WOMEN’S SOCCER

Huntington University women’s soccer had three players recognized in the Crossroads League’s postseason awards announcement Tuesday afternoon, with senior forward Sophie Shepherd leading the way with a First Team All-Crossroads League designation.

Shepherd headlines the Foresters’ honorees after putting together another standout campaign. The 5-4 senior from Carmel, Ind., earns First Team recognition for the third consecutive season after receiving Honorable Mention accolades as a freshman. One of seven forwards named to the First Team, Shepherd has been a constant offensive threat throughout her career and continues to leave her mark on the program.

Shepherd leads HU with 10 goals and four assists for 24 points this season, including two game-winning goals. She also leads the league in shots taken with 73 while ranking fourth among her league counterparts in both goals and points. For her career, Shepherd has totaled 34 goals and 12 assists.

Joining Shepherd in the postseason honors are seniors Jianna Simons and Jezmin Castellanos, who both earned Honorable Mention recognition.

Simons, a 5-7 midfielder from Doylestown, Pa., has been instrumental in controlling the middle of the field for the Foresters this season. She has scored twice and assisted on two other goals while providing a steady presence in the midfield. Over her four-year career, Simons has recorded eight goals and eight assists. Today’s announcement marks her first postseason honor.

Castellanos, a 5-7 defender from Mixco, Guatemala, transferred to Huntington from West Texas A&M and immediately made her presence felt in her first season wearing Forester green. She has anchored HU’s backline while contributing offensively with one goal and one assist. Castellanos has been a key piece of a defensive unit that has surrendered just 26 goals this season while recording four shutouts.

The Foresters, who finished seventh in the regular-season Crossroads League standings with an 8-6-1 overall record and 3-6 mark in league play, are back in action tonight in the Crossroads League Tournament quarterfinals. Huntington travels to second-seeded Spring Arbor for a 7:00 p.m. showdown with a spot in the semifinals on the line.