ROME, Ga. – Two members of the Salem soccer team, Darilyn Nieto and Nathaly Berrezueta, capped off the 2024 campaign by earning a spot on the USA South All-Conference Team in an announcement from the league office on Tuesday afternoon. Nieto was recognized as a First Team performer for the Spirits, while Berrezueta is a member of the All-Sportsmanship Team. 

Nieto becomes the first player in Salem soccer history to earn three First Team All-Conference selections as a member of the USA South Conference. Both Brooke Bukas (2016, 2017) and Alyssa Denkovich (2018, 2019) were two-time First Team All-Conference selections in their Salem careers. Bukas also earned First Team West Division (2016) and First Team East Division (2019), while Denkovich was named First Team East Division (2019), from the USA South Conference during the course of their time at Salem. 

Nieto becomes the seventh different Spirit to earn three at least All-Conference honors during the course of her collegiate career. The other six (number of times named in parentheses)—Bukas (1 / 2 USA South), Mackenzie Schmidt (3), Morgan Canepa (3), Nataly Mojica (3), Sawyer Ferguson (3), Stephanie Hubbard (4)—were named to the Great South All-Conference unit during their careers. 

Nieto led the Spirits in five major offensive categories including goals scored (18), points (38), shots (97), shots on goal (56) and game-winning goals (three). She became the first player in program history to have at least 15 goals twice in her career, scoring 16 a season ago, and had the second-most single-season goals in program history. Sawyer Ferguson established that mark in 2012, scoring 19 for the Spirits that season. 

"I am glad to see Darilyn recognized as a 1st Team All-Conference member again this season," said head coach Robin Ramirez. "Darilyn continues to grow as a player and has worked to further develop her game year-after-year. It is great to see her continued talent and hard work recognized by our conference."

Nieto, who was named USA South Player of the Week on two occasions in 2024 (September 16 / September 23), became the program's all-time goals scored leader in a clash with Methodist on September 29th. Her goal against the Monarchs gave her 47 in her Salem career, one more than Ferguson, who capped off her four-year career with 46 goals. 

Nieto scored at least one goal in each of the first four matches for Salem, opening the season with one against Columbia (SC) on September 2nd. She delivered two strikes in a 4-2 win over Agnes Scott (September 6) and notched her sixth career hat trick in a three-goal performance two days later at Wesleyan (Ga.). 

Nieto's biggest performance of the season, which also set the program's mark for most goals in a single match, came when she tallied six goals in a 7-1 win at Warren Wilson (September 13). She finished that match by attempting eight shots on goal and tallied 12 points along the way. In her final non-conference match of the season, which came at Sweet Briar, Nieto led Salem to a 5-2 victory with her third hat trick of the campaign. 

The Greensboro, N.C., native scored one goal each against USA South Conference opponents Southern Virginia (September 24), Methodist (September 29) and Meredith (October 26). 

Berrezueta, who earned her first accolade from the USA South, capped off her final season in a Salem uniform with three goals, two assists and eight points. She attempted 20 shots, including 14 shots on goal, and was one of four Salem players with multiple goals on the season. 

Berrezueta started in each of Salem's 15 matches this season. She handed out the first of her two assists in a 4-2 win at Agnes Scott, while attempting five shots (four shots on goal) versus the Scotties. Berrezueta capped off the trip to Georgia with a two-goal outing against Wesleyan, helping Salem to a 6-1 win. 

In the non-conference finale, at Sweet Briar, Berrezueta scored one goal and added one assist as the Spirits earned their fourth win of the season in 5-2 fashion. 

Berrezueta is originally from Cuenca, Ecuador, and is a first-generation college graduate in her family. Berrezueta, who will graduate in three years from Salem, is a double major in mathematics and chemistry and minoring in data science. Away from the pitch, she has been a part of the Salem student government association and served as ONUA President. She is also the treasurer of the Rotaract Club, a Senior Class representative for OCA (Off Campus Association) and a member of Sigma XI Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta. 

Along with being a two-year captain of the Salem soccer program, Berrezueta is also part of the Salem College Honors Program and was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's Soccer Team and the 2023-24 USA South Academic All-Conference team.

Her career closes with her appearing in 46 matches, making 32 starts along the way, where she tallied six goals, five assists and 17 points. 

"Nathaly is very deserving of the sportsmanship award," said Ramirez. "She has been a true captain in every sense of the word and always approached the game with hard work and respect to her teammates, opponents and referees.  We will miss having Nathaly as she is set to graduate in the spring, but we are looking forward to seeing her accomplish big things off the field."