IRVING, Texas -Rice led the way boasting a pair of specialty award winners as well as earning a trio of first-team honorees in the 2017 All-Conference USA women's soccer awards. Thirteen different schools are represented on the All-C-USA women's soccer awards list, which features two repeat selections from a year ago. Awards are selected by a vote of the league's head women's soccer coaches.

Rice senior Samantha Chaiken claimed her second-consecutive Midfielder of the Year honor and teammate and Maya Hoyer picked up Goalkeeper of the Year. Chaiken and Hoyer are joined by fellow Owls Nia Stallings and Annie Walker in their All-C-USA recognition as both also earned first-team honors. Both Chaiken and Stallings scored eight goals in regular season and started all 15 of Rice's games. Sophomore Hoyer had 52 saves on the season and eight complete shutouts, only allowing 15 goals all season.

Charlotte senior forward Martha Thomas nabbed Offensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row after posting 29 points for the season, tied for first in C-USA, and is second in goals with 11 in 18 games. The 49ers claimed two spots on the first team with Thomas and sophomore forward Megan Greene, who was voted 2016 C-USA Freshman of the Year. Greene has 25 points and an average of ten points per game.

Jackie Stroud of Old Dominion received this year's Defensive Player of the Year award. The redshirt-senior picked up two Defensive Player of the Week nods and captained a freshman backline, allowing one goal or less in 13 of 16 games.

Middle Tennessee freshman Peyton DePriest claimed this year's Freshman of the Year honor after leading C-USA in goals (13) and tying for first in points (29) with fellow honoree Thomas. DePriest is second among freshman and ranks 23rd in the NCAA in points.

Rounding out the specialty awards is Coach of the Year Nicky Adams of Rice. Adams improved the Owls C-USA record to 9-0-1 from their 8-2-0 record in 2016. Rice went undefeated, the first time since 2011.

After being voted 14^th in the 2017 Preseason Poll, UAB is the No. 4 seed heading into the championship and has two players on the All-Conference USA first team, goalkeeper Kelsey Daugherty and midfielder Amy Brewer. Daugherty leads C-USA in save percentage at .857 and has only allowed 15 goals in the Blazer's 19 games. Brewer is third in points (25), goals (10) and points per game (1.47).

Nomvula Kgoale of Louisiana Tech earns first-team honors and was named preseason Defensive Player of the Year, moving to midfielder at the beginning of the season. Three of her five goals for the season have been game-winners, two of which were in conference play.

Florida Atlantic junior Ebba Blomqvist received first-team honors after playing 1,569 minutes and helping the Owls to six shutouts. In her first season she has scored five goals on 12 attempts and is 3-4 on penalty kicks.

North Texas sophomore defender Dominique James earned a spot on the All-Conference USA first team with the second-most minutes played on the team. James has helped the Mean Green defense lead C-USA with fewest goals allowed, with 14 on the season.

Rounding out the All-Conference USA first team is junior Ola Akinniyi of Southern Miss. The defender started 13 of the Golden Eagle's 15 games and scored seven goals for the year.

The 2017 C-USA Women's Soccer Championship kicks off Wednesday at FAU Soccer Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida. Rice, North Texas, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion are set to battle it out in the eight-team, three-day championship. All four quarterfinal matches and both semifinal games will be streamed on CUSA TV. The championship match is set for Sunday, Nov. 5 at 11 a.m. EST and will air on ESPN3.

Coaches also selected an All-Conference USA second and third team as well as an All-Freshman squad.

2017 C-USA WOMEN'S SOCCER SUPERLATIVE AWARDS PRESENTED BY READY NUTRITION

Offensive Player of the Year
Martha Thomas, Charlotte

Midfielder of the Year
Samantha Chaiken, Rice

Defensive Player of the Year
Jackie Stroud, Old Dominion

Goalkeeper of the Year
Maya Hoyer, Rice

Freshman of the Year
Peyton DePriest, Middle Tennessee

Coach of the Year
Nicky Adams, Rice

All-Conference USA First Team
F: Martha Thomas, Charlotte
F: Nia Stallings, Rice
F: Megan Greene, Charlotte
F: Annie Walker, Rice
MF: Samantha Chaiken, Rice
MF: Amy Brewer, UAB
MF: Nomvula Kgoale, Louisiana Tech
D: Jackie Stroud, Old Dominion
D: Dominique James, North Texas
D: Ebba Blomqvist, Florida Atlantic
D: Ola Akinniyi, Southern Miss
GK: Kelsey Daugherty, UAB

All-Conference USA Second Team
F: Peyton DePriest, Middle Tennessee
F: Aaliyah Nolan, North Texas
F: Victoria Bohdan, UTEP
F: Jordan Sackaris, Marshall
MF: Asta Arnadottir, Florida Atlantic
MF: Rachel Green, UAB
MF: Becky McMullan, Southern Miss
MF: Hannah Chua, WKU
D: Haley Laque, Louisiana Tech
D: Sydney Navarro, Middle Tennessee
D: Ashely Seltzer, Marshall
GK: Maya Hoyer, Rice

All-Conference USA Third Team
F: Elisha Holmes, Florida Atlantic
F: Iris Ashterhof, Old Dominion
F: Natalie Johnson, Old Dominion
MF: Nicole Roseland, WKU
MF: Rebecca Keane, Rice
MF: Kelley Suggs, Charlotte
MF: Cameron Cox, Middle Tennessee
D: Lauren Crenshaw, UTEP
D: Louise Stephens, Rice
D: Audria Wood, UAB
D: Brittnye Lawson, North Texas
GK: Allison Leone, WKU

Conference USA All-Freshman Team
Rebecca Keane, MF, Rice
Miah Zuazua, MF, Southern Miss
Peyton DePriest, F, Middle Tennessee
Victoria Bohdan, F, UTEP
Audria Wood, D, UAB
Carla Morich, MF, Old Dominion
Meredith Hamby, D, Charlotte
Gabi Clark, MF, Louisiana Tech
Abby Stapleton, GK, Charlotte
Tally Bishop, F, WKU
Ashlyn Kitterman, D, Florida Atlantic
Regan Kommor, MF, UAB
Rene Ross, MF, Marshall
Sierra Moss, D, FIU