University of Georgia Athletics
Denigan Named SEC Co-Freshman of the Year
October 29, 2023 | Soccer
ATHENS, Ga. – Redshirt freshman midfielder Summer Denigan was named the 2023 Southeastern Conference Co-Freshman of the Year, among a host of SEC honors announced by the league office Sunday morning.
Denigan shared the honor with Megan Hinnenkamp of Florida, becoming the first Bulldog to earn Freshman of the Year since Laura Eddy in 2009. The Union, Kentucky native was also named to the Second Team All-SEC along with graduate midfielder Croix Bethune and to the SEC All-Freshman Team with defender Kiera Staude.
In her first season with the Bulldogs, Denigan leads the team with five goals, including four game winners. She also ranks second in points (10) and shots (37) and is third in shots on goal (13). In SEC play alone, she ranks in the top 10 in goals and points. Denigan helped Georgia clinch its first-ever SEC East division crown with winning scores against Tennessee and Kentucky.
Bethune received a Second Team accolade after beginning her Bulldog career with a goal against LSU on Sept. 21. She also assisted Denigan on her goal against Vanderbilt. The Alpharetta native has attempted 19 shots, the second-most of any Georgia player during conference play, along with six shots on goal. Bethune and Denigan's recognitions give Georgia five consecutive seasons with an All-SEC performer, the program's longest streak since 2005-11.
Staude has been a critical member of the Bulldogs' backline, tallying 1,296 field minutes, the fourth-most of any Georgia player. The Georgia defense has held opponents to only 17 goals this season and a .113 shooting percentage, resulting in seven shutouts. The Atlanta native also assisted teammate Aly Akers in her winning goal against San Francisco on Sept. 17. Earlier this month, Top Drawer Soccer named her the No. 10 freshman in the country, the highest ranking of any SEC player.
Second-seeded Georgia opens its SEC Tournament run against the winner of Sunday's Kentucky-LSU first round match on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. EDT at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola, Florida. All matches of the SEC Tournament will air live on SEC Network.
For complete information on Georgia soccer, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGASoccer on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
First Team All-SEC
Forward: Gianna Paul, Alabama
Forward: Ava Tankersley, Arkansas
Forward: Jordyn Rhodes, Kentucky
Forward: Kylee Simmons, Missouri
Forward: Cat Barry, South Carolina
Midfielder: Felicia Knox, Alabama
Midfielder: Bea Franklin, Arkansas
Midfielder: Macey Hodge, Mississippi State
Midfielder: Jordan Fusco, Tennessee
Defender: Gessica Skorka, Alabama
Defender: Daviana Vaka, Florida
Defender: Gracie Falla, South Carolina
Defender: Carolyn Calzada, Texas A&M
Goalkeeper: Heather Hinz, South Carolina
Second Team All-SEC
Forward: Anna Podojil, Arkansas
Forward: Megan Hinnenkamp, Florida
Forward: Ava Galligan, LSU
Forward: Sizzy Lawton, Tennessee
Midfielder: Anna Haddock, Auburn
Midfielder: Croix Bethune, Georgia
Midfielder: Summer Denigan, Georgia
Midfielder: Mia Pante, Texas A&M
Midfielder: Abi Brighton, Vanderbilt
Defender: Ellie Podojil, Arkansas
Defender: Grace Phillpotts, Kentucky
Defender: Maya Antoine, Vanderbilt
Defender: Hannah McLaughlin, Vanderbilt
Goalkeeper: Shu Ohba, Ole Miss
Goalkeeper: Maddy Anderson, Mississippi State
All-Freshman Team
Nadia Ramadan, Alabama
Avery Wren, Arkansas
Megan Hinnenkamp, Florida
Summer Denigan, Georgia
Kiera Staude, Georgia
Tanner Strickland, Kentucky
Ava Galligan, LSU
Avery Brown, Ole Miss
Reagan Schubach, South Carolina
Kate Runyon, Tennessee
Adysen Armenta, Texas A&M
Margo Matula, Texas A&M
Courtney Jones, Vanderbilt
Ella Eggleston, Vanderbilt
Coach of the Year: Colby Hale, Arkansas
Forward of the Year: Ava Tankersley, Arkansas
Midfielder of the Year: Bea Franklin, Arkansas
Defender of the Year: Gracie Falla, South Carolina
Goalkeeper of the Year: Heather Hinz, South Carolina
Co-Freshman of the Year: Megan Hinnenkamp, Florida & Summer Denigan, Georgia
Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Bea Franklin, Arkansas & Anna Haddock, Auburn
Denigan shared the honor with Megan Hinnenkamp of Florida, becoming the first Bulldog to earn Freshman of the Year since Laura Eddy in 2009. The Union, Kentucky native was also named to the Second Team All-SEC along with graduate midfielder Croix Bethune and to the SEC All-Freshman Team with defender Kiera Staude.
