Johnston Named Top Freshman; Five Panthers Earn All-Sun Belt Honors

Maddie Johnston was named the 2020 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year.

NEW ORLEANS -- Georgia State earned five All-Sun Belt honors and Maddie Johnston was named the 2020 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year as the conference announced its postseason awards Tuesday.

Johnston, a native of Acworth, Ga., is the first Panther to win a Player of the Year award since Jewel Evans was the CAA Rookie of the Year in 2010. Johnston led GSU in goals with five goals which was third most in the conference. Her 11 points ranked fifth in the league. She recorded three game-winning goals, second most in the conference.

After being selected Second Team All-Sun Belt last season as a freshman, Jimena Cabrero received First Team honors in 2020. Cabrero was Top 5 in the Sun Belt in both shots and shots per game. She also tallied a pair of game-winning goals during her sophomore campaign and was a major contributor in GSU's offense which ranked second in the conference in goals scored.

Four Panthers received nods on the All-Sun Belt Second Team. Freshman goalkeeper Jaddah Foos had the third best goals against average (0.80) and the fourth best save percentage (.811). Sophomore Kamree Holloway was the anchor for a strong GSU defense that posted five shutouts this season. Jolie Ryff and Johnston rounded out the All-Sun Belt honors for GSU. Ryff ranked third on GSU with seven points. She scored three times and had an assist.

The five All-Sun Belt selections are the most since GSU had six All-TAAC honors in 1997.

Here's a complete list of the 2020 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer honors:

2020 First Team All-Sun Belt
Sarah Sodoma, (F) Arkansas State
Jimena Cabrero, (F) Georgia State
Marcela Montoya, (F) Georgia Southern
Brenna McPartlan, (MF) South Alabama
Lizzie Mayfield, (MF) Louisiana
Mackenzie Gibbs, (MF) Coastal Carolina
Gracie Wilson, (MF) South Alabama
Gwen Mummert, (D) Louisiana
Tilly Wilkes, (D) South Alabama
Mackenzie Cherry, (D) Coastal Carolina
Megan McClure, (GK) Arkansas State

2020 Second Team All-Sun Belt
Morgan Cross, (F) South Alabama
Ana Helmert, (F) South Alabama
Maddie Johnston, (F) Georgia State
Sunny Sigurvinsdottir, (F) Coastal Carolina
Jolie Ryff, (MF) Georgia State
Morgan Smocovich, (MF) Little Rock
Athanasia Moraitou, (MF) South Alabama
Hailey Cloud, (D) Arkansas State
Kamree Holloway, (D) Georgia State
Leandra Flury, (D) South Alabama
Jaddah Foos, (GK) Georgia State

2020 Sun Belt Player of the Year
Sarah Sodoma, Arkansas State
(#7, Sr, F - Manchester, Mo.)

2020 Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year
Sarah Sodoma, Arkansas State
(#7, Sr, F - Manchester, Mo.)

2020 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year
Megan McClure, Arkansas State
(#1, Sr, GK - Webster Grove, Mo.)

2020 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year
Lizzie Mayfield, Louisiana
(#22, Jr, F - Atlanta, Ga.)

2020 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year
Maddie Johnston, Georgia State
(#3, Fr, F - Acworth, Ga.)

2020 Sun Belt Coach of the Year
Brian Dooley, Arkansas State University

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Players Mentioned

#10 Jimena Cabrero: F; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#13 Kamree Holloway: D/MF; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#34 Jolie Ryff: MF; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#3 Maddie Johnston: F; 5' 5"; Freshman

#30 Jaddah Foos: GK; 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#10 Jimena Cabrero
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: F

#13 Kamree Holloway
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: D/MF

#34 Jolie Ryff
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: MF

#3 Maddie Johnston
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: F

#30 Jaddah Foos
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: GK