For the second straight year Lee University women’s soccer senior Summer Lanter has been named the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year the league office announced on Monday afternoon.
Lanter led the No. 11 Lady Flames to their third straight GSC Regular Season title and the No. 1 seed in the GSC Tournament, which begins on Tuesday at the Lee Soccer Field against West Georgia at 7 p.m.
The Soddy Daisy product ended the regular season with a bang as she recorded a hat trick in Lee’s 7-1 dismantling of Shorter last Thursday and was named the GSC Player of the Week.
On the season the athletic forward leads the league in game-winning goals with six and is second in points (26) and goals (12).
“It’s certainly a deserving award for Summer because she gives her best in training every day and we see the work she puts in to be the type of player she has become,” said head coach Chris Hennessey. “She’s doing so much more on the field than just scoring goals for us this season. Her passing has been terrific and she has done a great job for us defending from the front.
Lanter was named to the All-GSC first team for the third time consecutive season and joins teammates McKenzie Bricker and Meagan Newman on the squad. Both Bricker and Newman were named all-conference last season as well and were stalwart defenders for the Lady Flames this season. Bricker also makes her presence felt offensively (1 goal, 6 assists) as she is called upon to deliver corner kicks and several free kick opportunities.
“McKenzie and Meagan have been such great defenders for us over their careers,” said Hennessey. “To end their senior season with another first team honor is certainly fitting for them.”
Senior Midfielder Suzanne Arant landed on the All-GSC second team for the first time in her outstanding four-year career at Lee. The Charlotte, N.C. native is a steady force in the midfield which has allowed the Lady Flames to dominate in time of possession this season.
Junior forward Mia Hollingsworth rounds out the Lee selections as she received her first all-conference honor, joining Arant on the second team. Hollingsworth has recorded three assists this season and tallied 41 shots.
“I’m really happy for Suze and Mia to be recognized this year,” noted Hennessey. “They do so much for the team that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet but they have been a vital part to our team success over the last few years. We couldn’t play the style we play and have the success that we’ve had without them”