By: Ryan Henry
Follow KSU Soccer - X / Instagram
DALLAS – Anabel Orozco has added to her already historic 2026 campaign, becoming the first player in program history to win multiple individual yearly awards, receiving the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, Conference USA Midfielder of the Year, and First Team All-Conference honors, the league announced Friday afternoon. Freshmen
Sian Kellier and
Aaliyah McDiarmid also earned postseason honors, being named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team.
Orozco has experienced a breakout year for the Black and Gold, pacing the conference in goals (9), shots (54), and shots on goal (30), while ranking second in points at 20. Her offensive output has been unmatched by any other Owl this past decade, as she is the first player to record 9+ goals and 20+ points in a single season since Katrina Frost in 2012.
On Sept. 4, the Fayetteville native began a six-game run where she recorded a goal contribution in each contest. The streak began with a one goal, one assist performance at Troy. Two games later against in-state rival West Georgia (9/13), she scored an 89
th-minute equalizer. In the conference opener at Sam Houston (9/26), she scored both goals to help the Owls get three points on the road. During this stretch, she scored seven goals and tallied two assists. She also picked up two CUSA Offensive Player of the Week honors (9/15, 9/29), becoming the only player this season to win the award multiple times.
The senior bookended the regular season by scoring her fourth penalty kick goal against FIU (11/2), tying Sara Clapham (2007) for the most by an Owl in a single season.
Orozco is the first Owl to win an individual yearly award since Becky Contreras won the 2019 ASUN Freshman of the Year, and she's the first to earn first team all-conference honors since Ebony Clark in the Fall 2021 season.
Head coach
Chris Cahill put an emphasis on the youth coming into this season, as 17 of the 26 players on his roster were underclassmen. Kellier and McDiarmid were given a lot of responsibility early on, and it paid off as both players were named to the all-freshman team.
Kellier, a Jamaican international, is a defender who has been a key cog on the backline, playing as both a center back and outside back. In her collegiate debut, she helped the Owls concede zero shots on target against Stetson (8/16), becoming the first KSU team to do so since 2016. Kellier picked up her first start a couple games later at Alabama State (8/23), playing all 90 minutes and recording a clean sheet. During conference play, she's been instrumental for the squad, starting all eight games and playing 684 out of a possible 720 minutes.
McDiarmid is one of four newcomers to hail from The Great White North. She's has truly been a Swiss Army knife for the Owls, seeing action as a forward, midfielder and defender. After coming on as a reserve in her first four appearances, McDiarmid has started in the last 12 contests. At North Florida (9/17), she recorded her first collegiate goal and assist. In the Black and Gold's season finale at FIU, she scored the goal that secured a point for the Owls and clinched them a CUSA Tournament berth. Kellier and McDiarmid are the first freshmen to be named to an all-freshman team since Orozco was on the 2023 ASUN All-Freshman Team.
The Owls kickoff the CUSA Women's Soccer Championship on Sunday, playing the No. 2 seed Western Kentucky at 11 a.m. Tickets can be purchased
here and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
The Champions Fund
The Champions Fund is a newly created, 100% tax deductible, philanthropic opportunity to contribute strategic revenue to Kennesaw State Athletics, with the goal of strengthening our ability to recruit and retain top-tier talent in this new era of collegiate athletics. Contributions to the Champions Fund will help aid in funding student-athlete recruitment and retention, as well as helping the Owls provide competitive excellence through investments in coaching, travel and facilities. The fund will also give an elevated student-athlete experience, including enhanced academic, nutrition, wellness and leadership programs. Donate to the Champions Fund here and help us support our Kennesaw State Owls.
