ROME, Ga.  For the third year in a row, Methodist's Kennedy Martin has earned the title of USA South Defensive Player of the Year, claiming one of six spots on the all-conference list occupied by Methodist student–athletes. The Monarchs totaled three first–team accolades, two second–team selections and one third–team honor. Representing Methodist on the league's All–Sportsmanship team was Abigail Wilson. 
 
Martin's Defensive Player of the Year achievement marks the first time in league history that a player has won the title in three consecutive seasons. During her three seasons competing in the USA South, Martin has amassed the most caused turnovers by a player ever in league history.
 
In 16 games this season, she had team–highs of 62 ground balls, 49 caused turnovers and 97 draw controls. Her 3.06 caused turnovers per game were top of the league, while her 3.88 ground balls per game and 6.06 draw controls per game each ranked second in the conference.
 
Earning a spot on the First Team as a midfielder, Martin becomes the fifth player in program history to be named to the All–Conference First Team in three consecutive seasons. In addition to her incredible defensive efforts this season, she was also an important factor in the Methodist offense. Her 31 goals tied for second most on the team, while her 15 assists were the third most by a Monarch.
 
Also excelling defensively this season, Ainsley McGinn and Brooke Murrell both joined Martin on the First Team. It's the first–ever all–conference honor for McGinn and second consecutive First–Team appearance for Murrell.
 
McGinn, in her fifth season at Methodist, posted career highs with 46 ground balls (third most on the team) and 14 caused turnovers. Her 2.88 ground balls per game ranked sixth among USA South athletes. She also contributed three goals and two assists. This season, her exceptional play allowed her to crack the program record book's Top 10 for ground balls in a career, currently sitting in eighth all–time with 130.
 
Murrell statistically improved her play in year two as a Monarch, recording more ground balls, caused turnovers and draw controls than she did as a first–teamer in 2024. Her 50 ground balls and 31 caused turnovers ranked second on the team, while her 22 draw controls were fourth highest. She ranked third in the league in ground balls per game (3.13) and sixth in caused turnovers per game (1.94).

Methodist garnered a pair of Second Team honors in the form of Kaitlyn Coleman and Ashley Fuentes. In her first year at Methodist, Coleman led the squad with 45 goals, which were the ninth most in the USA South. She also tallied 34 ground balls, and her 42 draw controls and 27 caused turnovers each ranked second on the team. Her 1.69 caused turnovers per game ranked ninth overall in the conference.
 
Fuentes — another fifth–year Monarch — earns all–conference recognition for the second time in her career. Starting all 16 games for Methodist in goal, the senior goalkeeper recorded 81 saves with a save percentage of 45.8%. Her goals–against average of 8.59 ranked third among starting goalies in the USA South. She was credited with all 10 of Methodist's wins this season and became the program's all–time winningest goalie (now responsible for 29 wins in her career).
 
Collecting the third all–conference accolade of her career, Mikayla Ramos earned a spot on the Third Team. The fifth–year attack led the Monarchs with 74 points this season, contributing 31 goals (tied for second most on the team) and a team–leading, career–high 43 assists. It's the most assists in a single season by any Methodist player outside of Kayla Nee, who Ramos was teammates with from 2021–2024. With 2.69 assists per game, Ramos ranked second in the USA South, while her 4.63 points per game were fifth most within the conference.
 
This season, Methodist earned the No. 3 seed in the USA South Tournament after recording a 7–2 regular–season mark versus conference opponents. The Monarchs are set to host Greensboro College in the First Round on Saturday, April 26 at noon.