SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. — Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College women's soccer standout Lauren Gill has been named the 2026 River States Conference Newcomer of the Year, adding one of the league's top individual honors to a record-setting debut campaign for the Pomeroys.

Gill, who also earned First Team All-RSC recognition at forward, was selected as the conference's top newcomer after finishing the season with 15 goals, three assists and 33 points. Her 15 goals tied the SMWC single-season program record.

The honor adds to an impressive list of conference accolades for Gill, who was also nominated for RSC Offensive Player of the Year and Overall Player of the Year.

Gill started all 17 matches in which she appeared, logging 1,454 minutes while establishing herself as the centerpiece of the Pomeroys' offensive attack. She recorded 43 shots, placing 29 on goal for a .674 shots-on-goal percentage, and converted 34.9% of her attempts into goals. She also registered two game-winning goals.

Her most memorable performance came in the season finale against Kentucky Christian on Oct. 31, when she erupted for four goals and eight points. The four-goal performance tied for the second-most goals in a single game in SMWC program history and brought her season total to 15, matching the program's single-season record.

The performance capped an impressive closing stretch in which Gill scored six goals over the Pomeroys' final three contests, finding the back of the net against IU Columbus on Oct. 25, IU Kokomo on Oct. 29 and Kentucky Christian on Oct. 31.

Gill demonstrated her scoring ability from the opening match of the season, recording two goals against Georgetown on Aug. 23. She added another two-goal effort against Governors State on Sept. 14 before contributing two goals and an assist for five points against Viterbo on Sept. 19.

Her fourth multigoal performance came in the season finale against Kentucky Christian. Gill also recorded a goal and an assist against Midway on Oct. 18 and scored against Rio Grande on Oct. 8.

In all, Gill scored in nine of her 17 appearances, including four multigoal performances, while averaging 0.88 goals and 1.94 points per match.

Gill's selection as RSC Newcomer of the Year, coupled with her first-team all-conference recognition, highlights an exceptional first season with the Pomeroys and establishes her among the conference's top offensive performers.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods concluded the 2026 campaign with a 3-14-1 overall record and a 1-6-1 mark in River States Conference play.

2026 Lauren Gill — River States Conference Honors

• RSC Newcomer of the Year
• First Team All-RSC — Forward
• RSC Offensive Player of the Year nominee
• RSC Overall Player of the Year nominee

2026 Season Highlights

• 15 goals — tied SMWC single-season record
• 33 points and three assists
• Four multigoal performances
• Four goals and eight points against Kentucky Christian
• Two game-winning goals
• Goals in three consecutive matches to close the season