KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The United Soccer Coaches (USC) released the 2021 Scholar All-America and Scholar All-Region Teams this week, and four Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference student-athletes earned recognition.
Trinity University’s Kaity Ward and Bailey Meyer headline the SCAC contingent, earning both USC First Team Scholar All-American and All-West Region honors.
Ward, a senior Business Administration major with a 3.87 grade-point average, was also named First Team USC All-American earlier this month. Ward, the back-to-back SCAC Player of the Year, led the SCAC in virtually every offensive category last season, including goals scored (19), assists (11), points (49), game-winning goals (6), shots (115) and shots on goal (50). In leading Trinity to its second-straight SCAC Tournament crown this season, Ward netted a goal in both contests, including the game-winner in the championship fixture. She has scored in five-straight SCAC Tournament contests, dating back to last year's tournament, setting a new SCAC record for most consecutive tournament games with a goal and breaking the previous mark of four-straight set by Trinity's Kelsey Falcone during the 2013 and 2014 tournaments. Most recently, Ward scored every goal for the Tigers during Trinity’s run to the third round of the NCAA Tournament last month. This honor marks the second time Ward has earned Scholar All-American accolades in her collegiate career.
An Education major with a 3.83 grade-point average, Trinity’s Meyer was named SCAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year and earned Second Team USC All-American honors to culminate her junior season. anchored a Tiger defensive unit that surrendered the fewest goals in league play, allowing just three in seven games with a goals-against-average of 0.38. Trinity finished with a league leading 11 shutouts, including an opening round NCAA Tournament shutout victory last month. The Tigers allowed just 16 goals all season and finished third in the SCAC with a 0.78 goals-against-average.
In addition to Ward and Meyer, Southwestern University’s Samantha Davis earned USC Third Team Scholar All-American honors, along with First Team All-West Region recognition.
Davis, a defender from New Braunfels, Texas, with a 3.62 GPA as a Biology major, was an All-SCAC First Team and USC First Team All-West Region selection. She anchored one of the stingiest defenses in the region, with the Pirates allowing only .076 goals per game and posting a SCAC-best 10 shutouts. Not only was Davis a constant presence everywhere in the Pirates' defensive third, shutting down opportunities before they developed, but her ability to take the ball and weave through heavy traffic also helped key Southwestern's transition attack, and she contributed three goals.
Trinity senior Camryn Beall, rounds out the SCAC Scholar Athlete honorees after she earned USC First Team Scholar All-West Region honors.
Beall, an Accounting major who carries a 3.88 grade-point average, also picked up USC Region X Second Team honors, SCAC First Team honors and was named to the SCAC All-Tournament Team. She finished the season with one goal and two assists for a total of four points this year from her midfield position.
To be eligible for Scholar All-Region or All-America recognition, student-athletes must meet the following criteria:
- 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) or better throughout career
- Started more than 50 percent of all games and significantly contribute to their team
- Nominated by head coach of current College Services member institution
- Junior or above in academic standing; and, if a transfer student, in second year at school.
To view the entire United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America team, click here.
To view the entire United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-West Region team, click here.
