2023 SUNYAC Women's Soccer Annual Awards Announced
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC releases its 2023 women's socccer All-Conference teams and annual awards including Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coaching Staff of the Year as voted on by the conference coaches.
Offensive Player of the Year - Rachel Eisert, New Paltz
Eisert led the league in points (31), shots (74) and was tied at No. 1 with 12 goals overall in 2023. She led the Hawks offense that outscored their opponents 45-16. Eisert also registered two game-winning goals this season. The team was seeded No. 4 after regular season conference play with a 4-2-3 record. New Paltz tied Oswego, 0-0, in the first round of the SUNYAC tournament, but did not advance after losing 3-2 in the shootout. The team ended the season 8-5-5 overall.
Defensive Player of the Year - Bryn Thompson, Cortland
Thompson, a graduate student, was named the SUNYAC Tournament MVP after playing all 180 minutes of the tournament and helping her team hold their opponents to just one goal to win the 2023 SUNYAC title. During the regular season, she started all 18 games for the Red Dragons. Thompson led a defense that allowed just 12 goals overall and registered nine shutouts with only two losses. With the conference crown, the team will advance to the NCAA Division III tournament to face John Carroll University, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The team is 11-2-5 overall going into NCAA play. This is the second year in a row that Thompson was voted the SUNYAC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year.
Rookie of the Year - Gabby Irwin, Fredonia
In 2023, Irwin started all but one game for Fredonia in her first season. She led the league with eight assists overall and six in conference play with a season and career high of four assists vs. Buffalo State. Irwin finished the season with 16 points overall. She had four goals including the game-winning goal against New Paltz in a 1-0 victory. The team finished the regular season No. 7 and was eliminated from advancing to the playoffs with only the top six teams moving on. The Devils were 6-8-2 overall.
Coaching Staff of the Year - Cortland
The Cortland women's soccer program is led by head coach Heidi Axtell and assistant coaches Craig Thomas and Matt Milograno. The staff coached seven All-Conference selections in 2023 including the Defensive Player of the Year. This year, after going undefeated in regular season conference play (5-0-4), the Red Dragons won the program's 10th overall SUNYAC women's soccer championship to earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III tournament for the 15th time overall. Cortland will travel to a four-team regional hosted by Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 11-12. The team holds an 11-2-5 overall record.
2023 SUNYAC Women's Soccer All-Conference Teams (PDF)
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Name, School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown / High School |
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Katie Sellers, Fredonia |
Jr. |
F |
Glenmont / Bethlehem |
|
Rachel Eisert, New Paltz |
Jr. |
F |
Bellmore / Wellington C Mephane |
|
Gaby Treble, New Paltz |
Jr. |
F |
Oyster Bay / Oyster Bay |
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Kayla Valerioti, Cortland |
Sr. |
M |
Oakdale / Connetquot |
|
Lindsey Clar, Geneseo |
Sr. |
M |
Scottsville / Wheatland-Chili |
|
Alexis DeLeo, New Paltz |
Jr. |
M |
Harriman / Monroe-Woodbury |
|
Nora Fitzgerald, Plattsburgh |
Sr. |
M |
New Rochelle / New Rochelle |
|
Bryn Thompson, Cortland |
Gr. |
D |
Hopewell Junction / Arlington |
|
Tricia Curran, Geneseo |
Sr. |
D |
Hamburg / Frontier Central |
|
Katie Buquicchio, New Paltz |
Gr. |
D |
Deer Park / Deer Park |
|
Lauren Haley, Plattsburgh |
Jr. |
G |
Lagrange / Arlington |
|
Second Team |
|
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Jaylah Cossin, Brockport |
Sr. |
F |
Silver Creek / Silver Creek |
|
Simone Neivel, Cortland |
Sr. |
F |
Baldwinsville / C.W. Baker |
|
Gabby Irwin, Fredonia |
Fr. |
F |
Clarence Center / Clarence |
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Avery Durgan, Plattsburgh |
Sr. |
F |
Plattsburgh / Beekmantown |
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Jordan Barrett, Fredonia |
Gr. |
M |
Wyoming / Pavilion |
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Ally Donovan, New Paltz |
Gr. |
M |
Fair Port / Fairport |
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Amber McDermott, Oswego |
So. |
M |
Rock Tavern / Washingtonville |
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Bella Casucci, Cortland |
Sr. |
D |
Smithtown / Smithtown West |
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Jess Funke, New Paltz |
Gr |
D |
Smithtown / Smithtown West |
|
Gillian Growth, Oswego |
Sr. |
D |
Hamburg / Frontier |
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Kristen Spendal, Cortland |
Jr. |
G |
Dumont, NJ / Dumont |
|
Third Team |
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Liz Allen, Cortland |
Sr. |
F |
Monroe / Monroe-Woodbury |
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Liv Raucci, Geneseo |
Sr. |
F |
Rotterdam / Mohonasen |
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Lindsay Wright, Geneseo |
Gr. |
F |
Dix Hills / Half Hollow Hills West |
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Brooke Kelleher, New Paltz |
So. |
F |
Smithtown / Smithtown |
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Megan Gerber, Brockport |
So. |
M |
Buffalo / Sweet Home |
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Cam Stone, Cortland |
Sr. |
M |
Ilion / Central Valley Academy |
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Lindsey Matthews, Geneseo |
Jr. |
M |
Niskayuna / Niskayuna |
|
Lyndsey Miller, Brockport |
So. |
D |
Saratoga Springs / Saratoga Springs |
|
Haylee Evertsen, Geneseo |
Sr. |
D |
Clifton Park / Shenendehowa |
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Casey Granger, Plattsburgh |
Jr |
D |
Hopewell Junction / Arlington |
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Madeline McCrosson, Brockport |
So. |
G |
Mahopac / Mahopac |
