Soccer: Four Cajuns Named All-Louisiana – Chatman on first team – Balestra, Hofland, Foster named

After the most successful season in school history, the awards continue to roll in for the Ragin’ Cajuns soccer team.  On Sunday, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association announced its annual All-Louisiana College Women’s Soccer team, including four UL players.

Sophomore forward Cayla Chatman was the lone Cajun to earn first team honors.  The Houma native was the only player from Louisiana on the first team.  Chatman finished the season tied as the team leader with seven goals scored. 

After just two seasons, she currently sits in third place on the Cajuns career goals scored list with 13.  She was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week after her two goal performance in the Cajuns shutout of in-state rival La.-Monroe.  Chatman was an All-Louisiana Honorable Mention selection a year ago.

Three more Cajuns, Chelsea Balestra, Courtney Hofland and Gayla Foster, were all recognized as honorable mention performers.

Balestra also scored seven goals for UL, giving the senior a career high.  Six of her goals came in Sun Belt play, placing her third in the league in that category.

Hofland closed out her stellar career with a very successful senior season.  The Scott native scored three goals and led the Cajuns with five assists.  She leaves UL as the career leader in matches played, matches started, points, assists and shots.  She will also finish as the second leading goal scorer.

Foster, who missed the previous two seasons due to injury, return in 2010 to lead a Cajuns defense that set the school record with seven shutouts and tied the school record with 28 goals allowed.  Foster was a captain of a team that won 10 games for the first time in school history, breaking the record of nine wins set in 2007, the only other year in which Foster competed.

The 2010 season marks the first time the Cajuns have ever had four players named to the All-Louisiana team.  The complete team is listed below.

2010 LSWA All-Louisiana College Women’s Soccer Team

Name                          University                                 Pos.      Cl.        Hometown
Allysha Chapman          LSU                                          D           Jr.         Courtice, Ont.
Maiya Cooper               Southeastern Louisiana               F           So.        Hawthorne, Calif.
Kiva Gresham               Louisiana Tech                           F           Sr.         Albuquerque, N.M.
Natalie Santana            Southeastern Louisiana              MF         Sr.         Cypress, Calif.
Brooke Martin               LSU Shreveport                          F           So.        San Antonio, Texas
Kaity Mattsson             Nicholls                                     F           Sr.         Bracebridge, Ont.
Rachel King                  Louisiana Tech                           F          Sr.         O’Fallon, Mo.
Johnna Germany           McNeese State                         MF         Fr.         Tyler, Texas
Karly Dagys                  Southeastern Louisiana               F          So.        Oakville, Ont.
Cayla Chatman            Louisiana                                 F          So.        Houma, La.
Lacey Bockhaus            Southeastern Louisiana             GK         Jr.          San Leandro, Calif.

Player of the Year: Allysha Chapman, LSU
Freshman of the Year: Johnna Germany, McNeese State
Newcomer of the Year: Natalie Martineau, LSU
Coach of the Year: Blake Hornbuckle, Southeastern Louisiana

Honorable Mention: Scotti Culton, Louisiana Tech; Addie Eggleston, LSU; Taylor Dennis, Louisiana Tech; Natalie Martineau, LSU; Nicole Brannigan, Southeastern Louisiana; Ashley Pope, LSU-Shreveport; Kyle MacIntosh, Southeastern Louisiana; Kayla King, Northwestern State; Brittany Prieto, Southeastern Louisiana; Gayla Foster, Louisiana; Courtney Hofland, Louisiana; Chelsea Balestra, Louisiana; Alana Clark, McNeese State; Holden Penney, Centenary; Ashlee Savona, Northwestern State; Shanyce Shaw, Southeastern Louisiana; Megan Kinneman, LSU; Molly Mersereau, Nicholls.