SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has announced its 2021 Women's Soccer All-Conference and individual awards as voted on by the conference coaches. The Offensive Player of the Year has been awarded to Kirsten Villemaire from Plattsburgh. Geneseo's Julia Dell Aquila is being honored as the Defensive Player of the Year while her teammate Liv Raucci has been named the Rookie of the Year. Geneseo has been voted the Coaching Staff of the Year.

Offensive Player of the Year - Kirsten Villemaire, Plattsburgh

Villemaire finished her season with 22 points overall tallying nine goals and four assists. She is tied at the top of the conference with four game-winning goals and also leads the conference with 122 shots and 61 shots on goal. Villemaire is also third in goals and fourth in points. The Cardinals finished regular-season conference play 7-2 and they were ranked No. 2 going into the SUNYAC championship tournament. The team was upset by No. 3, Cortland, in the semifinal match up, 3-0.

Defensive Player of the Year - Julia Dell Aquila, Geneseo

Dell Aquila is a senior back who led a defense that helped secure 12 shutouts and only allowed 18 goals in 18 games. She helped lead her team to the No. 1 seed after finishing the regular-season 8-0-1 in the conference. The Knights pushed through the SUNYAC bracket as they topped Fredonia, 3-2 and edged Cortland, 1-0, to win the program's ninth overall conference crown. Dell Aquila was named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament team and will continue her season in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday.

Rookie of the Year - Liv Raucci, Geneseo

Raucci is a forward in her first year of collegiate competition as a sophomore. She is currently tied fourth in the conference with seven goals. So far she has totaled 15 points and scored three game-winning goals. The Knights will move on to the NCAA Tournamet after winning the conference championship. They will face Connecticut College in the first round on Saturday, November 13.

Coaching Staff of the Year - Geneseo

Head Coach Nate Wiley and assistant coach Paige Smith had 10 athletes named to the All-Conference team this year including the Defensive Player of the Year and the Rookie of the Year. The Knights coaching staff led their team to their ninth overall SUNYAC championship and they will make their ninth NCAA tournament appearance in program history. Geneseo is currently 15-2-1 and will continue its season when they travel to Scranton to play Connecticut College in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament Saturday, November 13. 

2021 Women's Soccer All-Conference Teams (PDF)