BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Lee University women's soccer team earned multiple Gulf South Conference honors as announced by the conference on Monday. Isabella Valentine was the defensive player of the year and Emma Nelson was the freshman of the year. Lee had the most players on the First Team with six players and had one on the second team.
On the First Team All-GSC for Lee was Abby Whitcomb, Valentine, Moa Ekman, Megan Davis, Aubrey Benfield, and Emma Nelson. Addie Chapman was the lone player on the second team.
The University of Montevallo had the coach of the year (Trey Gregory), and the offensive player of the year (Lainey Farabaugh). The Falcons had four on the first team and four on the second team.
The defender of the year, Valentine has been huge for the Lee defense. She is in the top ten in the GSC in shots taken with 32. She has multiple goals and assists on the season. On defense she has helped Lee give up the fewest goals in the GSC. The Lee defense has also only allowed fewer than 100 shots on the season. Valentine helped Lee pitch the most shutouts in the GSC. She has played over 950 minutes on the year.
Emma Nelson has had a fantastic first year of playing for Lee. She is in the top five in the GSC in goals with seven. She is in the top nine in shots on goal. She has added a couple of assists. She leads Lee with the most shots on goal. She has helped the Lee offense score the second most goals in the GSC and have the second most points per game in the GSC.
Abby Whitcomb has been solid in goal all season. She leads the GSC in goals against average (0.457) and shutouts (8). She is well over .800 in save percentage at .837. She is in the top 16 in the nation in goal against average. She has 36 saves on the season.
Moa Ekman has been a good defender in her first season in college. She has a goal and an assist and has taken several shots. On defense she has helped Lee give up the fewest goals in the GSC. The Lee defense has also only allowed fewer than 100 shots on the season. Ekman helped Lee pitch the most shutouts in the GSC. She has played over 1300 minutes on the season.
Aubrey Benfield has been an excellent midfielder controlling the ball for Lee. She has played and started every game this season. She has played well over 1100 minutes. She has multiple goals on the season with one game winning goal. On defensive side of midfield, she has helped Lee give up the fewest goals in the GSC. The Lee defense has also only allowed fewer than 100 shots on the season. Benfield helped Lee pitch the most shutouts in the GSC. Then on offense, she has helped Lee scored the second most goals in the GSC.
Megan Davis has been a strong attacking midfielder. She is third in the GSC in assists and leads Lee with seven. She has also scored multiple goals. She has taken double-digit shots and has a game winning goal. She has helped the Lee offense score the second most goals in the GSC and have the second most points per game in the GSC.
Addie Chapman has been excellent up top for the Flames. She is in the top five in goals in the GSC with seven She has taken the second most shots for Lee. She has three game winning goals and has an assist. She has helped the Lee offense score the second most goals in the GSC and have the second most points per game in the GSC.
Coach Lee Hughes's is proud of his girls and what the whole team as done this year. "Extremely proud to see so many of our girls recognized! I'm sure they would join me in saying, Individual honors like this aren't possible without the consistent team effort, and high standards in training each and every single day. These girls have earned every bit of this recognition, and it reflects the strong team culture we have!"
Lee will next head to Huntsville, Ala. and will take on UAH in the GSC Semifinals on Friday, November 6 at 7 PM EST.
2026 GSC Women's Soccer Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Lainey Farabaugh, Montevallo
Defensive Player of the Year: Isabella Valentine, Lee
Freshman of the Year: Emma Nelson, Lee
Coach of the Year: Trey Gregory, Montevallo
2026 Women's Soccer First Team All-GSC
GK: Abby Whitcomb, Lee
D: Isabella Valentine, Lee
D: Madysen Legere, Montevallo*
D: Shelby Irwin, Montevallo
D: Moa Ekman, Lee
M: Lainey Farabaugh, Montevallo^#
M: Megan Davis, Lee*
M: Irene Arias, Union
M: Aubrey Benfield, Lee
F: Ayla Ertekin, Montevallo*
F: Rebekah Jackson, Union
F: Sarah Hudson, Valdosta State
F: Emma Nelson, Lee
2026 Women's Soccer Second Team All-GSC
GK: Leslie Azouer, AUM
GK: Jolie Cazale, Montevallo
D: Tessa Erzen, Union
D: Prescott Hull, UAH
D: Tessa Harrington, Montevallo
D: Kyndal Smith, Valdosta State
M: Karsyn Ross, Montevallo
M: Sofia Jimenez Garcia, Spring Hill
M: Courtney Pigford, AUM
M: Kaitlyn Scherer, Valdosta State*
F: Addie Chapman, Lee
F: Felicia Ajayi, Spring Hill
F: Isabel Dillehay, Montevallo
F: Eva Hendriks, AUM
^ 2025 First Team All-GSC
* 2025 Second Team All-GSC
# 2024 Second Team All-GSC
