NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt soccer has placed four student-athletes on the United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region teams with Haley Hopkins earning first-team honors while Ella Shamburger, Myra Konte and Maddie Elwell each earned second-team spots.
Hopkins and Shamburger have now both been named All-Region honorees three seasons in a row in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The honors are firsts for Elwell and Konte.
For the third season in a row, Hopkins led Vanderbilt in scoring with seven goals to go with an assist for 15 points. The senior from Newport Beach, Calif., scored three game-winning goals along the way, two of which came against ranked foes in No. 15 Georgia and No. 8 Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament semifinals. For her efforts, Hopkins was also named First Team All-SEC, and a MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree this season.
Our leading scorer for the third year in a row, make it a third-straight All-Region honor for @haleyyhopkins. #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/rVFGyZWusg
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandySoccer) May 11, 2021
Having another stellar year captaining the Vanderbilt back line, Shamburger earned Second Team All-SEC honors for the second year in a row while providing much-needed stability throughout the campaign with the Commodores battling an injury bug most of the way. Earning a second-team nod this year, it stands as Shamburger’s second second-team honor with the first coming in 2018 before being named a third team honoree in 2019.
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2⃣0⃣2⃣0⃣Make it three-straight seasons with a spot on an All-Southeast Region team for @ellashamburger. #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/tCh7faqhL8
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandySoccer) May 11, 2021
Named the SEC Tournament MVP after her excellent performance helping the Commodores win their first tournament title since the 1994 season, Konte earns second-team honors after starting 12 of Vanderbilt’s 16 games while scoring two goals with an assist for five points. Notching two goals against SEC competition during the fall season, Konte netted the game-winner on the road against Florida, which started a 7-1-0 run for the Commodores that culminated in the title. After the fall campaign, Konte was selected 30th overall in the 2021 NWSL Draft by the North Carolina Courage.
Senior year, best year.
Our @TheNCCourage draftee has earned her first All-Region honor.#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/JhYL1ms8aS
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandySoccer) May 11, 2021
Elwell, a Second Team All-SEC honoree for the second season in a row, continued to build on her stellar 2019 campaign with two goals and four assists for seven points throughout the 2020 season. A clutch performer when the Commodores needed it most, Elwell’s two goals both came in the SEC Tournament in the first round against Mississippi State and in the quarterfinals against No. 13 Tennessee. Additionally, three of her four assists came March 11 against Kennesaw State, coming in a span of four minutes of game action to help Vanderbilt break a scoreless draw on the way to a 3-1 victory.
Another first-timer, it’s a first All-Region honor for one of the most dangerous midfielders in the game.#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/oiRDKHCQ5m
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandySoccer) May 11, 2021
Vanderbilt’s 2020 season saw the Commodores win the SEC Tournament title for the first time since 1994, earning the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Along the way, Vanderbilt defeated four ranked foes in No. 6 Arkansas, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 13 Tennessee and No. 15 Georgia while also earning a road draw at No. 7 Duke. Earning a seed in the big dance for the first time in program history, the Commodores lost a second-round matchup against ninth-ranked Penn State to close the campaign.
