Trio Named All-Conference FIrst Team for Women's Soccer

DALLAS — A trio of Women's Soccer players from St. Mary's University were named to the Lone Star All-Conference First Team at the annual pre-championship banquet on Thursday evening, while graduate student Juni Ejere earned a spot on the All-Academic team for the second-straight season.
 
The Rattlers will play in the semifinals of the Lone Star Tournament after finishing in second place during the regular season and currently have an overall record of 10-4-5 after defeating St. Edward's in the Quarterfinals on Monday.
 
Senior defender Jackie Miller (El Paso, Texas), sophomore midfielder Shelby Paniagua (Cibolo, Texas) and sophomore forward Sydney Varela (El Paso) were all tabbed on the First Team. It is the first All-Conference honor for all three of them, though Paniagua and Varela were both named to the All-Freshmen team a season ago.
 
Miller has been the anchor for the Rattlers' defense all year long, starting in all 19 games and playing the entire 90 minutes in 15 of those 19 contests. She has one goal and two assists on the year and has helped hold opponents to just 1.16 goals per game.
 
Paniagua has also started all 19 games this season, ranking second in the Lone Star Conference in assists per game (0.42), second in game-winning goals (3) and third in points per game (1.26). She also leads the team with eight goals, and her 24 points leads the team and ranks second in the LSC.
 
Varela is second on the team with seven goals, starting in all 17 games in which she's played. She ranks third in the Lone Star in shots per game, as well as fifth in total goals. Varela kicked the game-winning goal in the team's 3-1 victory over UT Tyler on Sept. 20.
 
Ejere is a graduate student in Computer Information Services and was tabbed to the All-Academic team for the second year in a row. The Weatherford, Texas native played in 15 games, starting in 12 with five goals and two assists, including kicking the game-winner against Angelo State during the regular season.
 
DBU swept the specialty awards after going undefeated during the season. The Patriots are the top-seed and host of the Lone Star Conference Championship.