Gracie Falla Named SEC Defender of the Year, Four Other Gamecocks Receive Honors
BIRMINGHAM, AL – Five Gamecocks have been named to All-SEC teams the conference announced Thursday, highlighted by SEC Defender of the Year Gracie Falla. The five players to receive the honors are the most for South Carolina since six in 2019.
Gracie Falla - SEC Defender of the Year, All-SEC First Team
Falla has been instrumental for the backline this season, making the start at center back in all 18 matches and playing the full 90 in 16. The senior has helped the Gamecocks to 10 shutouts so far, marking the fourth most in the country and third most in the SEC. Falla has led the team in minutes this season (1590), and has done so for the last two consecutive years.
In addition to her defense, Falla has participated on the opposite end for the Gamecocks, scoring the equalizer at home in the 81st minute against No. 7 Arkansas to make things a 2-2 draw against the Razorbacks. It was the first result against a top-10 team for South Carolina since defeating No. 2 Mississippi State in the SEC Semifinals last year (Nov. 7).
The Defender of the Year title is the second for Falla in her career, previously receiving the honor in 2023 during her sophomore year campaign. Falla joins four other Gamecock defensive players of the year greats in Grace Fisk, Kaleigh Kurtz, Sabrina D’Angelo, and Blakely Mattern. She becomes one of three players to earn the nod more than once in her career (D’Angelo and Fisk).
Her All-SEC First Team selection is the third of her career.
Katie Shea Collins - All-SEC First Team
Collins has had an excellent sophomore campaign for the Gamecocks after coming off a record-breaking freshman year. Collins began the year on the SEC Preseason Watchlist, TopDrawerSoccer’s Top-100 Players list, and is currently on the MAC Hermann Trophy Midseason watchlist. She currently leads the team with 10 goals this season, the third most in the SEC. Her 24 points are No. 2 in the conference, with Collins earning six points in one game twice this season (vs. Texas and vs. Ole Miss), marking the fourth-most for an individual in the SEC. Her six game winners this year are tied for the second-most in Division I soccer.
Against the Ole Miss Rebels this season (Sept. 18), Collins netted a hat trick in the first half, highlighted by her first goal that came at the 58-second mark, the seventh-fastest goal in program history. Her three goals marked the 11th hat trick in the record books and the third of her career, bringing her to the most hat tricks for a Gamecock in program history. Collins then had another massive game against the Longhorns (Oct. 9), tallying two goals and two assists for a career-high four goal involvements.
The First Team selection is the first of her career, and the third All-SEC nod after earning a second team and All-Freshman selection during her rookie campaign.
Taylor Bloom - All-SEC Third Team
A newcomer to the Gamecocks from Pepperdine, Bloom has become a standout for South Carolina, making starts in all 18 matches for a new career high. The defender has played the full 90 in 13 games and has been an integral piece to the Gamecocks’ 10 shutouts this season.
Despite being a member of the backline, Bloom has scored three goals for South Carolina, with back-to-back goals coming in conference play against Oklahoma (Sept. 26) and No. 7 Arkansas (Oct. 5). Bloom picked up the first SEC honor of her career after being named SEC Defender of the Week on Sept. 1.
This is the first All-SEC selection for Bloom, and her third overall all-conference nod (previous two-time All-WCC selection at Pepperdine).
Cuyler Zulauf - All-SEC Third Team
A member of the SEC Preseason Watchlist, Zulauf has been a constant force in the midfield for the Gamecocks, appearing in all 18 games so far this season making starts in 17, a new career-high.
The junior has five goals and a game-winner under her belt, marking the third most for each on the team. Her five goals are also a new career-high, in addition to 12 points on the year so far. In addition, Zulauf has been first choice for South Carolina at the penalty spot this season, and is a perfect 3-for-3 tying for first in the nation.
This is the first All-SEC honor for Zulauf.
Mackenzie Johnson - SEC All-Freshman Team
Rookie Mackenzie Johnson has made a name for herself this season, making 17 appearances and 12 starts for the Gamecocks as a freshman. Johnson has scored six goals and handed out three assists, each the second most on the team. Her goal against the College of Charleston (Aug. 14) was the first of the season for the Gamecocks and was the game winner in a 1-0 victory over the Cougars. Johnson’s three total game-winners on the year are tied for the fifth most in the country.
This marks the first SEC honor for Johnson.
