BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Gulf South Conference announced its annual women's soccer postseason awards and all-conference teams for the 2022 season, as voted by league's head coaches.
 
West Florida dominated the individual accolades, taking home three of the four possible honors as Offensive Player of the Year went to Blair Cowan, Maciah Lipsey was named Defensive Player of the Year, while head coach Joe Bartlinski was honored as Coach of the Year. Montevallo's Angelina Rivas meanwhile was voted Freshman of the Year.
 
In all-conference voting, UWF, the 2022 regular season champion, led the way with seven All-GSC selections. Mississippi College followed with five picks, while West Alabama had three. GSC head coaches voted on the 2022 recipients with each team comprising of 12 players (one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders, 3 forwards and an at-large selection) as the top vote-getters in each position being placed accordingly. In the event of the tie at a specific position, all candidates are awarded as no tiebreaker exists.
 
Cowan, a two-time First Team All-GSC selection, finished the regular season with a conference-best 18 goals in 17 games for the Argos. The senior also led the GSC in points (45) and game-winning goals (5) this season, while ranking second among conference leaders in total shots (60), fourth in shots on goal (31), and third-overall with nine assists. 
 
In her first season in Pensacola, Lipsey appeared between the sticks in all 17 games for West Florida, conceding a conference-low four goals. As a result, the graduate transfer's stellar campaign saw her finish as co-league leader in clean sheets (7), while being the sole leader in goals against average (.278) and save percentage (.879). She was also fifth-overall in minutes played (1294:49) among GSC goalkeepers.
 
Rivas had a strong debut season with Montevallo as she played a large role helping the Falcons eclipse the 10-win mark for the third time since 2010. The rookie finished the regular season ranked among conference leaders in several major categories including goals (10th/7), game-winning goals (t-2nd/4), and points (10th/14). She was 10th-overall in shots (45) and was listed sixth in shots on goal (27). 
 
Bartlinski was named the conference's top coach for the eighth time in his 21-year career at West Florida. He led the Argos to their 12th GSC regular season title and first since 2018, after finishing atop the table with a 12-1 mark in league play and 14-2-1 record overall. 
 
The GSC Championship begins Sunday, Oct. 30 on campus sites at the four highest seeds. Advancing teams will then head to John Hunt Park for the tournament’s final two rounds in Huntsville, Ala. For more information on this year's tournament, click here to visit championship central.
 
2022 GSC AWARDS & ALL-GSC TEAMS
Offensive Player of the Year: Blair Cowan, West Florida
Defensive Player of the Year: Maciah Lipsey, West Florida
Freshman of the Year: Angelina Rivas, Montevallo
Coach of the Year: Joe Bartlinski, West Florida
 
First Team All-GSC 
GK – Maciah Lipsey, West Florida
D – Emma Young, Mississippi College*
D – Kate Dirkse, Lee
D – Kileigh Whited, West Florida
M – Blair Cowan, West Florida*
M – Avery Hederman, Mississippi College*
M – Manami Okada, West Florida
M – Melanie Stevens, Montevallo
F – Erin Hederman, Mississippi College#
F – Beatrice Currie, Mississippi College*
F – Ellie Crisler, Lee
F – Cheyenne Smith, Christian Brothers
AL – Dana Cruz, West Alabama^
Tie in voting, no tiebreaker
 
Second Team All-GSC
GK – Maria Mon, West Alabama        
D – Taylor Morris, Valdosta State^
D – Kaytlyn Larsen, West Florida
D – MaryElla White, Mississippi College
M – Rainey Niles, Delta State^
M – Mya Swinton, West Florida
M – Julia Valentin, Christian Brothers
M – Catherine Reeves, West Georgia
F – Brianna Pope, West Florida
F – Angelina Rivas, Montevallo
F – Carmen Endicott, Alabama Huntsville
AL – Paige Laidler, West Alabama
 
* First Team All-GSC in 2021
^ Second Team All-GSC in 2021
# Second Team All-GSC in 2019