BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In advance of the 2021 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament, Alabama A&M women's soccer has earned three selections on the 2021 All-SWAC Teams as announced by the league on Wednesday, April 7.
Leading the way with those honors was sophomore midfielder
Makayla Rushing (Red Oak, Texas) with a berth on the First-Team while senior goalkeeper
Jodi Medina (Coral Springs, Fla.) and sophomore forward
Jameela Barrett (London, England) each earned spots on the Second-Team.
MAKAYLA RUSHING – FIRST-TEAM
Rushing started all eight games and played 698 minutes, including seven games in which she did not leave the field.
An ever-present force in the midfield, Rushing scored a pair of goals, including the lone score in the Bulldogs' 1-0 victory over Alcorn State (3/19). That was part of a stretch of three straight 1-0 shutouts that she had a hand in and a larger run of 377 minutes of scoreless play.
JAMEELA BARRETT – SECOND-TEAM
Barrett was the Bulldogs driving force on offense, scoring three goals and notching an assist while starting all seven games played.
Among those scores was the lone goal in a 1-0 victory at Prairie View (3/28) as well as markers against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3/7) and at Alabama State (4/2).
Those efforts led to her earning Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Player of the Week (3/13).
JODI MEDINA – SECOND-TEAM
Medina delivered a tremendous season, recording a goals against average of 0.86, save percentage of .851, 40 saves and four shutouts in 730:07.
Of her eight games she produced a league-high four shutouts and led the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in save percentage and was second in GAA. The latter, however, came in eight games while the league-leader played five games by comparison.
Three of those four shutouts would come when she could not afford to make a mistake – in three consecutive 1-0 victories from March 19-28. That was part of a stretch where she and her defense did not allow a score for 377 minutes. On top of that her four shutouts were twice that of any other player during the Spring 2021 season.
As a result of those outstanding performances, Medina was twice named SWAC Goalkeeper of the Week, earning those honors on March 13 and March 31.
Spring 2021 All-Southwestern Athletic Conference Teams
First-Team
F Kailey Pena, Grambling State
F Annalise Brunson, Jackson State
F Iyannah Hicks, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
M Teaggan Ilela, Alabama State
M Mckenna Lupori, Alabama State
M Makayla Rushing, Alabama A&M
M Haylee O'Leary, Grambling State
D Ashley Thomas, Alabama State
D Andrea Nugent, Prairie View A&M
D D'Sanye Nugent, Prairie View A&M
GK Madison Roop, Alabama State
Second-Team
F McKenna Wiscombe, Alabama State
F Jameela Barrett, Alabama A&M
F Mireya Gonzales, Alcorn State
M Brynn Walker, Jackson State
M Paula Burillo-Blasco, Grambling State
M Lauren Hermosa, Prairie View A&M
M Cameron Rodriquez, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
D Mercedes Padilla, Alabama State
D Kamaron Powell, Grambling State
D Megan Howell, Jackson State
GK Jodi Medina, Alabama A&M
Offensive Player of the Year
Kailey Pena, Grambling State
Defensive Player of the Year
Ashley Thomas, Alabama State
Freshman of the Year
Annalise Brunson, Jackson State
Goalkeeper of the Year
Madison Roop, Alabama State
