Vanderbilt's Ambrose, Hopkins headline SEC awards

SEC Bracket 

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Vanderbilt head coach Darren Ambrose garnered SEC Coach of the Year honors while redshirt freshman Haley Hopkins won SEC Freshman of the Year to headline the SEC Soccer awards, the league office announced on Sunday. 
 
Several other Commodores earned recognition as Hopkins and Grace Jackson were tabbed First Team All-SEC selections while Nia Dorsey landed on the Second Team. Hopkins and Ella Shamburger rounded up Vanderbilt’s list of honorees as members of the All-Freshman team.
 
Ambrose, in his fourth season at Vanderbilt, won SEC Coach of the Year for the first time in his career. He helped the No. 7 Commodores (15-2-1, 8-1-1) secure an SEC regular season championship after they were chosen to finish ninth in the SEC preseason poll. Under Ambrose, the Dores finished undefeated at home and recorded a 16-game unbeaten streak, the longest such streak in program history.

“It is humbling to be recognized by our peers in a league full of great coaches,” Ambrose said. “We had a great season so far for sure,  in a league full of great teams but I  would love to rename this award to “Coaching Staff of the Year” as it is a reflection of our entire staff and all the hard work that they have put in.” 
 
Hopkins has been dominant for the Commodores’ offense. Her 30 points are good for second in the SEC, and her 12 goals rank third in the league. She is also tied for eighth in the SEC with six assists.

“I am incredibly happy for Hayley,” Ambrose said. “She had a tough road in her redshirt year with her injury. She really battled hard to get to where she is today.  Full credit to her work ethic and competitive nature which has made her such an impactful player this fall. Its exciting to think what her future looks like as she continues to work hard and develop some other areas of her game.” 
 
Hopkins leads Vanderbilt in goals and assists and has four multi-goal games this season, also the most on the team.
 
Jackson, a junior, joined the First-Team for the first time in her career. She has four goals this season and two assists. She has started every game of her three-year Commodore career.

“Grace does so much work that goes un-noticed in the game on both sides of the ball,  that its awesome to see the SEC coaches recognize her ability,” Ambrose said. “She also brings it every single day like Nia and is being rewarded for her hard work she has put in day in day out.”  
 
Dorsey has been a part of a strong Commodore defense that has only given up 10 goals in 18 games this season. She has also started every game this season and added three assists.

“Nia has been one of the most consistent players I have ever coached day in day out,” Ambrose said. “She brings it every single day in practice and the results speak for themselves. I have always felt she was an unsung hero of this team and am so happy to see her be recognized for the season she has had.”
 
Shamburger has been a key component in the middle of the Commodore defense this season. She has started every game for the Commodores this season leads the team in minutes. She has one assist on the season.

“Ella really came into her own early this season and just grew and grew,” Ambrose said. “She plays with a maturity beyond her years and kept us organized in our back line as well as establish possession for us.  I am really happy for her and can’t wait to see how much more growth their is with her in the next few years” 
 
Up next, the Commodores take their talents to Orange Beach as the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament. They will face the winner of Auburn and Florida on Tuesday at 5 p.m CT. All games can be viewed on the SEC Network.

“Rarely are successful accomplishments ever about what one person has done, especially in a  team environment,” Ambrose said. “Ken and KK have been an enormous part of this past few years and this reflects a culmination of their hard work too. Also, that of our staff including Sara Melby, Darren Edgington, Laura Lamberth and Jay Landham, all of who impact our kids everyday.”