AUSTIN, Texas – Friends University senior defender Kylie Lewis has been voted to the 2024 Women's Soccer Academic All-America team as a first-team selection, announced today (Dec. 11) and presented by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).

The epitome of a great student-athlete, Lewis was a second-team Academic All-America selection last year.

"I know this award means a lot to her," said Friends women's soccer head coach Brent Hobson.  "It's a big honor, anytime you're getting an All-America award.  It's great to see her get recognized for her athletic achievements but also her effort in the classroom.  Kylie is a student-athlete that wants to do everything to her best ability.  Her work ethic on and off the field has been tremendous through her time here.  She's had quite the career here at Friends University, something her and her family should be proud of."

A four-time All-KCAC performer, Lewis capped her historic career in the grandest of styles by serving as a key component of a defensive unit that posted 12 shutouts on the season, including top-seeded and No. 7-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan University in the KCAC semifinals and then York University in the KCAC finals that gave the program its first conference tournament championship in the modern era.

The Falcons carried a scoreless streak of 251:57 into the NAIA tournament thanks in large part to Lewis' defensive prowess.

Lewis has been a defensive leader throughout her career and helped the Falcons advance to the NAIA National Championship tournament three of her four seasons on campus.  

Last season, Lewis also contributed offensively at a most crucial time with the game-winning goal in the Falcons' KCAC semifinal double-overtime victory over Kansas Wesleyan University that clinched a spot in the NAIA tourney.

Lewis helped the Falcons accumulate an overall record of 48-23-12 in her four seasons, highlighted by the program's first-ever unbeaten KCAC season (10-0-3) in the modern era last year.