Adrien Merrilles is the AAC's Player of the Year as Eagles are Sprinkled on First Team

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – After scoring 16 goals and handing out nine assists for 41 points in 13 regular-season conference games, Adrien Merrilles of Reinhardt is the Player of the Year within the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC), the conference office announced Thursday.

The senior leader helped the Eagles to a 13-6-1 record in 2019 and a trip to the AAC Championship Semifinals before falling in a highly-contested battle on the road, 1-0, to Tennessee Wesleyan on Nov. 9

Additionally, Adriana Garcia earned high marks by being named the AAC Freshman of the Year following her initial campaign in an Eagle uniform that included starting every match and totaling 10 goals and four assists.

The aforementioned dynamic duo – who was also awarded First Team All-AAC – was joined on the first list by sophomore goalkeeper Caroline Johnson and defender Se Se Ruetten.

Johnson, an Evans, Ga., native, started and played in every outing this season while logging 1638:52 on the pitch. In total, she allowed 22 goals on the year (1.21 average) and made 61 saves. Ruetten and company were a big part of the Eagle defensive effort to make life easier for their goalie behind them.

Reinhardt surrendered just 1.10 goals each time out – third in the conference – and recorded 10 shutouts of the opposition during the season.

Lakyn Hager was the squad's Champion of Character representative for her work off the field of play.

Several dozen made the grade to make the All-Academic Team. To view who made the squad as well as all the awards, click here.

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For more information on Reinhardt Women's Soccer, please click here.