ORLANDO, Fla. - The Sunshine State Conference announced its All-Conference honors on Wednesday afternoon, and the Nova Southeastern Sharks had five student-athletes recognized. Highlighting the awards, junior Genesis Hernandez was named the 2026 SSC Forward of the Year while also earning All-SSC First Team honors for the second consecutive season. NSU was also well represented across all three All-SSC teams.
"I'm incredibly proud of this group and the recognition they've earned," said interim head coach Stephen Burgess. "These awards are a reflection of the hard work, commitment, and belief our players have shown throughout the season. They've embraced the standards of our program every day, and it's rewarding to see their efforts recognized. As a staff, we're proud of what they've accomplished and excited for what's still ahead."
Junior Genesis Hernandez captured the SSC Forward of the Year Award after putting together one of the most dominant offensive campaigns in the conference. Per the league office, the Fort Lauderdale native led the SSC in goals (15), goals per game (1.0), game-winning goals (6), points (34), and points per game (2.27). During conference play, Hernandez scored seven goals in 10 matches while adding four assists and three game-winning goals. The honor marks another milestone in Hernandez's standout career as she continues to establish herself among the top players in program history.
The Sharks were well represented on the All-SSC Teams. Joining Hernandez on the All-SSC First Team is senior defender Ella Niemelä, while senior defender Maja Isaksson and freshman defender Joiya Gummesson earned All-SSC Second Team honors. The trio was instrumental in helping Nova Southeastern establish itself as one of the top teams in the SSC throughout the season, limiting opponents to 0.67 goals per game.
Rounding out the conference honors for NSU was midfielder Ginger Schulz, who earned All-SSC Third Team recognition. Schulz played a vital role in the Sharks' midfield throughout the season, contributing on both sides of the ball.
Full list of teams HERE.
The Sharks will look to carry this momentum into tomorrow's semifinal match versus conferance foe the Florida Tech Panthers at 7 pm. The winner will advance to the SSC Tournament Championship on Sunday. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Soccer, follow on Instagram and Twitter/X at NSU_WSoccer.
