MARY CARDONE OF SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY was tabbed the league's Newcomer-of-the-Year.

Cardone, a first-year goalkeeper from San Antonio, Texas, posted a goals-against-average of 0.89 (fourth in the SCAC) – allowing 16 goals in 19 matches. She had 85 saves (third in the SCAC), led the league in save percentage at .842, and tied for the league lead in shutouts with seven. After leading the Pirates to the championship final, Cardone was the only goalkeeper named to the 2016 All-Tournament team. The first-year keeper was a two-time SCAC Defensive Player-of-the-Week honoree during the regular season. Cardone is the third Southwestern player to earn Newcomer-of-the-Year honors, following Laura Kromann (2006) and current teammate Sarah Bevins (2013).

Cardone received three votes in the Newcomer-of-the-Year voting while sophomore forward Kati-Jayde Cunningham of Centenary College and first-year midfielder Elisa Duran of the University of Dallas received two votes each.