All-Patriot League and Major Awards Announced in Women’s Soccer
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Navy claimed four of the six Patriot League Women’s Soccer major awards on Monday afternoon, two days after capturing the regular-season title and hosting duties for the upcoming League Championship. Mids’ junior Ash Fairow was selected as Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, senior Meghan Hegarty earns midfielder of the year and sophomore Sydney Fortson takes goalkeeper of the year. Head Coach Carin Gabarra earns her fourth Patriot League Coach of the Year award.
Boston University graduate student defender Rachel Bloznalis earned her second-consecutive Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honor, while teammate freshman forward Anna Heilferty was voted Patriot League Rookie of the Year.
The Mids paced the way for all schools with six student-athletes on the All-Patriot League team, followed by the Terriers, Bucknell, Colgate and Lehigh, who all tied with five selections. Army West Point placed three student-athletes on the three all-League teams, while Lafayette had two. American and Holy Cross had one apiece.
Voting for the Patriot League All-League teams and major awards was conducted by League head coaches, who could not vote for their own student-athletes or themselves.
All three Navy major award winners earned first-team honors as Fairow, Fortson and Hegarty were joined by senior defender Eliza Harris. Fairow sits third in League play with 10 points, netting five goals on the season. Three of her five goals proved to be game-winners. Fortson has recorded a .897 save percentage through nine League games, while Hegarty helped the Navy defense limit opponents to a 0.79 goal scored per game overall. Junior forward Clare MacAdams and sophomore defender Alex Jackson represent Navy on the second team.
Boston University’s Bloznalis earns her third-consecutive first-team honor, joined teammate senior forward Christina Wakefield for the second-time. The Terriers picked up three second team honorees as Heilferty earns all-League honors for the first time. Junior midfielder Julianna Chen picks up her third All-Patriot League honor, while junior midfielder Dorrie Varley-Barrett earns her second.
Bucknell senior forward Kendall Ham (9 goals, 18 points), the League’s points leader, earns a spot on the first team for the third straight season along with senior defender Jackie Ham who picks up her third-time all-League honors. Senior midfielder Meghan Holtz collects her third all-League honors while senior forward Maddie Mulford picks up her second. Holtz and Mulford are joined by senior defender Karli Cirovski. This is Cirovski’s second all-League honor.
Last season’s rookie of the year sophomore forward Abby Sotomayor of Colgate is joined by teammate sophomore midfielder Mara Cosentino on the first-team. Cosentino and Sotomayor combined for 30 points through 17 games played and have each recorded three game-winners this season. Sophomore defender Leah Lewis earned a spot on the second-team while freshman forward Ellis Miller and senior defender Eliza Doll picked up third-team honors.
Lehigh senior defender Alyssa Riporti and senior midfielder Adrian Vitello each pick up their second all-League honors, as both were named to the first-team. Sophomore goalkeeper Sam Miller also picks up her second all-League honor being named to the second-team. Miller has recorded nine shutouts on the season with a 0.881 save percentage through 17 games. Senior defender Amanda Stratton and sophomore forward Maggie Wadsworth earned third-team honors.
Army West Point’s Clare Shea picks up her third all-League honor being named to the second-team. Shea led the Black Knights this season in points, netting two goals and dishing out three assists. Junior defender Sydney Witham and freshman goalkeeper Sydney Cassalia earned spots on the third-team.
Lafayette freshman forward Krista Kissell and junior midfielder Gabrielle Martone each earned spots on the third-team. Kissell led all League freshmen in goals throughout League play with four.
American senior defender Kira Flaherty earned her first all-League honor, being selected to the third-team.
Holy Cross junior forward Ang Seslija picks up her second all-League honor, being named to the third-team. Seslija scored four goals, including one on a penalty kick.
2017 Patriot League Women’s Soccer All-League Team
Major Awards
Offensive of the Year: Ash Fairow, Navy (Sr., F)
Midfielder of the Year: Meghan Hegarty, Navy (Sr., M)
Defensive Player of the Year: Rachel Bloznalis, Boston University (Sr., D)
Rookie of the Year: Anna Heilferty, Boston University (Fr., F)
Coach of the Year: Carin Gabarra, Navy
Note: Listed in alphabetical order by school
^First Team All-Patriot League
Rachel Bloznalis, Gr., D., Boston U.
Christina Wakefield, Sr., F, Boston U.
Jackie Ham, Sr., D, Bucknell
Kendall Ham, Sr., F, Bucknell
Mara Cosentino, So., M, Colgate
Abby Sotomayor, So., F, Colgate
Alyssa Riporti, Sr., D, Lehigh
Adrian Vitello, Sr., M, Lehigh
Ash Fairow, Jr., F, Navy
Sydney Fortson, So., GK, Navy
Eliza Harris, Sr., D, Navy
Meghan Hegarty, Sr., M, Navy
Second Team All-Patriot League
Clare Shea, Sr., M, Army West Point
Julianna Chen, Jr., M, Boston U.
Anna Heilferty, Fr., F, Boston U.
Dorrie Varley-Barrett, Jr., M, Boston U.
Karli Cirovski, Sr., D. Bucknell
Meghan Holtz, Sr., M, Bucknell
Maddie Mulford, Sr., F, Bucknell
Leah Lewis, So., D, Colgate
Sam Miller, So., GK, Lehigh
Alex Jackson, So., D, Navy
Clare MacAdam, Sr., F, Navy
Third Team All-Patriot League
Kira Flaherty, Sr., D, American
Sydney Cassalia, Fr., GK, Army West Point
Sydney Witham, Jr., D, Army West Point
Eliza Doll, Sr., M, Colgate
Ellis Miller, Fr., F, Colgate
Ang Seslija, Jr., M/F, Holy Cross
Krista Kissell, Fr., F, Lafayette
Gabrielle Martone, Jr., M, Lafayette
Amanda Stratton, Sr., D, Lehigh
Maggie Wadsworth, So., F, Lehigh
^ Due to a tie, there are four defenders on the first team and no at large player on the third team
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.