THIBODAUX, La. – After leading the Nicholls State University women's soccer team to its second straight Southland Conference Tournament berth, Colonel forward Spencer Valdespino and midfielder Jess Coates each earned First-Team All-Southland honors the league announced Tuesday.
 
The announcement marks the first time in program history that multiple Nicholls athletes garnered SLC soccer first-team honors. Valdespino received a first-team all-conference nod last season and became the first Colonel to earn Southland Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Year.
 
"With all of the obstacles Spencer has had to overcome this year, to still get this award speaks loudly about her overall ability," Head Coach Dylan Harrison said. "Spencer has impressed me even more this year in regards to her value to our team than she did last year when she won Player of the Year. I'm glad the conference respects players who work hard for the success of their team. Oh yeah, and we can't forget she did score a bunch of sweet goals!"
 
For the second straight season, Valdespino's offensive attack helped propel the Colonels to the Southland Conference Tournament. In 2013, the Spring Hill, Fla. native was the catalyst for the Colonels as her three goals in the final week helped send Nicholls to the conference tournament for the first time since 2004 and the third time in team history.
 
Valdespino had been relatively quiet this year in comparison to her 2013 campaign. Through the Colonels' first 16 games this season Valdespino had just five goals and one assist, but came alive against Southeastern Louisiana when her team needed her most.
 
Against the Lions, Valdespino had all four scores for Nicholls, tying the school record for most goals in a game and setting the school record for most goals against a Southland Conference opponent. The win marked the first time in program history that the Colonels defeated Southeastern La. Valdespino has taken 53 shots this season, scoring nine goals and adding an assist.
 
Coates, who was named all-conference honorable mention last season, has a team-leading seven assists this year, tying a program record set by Carolyn Noble in 2009. The First-Team All-Conference nod is a first for Coates.
 
"It's nice to see Jess finally get some conference-wide recognition," Harrison said. "She has won numerous team awards for all the little things she does to keep our squad going, and after her great year the conference is finally recognizing the role she plays for our team. This award for Jess is well deserved and I know her teammates will be happy for her."
 
In addition to her seven assists, Coates has added five goals this season, good for second on the team. She is fourth all-time in program history for career assists (11) and third all-time in shots per game (1.94), goals per game (0.25), points per game (0.71) and assists per game (0.21).
 
Nicholls will travel to Beaumont, Texas for a rematch against McNeese State University at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6 in the first round of the Southland Conference Tournament.
 
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