STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State Soccer's Jessica Baires was one of the best players in the nation all season long. On Saturday, the United Athletic Conference officially dubbed her the best offensive player in the UAC.
 
The UAC announced its women's soccer postseason awards on Saturday, with Baires named the UAC Offensive Player of the Year. Three Texans were named First Team All-UAC – Baires, Zahra Friess and Avery Mendez. Additionally, two made the UAC All-Freshman Team – Mendez and Ava D'Costa.
 
Baires is the first Texan in program history to win a superlative award. Baires, Friess and Mendez are the first Texans in program history to make the First Team on a postseason conference award list.
 
Baires led the UAC in nearly every offensive category, most notably goals (10), assists (10), points (30), assists per match (0.53) and points per match (1.58). Across all of NCAA Division I Women's Soccer, Baires was tied-11th in assists, tied-20th in points, 22nd in assists per match, 37th in points per match and tied-41st in goals. Baires set the program record for goals in a single-season, assists in a single-season, and points in a single-season. The Texan junior started all 19 matches, logging 1,523 minutes of a possible 1,710 this season. She was the UAC Player of the Week three times on the year, plus made the Top Drawer National Team of the Week on Oct. 27. In total, she recorded 10 goals, 10 assists, 30 points, with 23 shots on goal, a .535 accuracy mark, and 43 total shots. Baires had season-highs of two goals (twice), three assists (at Houston Christian on Sept. 6) and five points (Oct. 25 vs. Little Rock).
 
At forward, Friess joined Baires on First Team All-UAC in her first season at Tarleton State. She was the UAC Player of the Week twice on the season, starting all 19 matches, playing in 1,411 minutes of a possible 1,710 minutes. Friess totaled nine goals, four assists and 22 points on the season. She was second on the team in goals and points. Her nine goals are the tied-second most in a single-season in program history, and her 22 points are the third most in a single-season in program history. Across the UAC, Friess was tied-second in total goals, third in points, fourth in shots on goal at 24, and tied-ninth in total assists. She had a season-high five points and a season-high two goals on Oct. 25 vs. Little Rock.
 
Mendez made both First Team All-UAC and the All-Freshman Team. She earned a UAC Player of the Week honor on Sept. 8 after scoring two goals at Houston Christian on Sept. 6. Mendez totaled the second most points by a freshman in Tarleton State history (13). She had the tied-eighth most goals overall across the UAC at five, and the tied-ninth most points overall across the UAC at 13 – as a freshman. On the year, Mendez started 16 of her 19 matches played, totaling 1,257 minutes of a possible 1,710 minutes. She was third on the team in goals scored, third in points, and fourth in assists with three. Mendez attempted 22 shots, with 10 shots on goal for a .455 accuracy. She started all eight UAC matches, recording three goals, two assists and eight points in UAC paly with five SOG (.556 accuracy). Mendez had two four-point matches on the year, Sept. 6 at HCU with two goals, and at Austin Peay on Oct. 8 with a goal and two assists.
 
At midfielder, D'Costa also made the UAC All-Freshman Team. She started all 19 matches, playing in 1,298 minutes of a possible 1,710 minutes. D'Costa totaled two goals and two assists for six points, all in UAC play. She had both her goals against Abilene Christian on Sept. 27, and she had both her assists on Sept. 24 at Central Arkansas. D'Costa had 14 shots with five shots on goal, with three SOG in UAC play for a .375 accuracy.
 
Tarleton State's four student-athletes earning postseason recognition ties a program record (2024).
 
The Texans still have postseason play ahead of them, earning the No. 2 seed in the UAC Women's Soccer Championship. They'll begin their second postseason conference tournament in program history on Sunday at 4 p.m. CT against 3-seed Austin Peay in Conway, Arkansas.