BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Vanderbilt soccer won four of the Southeastern Conference’s end-of-year awards, the conference announced Thursday. Sydney Watts was named Forward of the Year, Courtney Jones took home Midfielder of the Year, Alexa Gianoplus won Goalkeeper of the Year and Darren Ambrose was tabbed Coach of the Year.
The four superlatives are the most the program has ever claimed in a season and the joint-most since the SEC went to this award format in 2019 (Mississippi State, 2024). In addition to putting the three award-winners on the All-Conference First Team, midfielder Olivia Stafford and defenders Margo Matula and Mary Beth McLaughlin were selected to the First Team, and Mia Hebert was named to the Third Team and All-Freshman Team.
It’s the second consecutive year Watts has brought home Forward of the Year, the sixth repeat winner in conference history. The senior ranks sixth nationally with 15 goals and five assists, having scored in six conference matches and 13 matches overall.
Jones brings home the program’s first Midfielder of the Year award after earning All-SEC First Team and SEC Tournament MVP in 2025. She has contributed seven goals and five assists from the middle of the park while controlling the tempo for the conference’s regular season champions.
Gianoplus keeps the Goalkeeper of the Year trophy in West End for another year after Sara Wojdelko won it in 2025. In her first year as the Dores' number one, Gianoplus led the conference in goals-against average (0.30) and save percentage (.900) in 10 league matches.
After leading the conference and ranking sixth nationally with 10 assists, Stafford earns a First Team All-Conference nod. The sophomore had six assists in conference play and added one goal at Ole Miss.
Matula and McLaughlin fill out the first team, helping run the conference’s staunchest defense. They allowed just three goals and 30 shots on target in 10 matches, both of which led the league.
Hebert stormed onto the scene once conference play began, scoring all five of her goals this season against SEC competition. She ranks fifth in goals and points (12) and was second among freshmen.
It’s the second Coach of the Year honor for Ambrose, who won the award en route to a regular season title in 2018. He became the winningest coach in program history earlier this season, and the 16 wins are currently tied for the fourth-most in a Vanderbilt season.
The top-ranked Dores are back in action on Tuesday to take on the winner of Mississippi State and Texas in the SEC Quarterfinals at 4:30 p.m. in Pensacola, Florida.