting right back and been extremely consistent for the defense but also offense. Starrett, who has four assists on the year, is one of the nation's top freshmen in that category. She's the team's primary corner kick taker and scored her lone goal this season on a corner kick. Starrett has played 90 or more minutes in five of the 10 matches this season. She's started all but the season opener in which she had two assists. Starrett joins teammates Byrd — in 2019 — and Brann — in 2018 — as UNT soccer student-athletes to be named to a C-USA all-freshman team league honor.
North Texas faces Charlotte in the first round of the 2020-21 C-USA Tournament on Tuesday at 1:30 CT. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+. North Texas has won three straight league tournaments and is aiming for its ninth league trophy and 17th overall. The winner between UNT and Charlotte will face the winner of UAB and WKU on Thursday in the semifinals. The 2021 C-USA Tournament is hosted by Rice.
Voted on by the 14 C-USA head coaches, the Mean Green's Brooke Lampe and Allie Byrd were voted to the first team, Michelle Gonzalez and Kelsey Brann were selected to the third team and freshman Madi Starrett earned all-freshman honors.
This is the third year in a row Brann has been named all-conference making her the first UNT keeper to accomplish that and it's the second year in a row for the sophomore Byrd who was tabbed third team and all-freshman last season.
For Lampe — a second-year team captain — and Gonzalez, it is their first all-conference honor. Lampe was named to the 2019 C-USA All-Tournament team last year.
Byrd joins UNT soccer alums Dominique James (2019), Rachel Holden (2016), Karla Pineda (2015), Kelsey Hodges (2014), Kendall Juett (2009), Heather Hutyra (2007), Melinda Pina (2004), Marilyn Marin (2003), Christy Johnson (2000) and Krista Davey (1999) to be voted first team all-conference as a sophomore or younger. Hodges, Juett, Hutyra, Pina, Marin, Johnson and Davey are all in the North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame.
BROOKE LAMPE, SR., DEFENDER
After moving around and playing literally every position her first three years including goalkeeper, senior Brooke Lampe has taken over for all-American Dominique James as the team's centerback and not skipped a beat. In this abbreviated season, Lampe has played in all but one match and played every minute of the matches she has played. As a captain and field director, Lampe has guided her Mean Green to five shutouts this season. She's also added two assists this season and scored a goal on March 7 in UNT's 2-1 win at Rice.
ALLIE BYRD, SOPH., FORWARD
One of the most difficult matchups for opposing C-USA defenders, Byrd has followed up her stellar freshman season with another tremendous sophomore campaign. North Texas, which leads the nation in shots per game (25.9 per game) and shots on goal per game (10.7 per game), is led in both of those categories by Byrd and it's not even close. Through 10 matches this season, Byrd has taken 41 shots and put 21 on target. Both of those lead C-USA and rank in the top 25 in the nation. Byrd was a preseason all-conference award winner headed into this season. She has three goals and an assist in this shortened season.
KELSEY BRANN, R-JR., GOALKEEPER
Third-year UNT keeper Kelsey Brann has been voted all-conference every season. The 2019 C-USA Goalkeeper of the Year has played in nine matches this season and shutout five opponents, including two conference opponents and Oklahoma at home. The all-academic performer has a 7-1-1 record on the year. In the one match she missed this season due to injury the Mean Green lost 2-1. Brann becomes this first UNT keeper in program history to be named all-conference three or more times.
MICHELLE GONZALEZ, SOPH. MIDFIELDER
UNT's starting midfielder, Michelle Gonzalez has been critical to the team's success this season on the attack. She's a huge reason for the team's No. 1 national ranking in shots and shots on goal per game. The Garland native has two assists and a goal on the shortened season but is widely recognized by the league's coaches for her skill and ability to create in space. North Texas has been lethal this season on counters and Gonzalez has been a huge part of that. This is the sophomore's first all-conference honor.
MADI STARRETT, FR., DEFENDER
Freshman Madi Starrett has taken the reigns as the team's starting right back and been extremely consistent for the defense but also offense. Starrett, who has four assists on the year, is one of the nation's top freshmen in that category. She's the team's primary corner kick taker and scored her lone goal this season on a corner kick. Starrett has played 90 or more minutes in five of the 10 matches this season. She's started all but the season opener in which she had two assists. Starrett joins teammates Byrd — in 2019 — and Brann — in 2018 — as UNT soccer student-athletes to be named to a C-USA all-freshman team league honor.
North Texas faces Charlotte in the first round of the 2020-21 C-USA Tournament on Tuesday at 1:30 CT. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+. North Texas has won three straight league tournaments and is aiming for its ninth league trophy and 17th overall. The winner between UNT and Charlotte will face the winner of UAB and WKU on Thursday in the semifinals. The 2021 C-USA Tournament is hosted by Rice.
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfield
/ Women's Soccer
Defense
/ Women's Soccer
Forward/Midfield/Defense/Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defense
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