By: Curtis Ford
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Grambling State University women's soccer student-athlete Kailey Pena, was named the 2021 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Offensive Player of the Year, announced by the conference on Wednesday evening.
Pena had a phenomenal season leading the Grambling State offensive attack. She finished the regular season ranked first in the SWAC in goals scored (10) and 37th nationally. She's also second in the SWAC with three game-winning goals. The 2021 SWAC Preseason Player of the Year selection is also first in points per contest with 1.38 and she's currently a four-time All-SWAC First Team selection.
Pena was also earned All-SWAC First Team honors.
In addition, four other Lady Tigers picked up All-SWAC honors. Senior defender Kaydeen Jack, landed on the the first team alongside Pena, while Lizbeth Aguero, Miranda Urbizu and Lindsay Jaiyesimi racked up second team honors.
Grambling State's five All-SWAC selections were the most in the conference.
Jack started 13-of-15 games she played for GSU, tallying two goals with two assists from the midfield position. She also was a major component of one of the stingiest defensive units in the SWAC, allowing just five goals in nine conference games.
Aguero helped fuel one of the most dangerous offensive units in the SWAC, scoring four goals with one assist. Her biggest goal of the season came against Jackson State on Oct. 1, when she lifted the Grambling State to victory with a long range golden goal to secure a 1-0 overtime victory.
Urbizu played in 14 games this season, logging 13 starts as a midfielder. She registered two goal with two assists. She was also a key contributor to a defensive unit that held SWAC opponents to a league-low 0.56 goals per game.
Jaiyesimi was the leader of the most stifling defensive unit in the SWAC, holding SWAC opponents to a league-low 0.56 goals per game. Her position group was also second overall goals allowed (16). She also contribute on the offensive end, scoring an unassisted goal versus Alcorn State in the Lady Tiger's 4-0 victory over the Lady Braves on Oct. 24.
Visit SWAC.org to view all of the 2021 SWAC Soccer Postseason Awards.
UP NEXT
Grambling State opens SWAC Tournament play as the No. 3 seed, versus No. 6 seed Jackson State in the quarterfinals at the Prairie View A&M Soccer Complex on Thursday. The match is set for a 5 p.m. start.
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