In her first season with the Bulldogs, Denigan leads the team with five goals, including four game winners. She also ranks second in points (10) and shots (37) and is third in shots on goal (13). In SEC play alone, she ranks in the top 10 in goals and points. Denigan helped Georgia clinch its first-ever SEC East division crown with winning scores against Tennessee and Kentucky.
Bethune received a Second Team accolade after beginning her Bulldog career with a goal against LSU on Sept. 21. She also assisted Denigan on her goal against Vanderbilt. The Alpharetta native has attempted 19 shots, the second-most of any Georgia player during conference play, along with six shots on goal. Bethune and Denigan's recognitions give Georgia five consecutive seasons with an All-SEC performer, the program's longest streak since 2005-11.
Staude has been a critical member of the Bulldogs' backline, tallying 1,296 field minutes, the fourth-most of any Georgia player. The Georgia defense has held opponents to only 17 goals this season and a .113 shooting percentage, resulting in seven shutouts. The Atlanta native also assisted teammate Aly Akers in her winning goal against San Francisco on Sept. 17. Earlier this month, Top Drawer Soccer named her the No. 10 freshman in the country, the highest ranking of any SEC player.
Second-seeded Georgia opens its SEC Tournament run against the winner of Sunday's Kentucky-LSU first round match on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. EDT at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola, Florida. All matches of the SEC Tournament will air live on SEC Network.
For complete information on Georgia soccer, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGASoccer on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
First Team All-SEC
Forward: Gianna Paul, Alabama
Forward: Ava Tankersley, Arkansas
Forward: Jordyn Rhodes, Kentucky
Forward: Kylee Simmons, Missouri
Forward: Cat Barry, South Carolina
Midfielder: Felicia Knox, Alabama
Midfielder: Bea Franklin, Arkansas
Midfielder: Macey Hodge, Mississippi State
Midfielder: Jordan Fusco, Tennessee
Defender: Gessica Skorka, Alabama
Defender: Daviana Vaka, Florida
Defender: Gracie Falla, South Carolina
Defender: Carolyn Calzada, Texas A&M
Goalkeeper: Heather Hinz, South Carolina
Second Team All-SEC
Forward: Anna Podojil, Arkansas
Forward: Megan Hinnenkamp, Florida
Forward: Ava Galligan, LSU
Forward: Sizzy Lawton, Tennessee
Midfielder: Anna Haddock, Auburn
Midfielder: Croix Bethune, Georgia
Midfielder: Summer Denigan, Georgia
Midfielder: Mia Pante, Texas A&M
Midfielder: Abi Brighton, Vanderbilt
Defender: Ellie Podojil, Arkansas
Defender: Grace Phillpotts, Kentucky
Defender: Maya Antoine, Vanderbilt
Defender: Hannah McLaughlin, Vanderbilt
Goalkeeper: Shu Ohba, Ole Miss
Goalkeeper: Maddy Anderson, Mississippi State
All-Freshman Team
Nadia Ramadan, Alabama
Avery Wren, Arkansas
Megan Hinnenkamp, Florida
Summer Denigan, Georgia
Kiera Staude, Georgia
Tanner Strickland, Kentucky
Ava Galligan, LSU
Avery Brown, Ole Miss
Reagan Schubach, South Carolina
Kate Runyon, Tennessee
Adysen Armenta, Texas A&M
Margo Matula, Texas A&M
Courtney Jones, Vanderbilt
Ella Eggleston, Vanderbilt
Coach of the Year: Colby Hale, Arkansas
Forward of the Year: Ava Tankersley, Arkansas
Midfielder of the Year: Bea Franklin, Arkansas
Defender of the Year: Gracie Falla, South Carolina
Goalkeeper of the Year: Heather Hinz, South Carolina
Co-Freshman of the Year: Megan Hinnenkamp, Florida & Summer Denigan, Georgia
Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Bea Franklin, Arkansas & Anna Haddock, Auburn
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
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Midfielder
/ Soccer
Defender
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