INDIANAPOLIS – Kendra Zak, Sami Lopez, Karabo Dhlamini, Alexa Sabbagh, and Sharon Sampson earned Horizon League Women's Soccer All-Conference honors, the league announced Monday.

"We are extremely proud of all of our players. It is so difficult for players to get selected into all-conference teams, so we are always happy when we have players recognized," Head Coach JuanPa Favero said. "Sami and Kendra deserve this and more, and we are fortunate to have them at Oakland. For Sami to lead the league in goals and points as a midfielder is a testament to her quality. Kendra is the best left-sided center-back I have ever had the privilege to coach, and her quality defensively and with the ball is superlative. For both of these young women to make the first team in consecutive years is quite an accomplishment." 

For her second year in a row, Lopez was named to the All-League First Team. Lopez is one of four players to start in all 19 games played, totaling 1,400 minutes. The senior finished first in the league in points (19), first in points per game (1.73), tied for first in goals (7), and second in assists (5). Lopez ranked 50th Nationally in total points and 61st in goals, along with ranking 80th Nationally and second in the conference in points per game. After leading her team to a 2-1 win against IUPUI with one goal and an assist, Lopez was named the Nike #HLWSOC Offensive Player of the Week.

Zak was named to the All-League First Team for her second year in a row after starting in all 19 games Oakland played, totaling 1,671 minutes. The senior assisted the defense in earning their impressive 1.5 goals-against-average, and her strong defensive presence helped Oakland reach five shutouts. She also assisted a goal in the 2-1 win over IUPUI. 

"Karabo and Lex are also deserving of all recognition they receive.  Lex has led our team in goals for the last four years, and she has had another great year, where she was tied with Sami for most goals and finished second in points in Horizon League play," Favero added. "Karabo's quality and tactical awareness are simply at another level.  For her to be recognized already, just in her first year at Oakland, is fantastic recognition as well as a sign of many more things to come in her future years as a Golden Grizzly. "

Sabbagh was named to the All-League Second Team and started in all 19 games played as well. The senior finished tied for first in the league for goals (7), second in points (18), second in assists (5), and third in shots (34). Sabbagh had an impressive hat-trick against Green Bay, the first Golden Grizzly since 2016 to score three goals in a game. She earned Nike #HLWSOC Offensive Player of the Week honors after netting four goals and two assists over two games in the first week of League competition. Sabbagh was also named to the All-League Second team in 2019. 

Dhlamini was named to the All-League Second Team after starting in 16 games during her first season in the league, totaling 1,369 minutes. Her impressive availability to control the midfield and defense is unmatched and was a crucial part of maintaining Oakland's long, eight-game win streak during the season. In the 3-1 victory against Wright State, Dhlamini assisted the game-winning goal before adding her own goal to the scoreboard. Dhlamini finished the regular season with three goals and 25 shots. 

Sampson was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team after showing her potential and talent throughout the season. The freshman played in 16 games, totaling over 400 minutes. Sampson had an impressive game-winning goal in the 3-1 victory against Wright-State. 

"Sharon is a player who has the sky as the limit.  We are excited to have another freshman on the all-freshman team and can't wait to see what she and her teammates do in the next three years," Favero said. 

"Our focus is now on next week, and we will need these and all our players to build on a very successful regular season."

All-League First Team
Savannah Hayes (CB), GB
Liz Bueckers (M/F), IUPUI
Gaby Schwartz (D), MKE
MacKenzie Schill (F), MKE
Rachel Phillpotts (DM), MKE
Kaya Vogt (M), NKU
Kendra Zak (D), OAK
Sami Lopez (F), OAK
Morgan Reitano (F), PFW
Olga Massombo (F), WSU
GK: Elaina LaMacchia (GK), MKE

All-League Second Team
Essence Canady (D), CSU
McKayla Kertscher (CM), GB
Autumn Weeks (CM), IUPUI
Jelena Sever (M), MKE
Lydia Self (D), NKU
Alexa Sabbagh (F), OAK
Karabo Dhlamini (M), OAK
Gabrielle Fanning (D), PFW
Kaoru Hayashi (M), RMU
Destiny Johnson (M), WSU
GK: AP Woodall (GK), IUPUI

Horizon League All-Freshman Team
Erica Leinweber (F), DET
Clara Broecker (D), MKE
Kat Van Booven (F), MKE
Lydia Self (D), NKU
Sharon Sampson (F), OAK
Isabella Reitano (M), PFW
Emily Rocco (MF), RMU
Olivia Mace (M), WSU
Maddie Angelo (D), YSU
Emily Sirois (LB), GB
GK: Kyla Valaitis (GK), CSU