CONWAY, Ark. – Continuing to earn awards, the Central Arkansas women's soccer team had eight student-athletes claim spots on the ASUN's four teams, the league announced Wednesday.
 
"Very excited for our student athletes and the recognition they received after an outstanding conference season. Team success produces individual awards. Kelly continues to deliver on the field, always making a play when we need her to," Head coach Jeremy Bishop said. "No matter if we need to create scoring opportunities, score on a set piece or chase someone down on the defensive side of the ball, she will get it done. And to also receive academic awards in the very difficult Nursing program highlights her commitment to being a student athlete."
 
Kelly Van Gundy, who was named the league's Scholar Athlete of the Year earlier in the day, was the No. 2 seeded Bears' lone First Team All-ASUN winner, a spot she also claimed last season. Van Gundy scored a career-high nine goals this season, adding an assist for 19 points on the year. She finished second in the league in goals and fourth in points, while placing second in game-winning goals (4). Van Gundy did most of her work in ASUN games, where she scored eight of her goals, and led the conference with four game-winners.
 
The Bears had two members on the league's Second Team All-ASUN, defender Nina Mazzola and goalkeeper Kajsa Pruner. Mazzola has been one of the league's stingiest defenders all season long, tracking forwards and holding up attacks at the top of the defense. Her ability to grapple with bigger players and her footwork to create turnovers is a big reason that the Bears were able to outshoot opponents in ASUN matches, both overall and shots on goal. Mazzola also added two assists on the year, tallying helpers against Austin Peay and Bellarmine.
 
"Nina has been tremendous for us all season as our defensive midfielder. She can track down anyone to disrupt the other team's attack and is very good in possession, getting us from one side of the field to the other." Coach Bishop added.
 
Pruner was one of the best keepers in the ASUN this season, holding a 1.64 goals against average with 59 saves in 15 matches this season. She earned eight of the Bears' nine wins, was responsible for all three shutouts. Pruner made five or more saves in eight matches, with a season-best nine in the win over Lipscomb.
 
"Kajsa has had a great career in goal for us. I'm so proud of the progress she has made over the years. A prime example of hard work paying off. She can make the big save and her kicking game has been huge for our attack. And again, to have the academic award to go along with what she has done on the field shows her commitment to being a student athlete."
 
The Third Team All-ASUN also saw two Bears named to it: seniors Anna Kerr and Gabby Thies. Kerr earned her first postseason selection after finishing second on the Bears in total points, with ten points on three goals and four assists. Her four assists led the team, and had her tied for seventh in the ASUN. Her three goals were tied for fourth on the Bears. But beyond Kerr's raw scoring numbers, her ability to put shots on goal was feared by keepers around the league. Of her 38 shots, 25 were on target, a whopping 66 percent. Not only did that number lead the ASUN, but it was also the ninth-highest accuracy in the country.
 
"Anna is the definition of athlete. She can run past just about anyone and is so strong in one-on-one battles. Her ability to play the entire field for long periods of time has been awesome to watch. She can create scoring chances and play lockdown defense."
 
Thies earned her spot on the Third Team despite missing six games with injury this season. Her ability to lock down her side of the field was noteable, with the Bears going 6-2-2 in games she played more than ten minutes. In addition to her defensive prowess, Thies' booming left leg became an offense of its own on free kicks, with the senior able to put the ball in dangerous positions the second it crossed midfield. She added a pair of assists to her total this season, with one against ULM and the other against Bellarmine.
 
"Gabby has made a career of being a box-to-box defender. Able to defend at a high level while also getting involved in the attack giving great service and support in the attacking half. Her ability to cover ground is unmatched."
 
The future of Central Arkansas soccer is bright, thanks to three All-Freshman additions this season. Jama Akpanudo, Sophia Backstrom and Addylan Wright were all contributors early in their careers, and the league took notice.
 
Akpanudo joined the Bears and showed her blinding speed, finishing her first year with a goal and two assists. Her ability to beat the line on a long ball is going to become terrifying as she gets more accustomed to college soccer, and she showed signs of development as the season progressed.
 
Backstrom established herself early, scoring the first goal of the season for the Bears. She ended up with four scores of her own, adding an assist for good measure. A bulldog in the midfield, she showed that she can and will develop into a force on both sides of the ball.
 
Wright stepped into a banged up defense and immediately held her own. After coming off the bench for the first few games, she made sure that being a substitute was a temporary thing, starting the remaining 14 matches. Logging 1,232 minutes this season, she pushed herself into the eyes of the league in her first season in Purple and Gray, proving to be a rock on the back line.
 
"Our freshmen class has had a huge impact on our season. They have adapted to our system, style of play and competed for opportunities on the field from day one. The entire class has helped take us to a new level. Proud for Soph, Addy and Jama for the recognition they received and what they brought to our team. Soph being a fantastic possession player for us with her ability on the ball and in tight space, Addy anchoring a back line with a physical presence winning balls and cutting out through balls, and Jama with her athleticism, ability to pressure the opponents' defenders and create scoring chances has all been tremendous."
Central Arkansas now gets ready for the ASUN Championship. After earning the No. 2 seed, the Bears have a two-round bye, thus, playing next Thursday in Fort Myers, Florida. The first two rounds will determine an opponent, with the winner that comes out of matches between Austin Peay, Bellarmine and Lipscomb.