POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Pearl River women's soccer's Mackenzie Winters (Ocean Springs) was one of the top defenders in the country in 2023, and it was noticed. The National Junior College Athletic Association announced its All-America teams Tuesday morning, and Winters earned a Second Team designation.

Winters has already been named First Team All-MACCC and All-Region 23.

"We are very, very proud of Mackenzie," head coach Henrik Madsen said. "She was a leader on that backline for us all year. It's just fair for her to get the recognition that she deserves. We think that she is the best defender in the junior college ranks.

"She's been a big-time player for the program on top of being a really good student," Madsen said. "She's helped carry the program forward in the direction we want both in the classroom and the field. She's been incredible."

Winters earned the award after being a stout defender at the back of the Pearl River formation, starting all 19 games that the Wildcats competed in. She also chipped in one assist on the offensive side of things.

As a team in 2023, the Wildcats allowed just 1.04 goals per game, which was 13th-best in the NJCAA. Pearl River picked up clean sheets in eight games during the year.

Winters was equally impressive as a freshman in 2022, helping lead PRCC to a goals-against average of 0.59. The incredible mark was sixth best in the country.

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