Women's Soccer Trio Honored With ASUN Postseason Laurels

ATLANTA - A trio of North Florida women's soccer student-athletes were recognized with ASUN Conference postseason honors Wednesday, Oct. 26. Allyna Thurston took home third team laurels, striker Allie Fekany was tabbed to the all-freshman squad and Zara Siassi received all-academic recognition.

Fekany, the freshman, picks up her first-career honor, while Thurston made the postseason team again after being named to the all-freshman squad a year ago. Siassi, a spring 2021 ASUN First Team All-Conference and all-freshman honoree, earns her first league all-academic honor.

The trio played a big part in helping UNF to a 3-1-4 mark over the last month, bringing UNF to five-straight shutouts to close the regular season.

Allyna Thurston | Defender | So. | Casselberry, Fla.
Thurston played in all 15 matches, making 11 starts while logging a full 90 in five contests during ASUN play. The defender disrupted offenses all year long with her speed and instincts, aiding in seven clean sheets, including a perfect ledger in matches played at Hodges Stadium.

"I am very happy to see three of our student-athletes receive ASUN postseason honors," head coach Eric Faulconer said. "It is great to see Allyna follow up her ASUN All-Freshman Team campaign last season with an all-conference selection. Allyna often gets the assignment to shut down the opposition's best forward and she's come up big for us time and time again. I really think she is just starting to show her potential and we are looking forward to seeing what she can do in the future."

The sophomore exhibited her endurance late in the season, playing from whistle to whistle three times in less than a week. As a defense, UNF held teams to 40 fewer shots than the Ospreys took in 2022, while helping hold first-place Liberty scoreless for a full 90 minutes.

Allie Fekany | Forward | Fr. | Orlando, Fla.
Freshman Allie Fekany didn't waste any time making an impact for the Ospreys and on the league. The striker paced ASUN freshmen with four goals, while leading UNF in goals and points during '22.

"Allie competes hard every game and has turned in a very strong freshman season, fully earning all-freshman team honors," Faulconer said. "She is always working to improve her game and I am excited to see her continued growth."

After scoring goals in the run of play against Georgia Southern and Winthrop, Fekany capitalized on penalty kick opportunities at Stetson and Austin Peay. Her first half PK at Austin Peay went on to be the game winner, while her tactful assist on Jersi Dadah's goal against Jacksonville State helped provide the game-winning score.

Fekany started all but one contest, tallying at least 50 minutes in all but one match. The first-year student-athlete registered the most goals by a UNF freshman since teammate Kendra Hoffman scored five in 2018.

Zara Siassi | Defender | Jr. | Lake Worth, Fla.
Captain defender Zara Siassi was an instrumental piece of the UNF defense and overall team leader, exhibiting this through ASUN All-Academic Team honors. The Lake Worth, Fla., native touts an impressive 4.0 GPA in health science, while starting all 15 matches on the pitch.

"Zara is what being a student-athlete is all about," Faulconer said. "She does things the right way on the field and in the classroom every single day. As our captain, Zara scored a goal against Stetson that changed our season. From that point on we went 3-1-4 with five shutouts. She rarely comes off the field and in my opinion, she is one of the best center backs in our league."

Siassi paced the team with 1,315 minutes played, logging at least 81 minutes in 14 of 15 matches on the year. There were 11 different matches in which Siassi played the full 90, tying for the lead league in matches started during ASUN play.

There's no doubt that Siassi aided in creating one of the stingiest defenses in the league, as the back was named ASUN Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 18. Siassi and the Ospreys turned in seven spotless sheets, proving to be a big factor towards goalkeeper Sofia Miliancano's impeccable goals against average.

While roaming the final third of the pitch, Siassi also provided some offensive support, chiming in with a key header goal off a set piece at Stetson Sept. 25. In the grand scheme of the season, that goal catalyzed UNF to three unanswered goals and a road win, beginning UNF's 3-1-4 stretch over the final eight matches of the regular season. Siassi also posted an assist on the match-winning goal against the Hatters.

Up Next
UNF prepares for second-seeded FGCU in the ASUN Championship Quarterfinals Thursday, Oct. 27 from Fort Myers, Fla.

Players Mentioned

Jersi Dadah

Allie Fekany

Kendra Hoffman

Sofia Miliancano

Zara Siassi

Allyna Thurston

Footer