Women's C-USA, SWAC, MAAC & Big Sky Preview

by Victor Olorunfemi

August 15, 2023

The TDS college soccer preview continues with a look into the C-USA, SWAC, MAAC & Big Sky women's soccer conferences.

Conference USA Preview

Conference USA is another whose massive turnover means it is essentially a brand new conference ahead of the season. They add four new institutions while losing six of their own. Those losses now mean C-USA will be without its 2022 regular and post-season league winners, the top three teams in the 2022 standings, and five of the top six teams in league play. But reinforcements are coming in as Liberty and New Mexico State join after winning the regular season or conference tournament from their prior leagues. The mass realignment makes for one of the most intriguing storylines to track this collegiate season.

*Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and UTSA leave for the American Athletic Conference.
*Liberty and Jacksonville State join after leaving the Athletic Sun Conference.
*New Mexico State and Sam Houston State join after leaving the Western Athletic Conference.

Top Freshmen to Watch:

Hannah Murphy, Middle Tennessee (#30 Ranked TDS Rocky Mountains & Southwest Region)

Katy Gregson, Liberty

Kennedy Herrera, New Mexico State

Lennon Porter, Sam Houston State

Valerie Gherson, Louisiana Tech

Top Players to Watch:

Loma McNeese, New Mexico State

Josie Studer, Louisiana Tech

Bridie Herman, Liberty

Ambere Barnett, Western Kentucky

Nikole Solis, Florida International

Southwestern Athletic Conference Preview

A massive swing in fortunes saw Prairie View A&M, the 2021 conference champions, not qualify for the 2022 post-season as they finished ninth in league play. In their place stepped Jackson State, who backed up their first-place finish with a conference tournament championship. However the season shakes up, multiple teams will have a say as they seek their slice of glory.

Top Freshmen to Watch:

Kyla Gomez, Jackson State

Whitney Walker, Grambling State

Neysa Misita, Alabama State

Adia Able, Prairie View A&M

Amelia Barber, Alabama A&M

Top Players to Watch:

Beatriz Kretteis, Grambling State

Jaidyn Christophe, Texas Southern

Ayanna Pinder, Jackson State

Sydney Bellamy, Southern(w)

Rahael Aka-Ety, Mississippi Valley State(w)

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preview

Quinnipiac won their first-ever conference tournament championship and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in 22 years, largely thanks to Rebecca Cookem, who led Division 1 soccer in goals with 22. But with Cooke transferred out of the program, the conference is wide open, with Fairfield the likely favorite after sharing the regular season crown with Quinnipiac.

Top Freshmen to Watch:

Jazmin Herrera, Canisius (Dominican Republic U20 National Team)

Marissa Graziano, Iona(w) (#11 Ranked TDS New York Region)

Sydney Cox, Fairfield

Caroline Matyczyk, Quinnipiac

Nina Kammertons, Niagara

Top Players to Watch:

Maddy Theriault, Fairfield

Ellie Sciancalepore, Rider

Samantha Sturno, Marist

Courtney Chochol, Quinnipiac

Emma Oliphant, Canisius

Big Sky Preview

The Big Sky NCAA tournament bid came down to penalty shootouts as Northern Arizona backed up their regular season championship with a post-season title. With another season around the corner, Idaho, Portland State, and Sacramento State will all believe they have what it takes to mount a serious challenge.

Top Freshmen to Watch:

Kendall Moore, Eastern Washington (#15 Ranked TDS Pacific Northwest Region)

Yammile Picon, Portland State (#39 Ranked TDS Southern California Region)

Emma James, Idaho

Emery Jacobs, Weber State

Sierra Sonko, Sacramento State

Top Players to Watch:

Maddie Morgan, Eastern Washington

Morgan Furmaniak, Weber State

Kira Witte, Idaho

Delaney Lou Schorr, Montana

Logan Maszton, Northern Arizona