Rhodes’ All-SEC First Team honor is Kentucky’s first since 2015
IRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two University of Kentucky women’s soccer players have been named All-Southeastern Conference performers by the league coaches, including sophomore Jordyn Rhodes on the All-SEC First Team and freshman Maria Olsen on the SEC All-Freshman Team, it was announced on Thursday morning.
Rhodes had a sensational sophomore season, concluding the regular season leading the conference in shots, shots per game, goals, goals per game, points and points per game
- Shots: 29 (leads by one)
- Shots per game: 3.63
- Goals: 7 (leads by two)
- Goals per game: .88
- Points: 15 (leads by two)
- Points per game: 1.88
Rhodes also aimed 14 shots on frame and one assist in just eight games this fall, meanwhile, she played and started in every game this season, competing for more than 765 minutes.
The season honor comes just two days after being named an SEC Offensive Player of the Week, leading Kentucky past Florida for the first time since 2014 and just the fifth time in the all-time series. The South Lebanon, Ohio, native scored two goals in the game, once on a penalty kick - she is now 4-of-4 on penalty kicks this season - and once on an assist from fellow forward Hannah Richardson. It marked the second time this season Rhodes has scored multiple goals in one game, doing so in the season opener (at Vanderbilt) and the season closer (vs. Florida).
Ironically, Rhodes scored multiple goals in one game twice last season, too, also doing so in the season opener and the season closer.
In addition to scoring a pair of goals against Florida, Rhodes also recorded her first assist of the season on a header to Richardson, helping her to her first goal of the season and the game-winning goal. Rhodes’ SEC Offensive Player of the Week honor is Kentucky’s first SEC Player of the Week since Evangeline Soucie in 2017 and the first SEC Offensive Player of the Week since Zoë Swift in 2014.
Rhodes is the first Kentucky women’s soccer player to earn All-SEC First Team since Courtney Raetzman reached the prestigious height in 2015.
Olsen earned acknowledgement from the league, too, being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team for being a steadfast technical threat in the midfield.
The Oksboel, Denmark, native played and started in every game this season as a rookie midfielder, combining for more than 639 minutes this fall. Her tactical skill set has made her a threat to opponents all season, and meanwhile, the SEC All-Freshman performer has taken 18 shots this fall, aiming three of those on frame.
Olsen competed in the Elitedivisionen, the most prestigious women's soccer league in Denmark, playing for the team KoldingQ from 2015-20 before joining the Kentucky program this fall.
The full list of conference awards are as follows:
First Team All-SEC
Forward: Parker Goins, Arkansas
Forward: Anna Podojil, Arkansas
Forward: Jordyn Rhodes, Kentucky
Forward: Barbara Olivieri, Texas A&M
Midfielder: Abby Boyan, Georgia
Midfielder: Channing Foster, Ole Miss
Midfielder: Jyllissa Harris, South Carolina
Midfielder: Addie McCain, Texas A&M
Defender: Haley VanFossen, Arkansas
Defender: Anna Patten, South Carolina
Defender: Jimena Lopez, Texas A&M
Defender: Karlina Sample, Texas A&M
Goalkeeper: Ashley Orkus, Ole Miss
At Large: Haley Hopkins, Vanderbilt
Second Team All-SEC
Forward: Riley Mattingly, Alabama
Forward: Rammie Noel, LSU
Forward: Julissa Cisneros, Missouri
Forward: Mackenzie George, Tennessee
Midfielder: Kayla McKeon, Arkansas
Midfielder: Alyssa Malonson, Auburn
Midfielder: Lauren Chang, South Carolina
Midfielder: Maddie Elwell, Vanderbilt
Defender: Sarah Houchin, Auburn
Defender: Cecily Stoute, Georgia
Defender: Maya Gordon, LSU
Defender: Ella Shamburger, Vanderbilt
Goalkeeper: Emory Wegener, Georgia
At Large: Parker Roberts, Florida
At Large: Kayla Bruster, Georgia
All-Freshman Team
Felicia Knox, Alabama
Ellie Podojil, Arkansas
Ava Tankersley, Arkansas
Anna Haddock, Auburn
Maddie Prohaska, Auburn
Maria Olsen, Kentucky
Maddy Anderson, Mississippi State
Catherine Barry, South Carolina
Jaida Thomas, Tennessee
Laney Carroll, Texas A&M
Barbara Olivieri, Texas A&M
Abi Brighton, Vanderbilt
Co-Coach of the Year
Colby Hale, Arkansas
G Guerrieri, Texas A&M
Forward of the Year
Anna Podojil, Arkansas
Midfielder of the Year
Addie McCain, Texas A&M
Co-Defender of the Year
Jimena Lopez, Texas A&M
Karlina Sample, Texas A&M
Goalkeeper of the Year
Ashley Orkus, Ole Miss
Freshman of the Year
Barbara Olivieri, Texas A&M
Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Chanel Thomas, Ole Miss
Lauren Chang, South Carolina
For the latest on the Kentucky women’s soccer program, follow @UKWomensSoccer on Twitter and on Instagram, on Facebook and on the web at UKathletics.com.