LAURINBURG — Coming off a five-win campaign in Abbi Giaier’s first year as head coach, the Scotland girls soccer team placed a pair of upperclassmen on the all-Southeastern Conference team that was announced this week.
Senior Kaitlin Lewis and junior Emma Gray Beacham were honored for their play this season in helping the Scots nearly double their win total from a year ago.
For Lewis, a midfielder and forward, and Beacham, a midfielder and sweeper, it is their second straight appearance on the all-conference squad.
Scotland finished 5-16 this year with a 1-9 mark in SEC play. The Scots saw their season come to a close in a 9-1 defeat to rival Richmond Senior in the first round of the conference tournament.
Pinecrest paced all schools with six all-SEC players, and one of them, McKenzie Wagner, shared conference Player of the Year honors with Lumberton’s Kendall Blaine. Patriots head coach Bob Wagler was voted by his peers as SEC Coach of the Year.
The Patriots’ six all-SEC performers were Wagler, Carly Veit, Grace Anne Longfellow, Allyson Burney, Hannah Sullivan and Olivia Listrom.
Pinecrest finished 17-3, going undefeated in conference play en route to winning the SEC regular-season and tournament championships. The Patriots advanced to the third round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4A playoffs, where they were eliminated in a 2-1 loss to Lake Norman.
Lumberton, which finished 14-7 overall and 8-2 in the league, had five players earn all-SEC. In addition to Blaine, Nikki Hanson, Summer Martin, Madison Sirmans and Helena Massol were selected.
The Pirates were ousted from the first round of the playoffs after falling to Apex, 5-1.
Richmond ended the year 11-10 overall with a 5-4-1 SEC record and placed four girls on the all-league team.
Destiny Buie, Hailey Bass, Cassie McFayden and Morgan Hooks were the Raiders’ all-SEC selections in helping their team to a first-round playoff appearance. Richmond’s final game was a 9-0 loss to Grimsley.
Hoke, which finished 5-13-3 (3-5-2 SEC), had a trio of girls make the squad in Alexis Osorio, Mikal Montgomery and Hannah Locklear.
Purnell Swett (7-10-2, 1-8-1) concluded the group with a pair of girls who earned all-SEC honors — Paige Sweeney and Leanna Bird.
Logan Martinez can be reached at 910-506-3170. Follow him on Twitter @L_Martinez13.