THE HILL | Anita Frederick-Sigaran, Czaske Deane, Meghane St-Cyr and Albany Rios all earned spots on the 2025 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason All-Conference Teams. Additionally, the Alabama A&M University Bulldogs nabbed the fifth spot in the preseason poll, as announced by the conference Friday morning.

Sophomore Frederick-Sigaran earned preseason All-SWAC First Team honors after playing in every match last season, including 12 starts. The Alexandria, Va. native logged 827 minutes and recorded one goal and three assists for a total of nine points. Frederick-Sigaran tallied 11 shots with four on target. She was the Defensive Player of the Week for the conference after the 3-2 home opening victory over the University of West Georgia last season.

After a standout freshman season, Deane returns as a rising offensive force, earning Second Team honors. She appeared in all 19 matches, starting 12, including the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of the conference tournament, and tallied nine points on four goals with one assist. Impressively, three of those goals, and seven of her total points came during conference play, solidifying her ability to perform in high-stakes moments. With 22 shots and 14 on goal, her attacking presence was felt all season, earning her Freshman of the Year honors and setting the stage for a breakout sophomore campaign.

A consistent and reliable presence on the back line, St-Cyr started all 19 matches during the 2024 slate, logging 1,339 minutes of high-level play. The versatile defender contributed on both ends of the pitch, scoring two goals and recording four points on eight shots, with half of those on target. Her ability to read the game, win crucial challenges, and contribute offensively makes her a key returner and leader for the 2025 Bulldog team.

Reliable and composed, Rios made her presence known in every match last season, appearing in all 19 games and stepping up in key moments despite just five starts. A steadying force in the midfield, she finished the year with three points on one goal and one assist, recording 12 shots with seven on target. Her lone goal was game-winning , when she had a clutch finish that broke a tie and sent AAMU to its first conference semifinal appearance since 2021 during the SWAC Tournament last season. Her poise under pressure and ability to shift momentum make her a valuable asset to the Maroon and White.

Alabama A&M finished third in the conference last season after concluding its season after falling 2-1 to Texas Southern in the semifinal round of the 2024 SWAC tournament. The fifth place placement on the preseason predicted order of finish was voted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The 2024 Conference Champions, Southern University, took the top spot, followed by runner-up team Texas Southern. Grambling State and Jackson State took the third and fourth places respectively. Conference rival Alabama State was voted sixth, while Prairie View A&M, Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff were selected to finish seventh to 10th respectively.

The Bulldogs open their season for three straight road contests, taking on Longwood University on Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. before heading to Delaware State for a Sunday Matinee match ( Aug. 17, slated for Noon CST). AAMU will round out the opening road swing at Middle Tennessee State on Aug. 21 at 7 p.m.

2025 SWAC Soccer Predicted Order of Finish  

1. Southern- 108 (7) 
2. Texas Southern- 102 (4) 
3. Grambling State- 101 
4. Jackson State- 90 (2) 
5. Alabama A&M- 76 (1) 
6. Alabama State- 72 (1) 
7. Prairie View A&M- 53 
8. Alcorn State- 43 
9. Mississippi Valley State- 39 (1) 
10. Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 30  

*First place votes listed in parenthesis

2025 SWAC Soccer Preseason Awards  

Offensive Player of the Year 
Sophia Lezizidis, Grambling State 
 
Defensive Player of the Year 
Alyssa Taylor, Texas Southern   
  
Midfielder of the Year 
Olivia Kowall, Grambling State 
 
Goalkeeper of the Year 
Makaila Riedel, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 
  
All-SWAC First Team 
Defender: Alyssa Taylor, Texas Southern   
Defender: Anita Frederick-Sigaran, Alabama A&M 
Defender: Whitney Walker, Grambling State  
Forward: Sophia Lezizidis, Grambling State 
Forward: Jaycelyn Russ, Texas Southern   
Forward: Liana Bryant, Grambling State 
Midfielder: Karime Antonio Lopez, Jackson State 
Midfielder: Olivia Kowall, Grambling State 
Midfielder: Alyssa Romero, Southern 
Midfielder: Anae' Roberts, Southern 
Goalkeeper: Makaila Riedel, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 
  
All-SWAC Second Team 
Defender: Meghane St-Cyr, Alabama A&M 
Defender: Kaylen Jankans, Grambling State 
Defender: Dasia Howard, Southern 
Forward: Czaske Deane, Alabama A&M 
Forward: Caylah Williams, Jackson State 
Forward: Alana Aiken, Grambling State 
Midfielder: Albany Rios, Alabama A&M 
Midfielder: Melissa Knutson, Texas Southern  
Midfielder: Kaia Butler, Texas Southern  
Midfielder: Aubrey Salazar, Grambling State 
Goalkeeper: Alessandra Bastidas, Texas Southern 

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