BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Three Union University women’s soccer players earned All-Gulf South Conference honors for 2026, the conference announced Monday. Irene Arias and Rebekah Jackson were named to the First Team, and Tessa Erzen was named to the Second Team.
Arias, a senior midfielder, and Jackson, a forward, made the first team along with Montevallo’s Lainey Farabaugh and Lee’s Isabella Valentine, among others. Erzen made the second team as a defender. The All-GSC teams and the yearly awards were voted on by the league’s head coaches, and the teams include players from seven programs.
Union’s three picks tied Valdosta State and AUM for the third-most selections in the conference. Montevallo, the GSC regular-season champion, had the most with eight honorees, and Lee followed with seven. Spring Hill had two and UAH had one.
The conference’s major awards went to Montevallo and Lee. Farabaugh, a Montevallo midfielder, was named Offensive Player of the Year after leading the GSC in goals (14), assists (9), points (37), shots (81) and shots on goal (54). Lee’s Valentine was Defensive Player of the Year, Lee’s Emma Nelson was Freshman of the Year, and Montevallo’s Trey Gregory was Coach of the Year in his first season leading the program. Montevallo went 9-1-1 in conference play and 15-2-1 overall.
The honors come a day after Union’s season ended with a 1-1 tie against UAH in the GSC quarterfinals at home, followed by a loss in penalty kicks. Arias and Jackson were both in the thick of that game, with four shots apiece. Union finished 5-4-6 overall and 5-1-5 in conference play.
Union lost only once in conference play, and the three selections give the program recognition at the end of a season that came down to a shootout.