BETHLEHEM, Pa. – American and Boston University both earned two Patriot League Women’s Soccer Weekly Awards, while Holy Cross recorded one when the League announced the winners on Monday.
 
BU senior Abigail McNulty scored two goals, including the game-winner, in the Terriers’ 3-2 win over Navy earning her offensive player of the week. Midfielder of the week honors went to BU sophomore Giulianna Gianino who scored the first goal for the Terriers in the win against the Mids.
 
American freshman Lailah Stewart picked up Patriot League Rookie of the Week after scoring her second goal of the season in the Eagles’ 2-0 victory over Lafayette. Teammate junior Giuliana Capraro was named defensive player of the week after leading the Eagles’ defense to their first shutout over the Leopards since 2018.
 
Holy Cross junior Julia Walsh recorded her fourth consecutive shutout earning her goalkeeper of the week for the second time this season.
 
American graduate student Fisayo Iluyomade and sophomore Avery Klingensmith, Holy Cross senior Francesca Ciatto, Lafayette freshman Nadia Zaffanella, Lehigh senior Imani Ashman, junior Corinne Lyght and sophomore Maggie Ousouljoglou, along with Loyola Maryland junior Elizabeth Gallagher received honorable mentions for their outstanding play last week.

The weekly awards were voted on by the women’s soccer head coaches from each institution, with restrictions on voting for their own student-athletes.

2023 Patriot League Women’s Soccer Standings (as of 10.2) 

	PL	Pct.	Pts.	Overall	Pct.
Loyola	4-0-0	1.000	12	9-2	.818
Boston U	2-1-1	.625	7	5-4-3	.542
American	2-1-1	.625	7	2-5-4	.364
Lafayette	2-2-0	.500	6	6-4-1	.591
Bucknell	1-1-2	.500	5	6-3-3	.625
Army	1-2-1	.375	4	4-6-3	.423
Colgate	1-2-1	.375	4	2-9-2	.231
Lehigh	1-2-1	.375	4	4-3-4	.545
Holy Cross	0-1-3	.375	3	2-4-5	.409
Navy	1-3-0	.250	3	6-4-3	.577

Offensive Player of the Week 
Abigail McNulty, Boston University, Sr., F, Stow, Mass./Nashoba Regional
*The senior captain tallied her first-career brace in BU's 3-2 victory on the road against Navy.
*McNulty scored in the 55th minute for her first goal of the season.
*She then recorded the game-winner with 5:28 remaining in the second half. 

Midfielder of the Week 
Giulianna Gianino, Boston University, So., M, Norwell Mass./Norwell
*Gianino got the scoring started for BU with a goal in the 48th minute as the Terriers defeated Navy, 3-2.
*She now leads BU with four goals and 11 points.

Defensive Player of the Week 
Giuliana Capraro, American, Jr. D, North Potomac, Md./Quince Orchard
*The junior started and played all 90 minutes in American’s 2-0 win over Lafayette.
*Capraro led the Eagles’ defense to their fourth shutout of the season, and the first shutout against the Leopards since 2018.
 
Goalkeeper of the Week 
Julia Walsh, Holy Cross, Jr., GK, San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic
*The junior recorded her fourth consecutive shutout in a 0-0 draw with Bucknell.
*She faced 15 shots and racked up six saves to keep the Bison off the scoreboard.
 
Rookie of the Week 
Lailah Stewart, American, Fr., F, Smyrna, Ga./Campbell
*The freshman scored her second goal of the season in the Eagles’ 2-0 win over Lafayette.
 
Honorable Mention
Fisayo Iluyomade, American, GS, F, Potomac, Md./Archbishop Spalding
*The graduate student scored the game-winning goal in the Eagles’ 2-0 win over Lafayette.
 
Avery Klingensmith, American, So., M, Belchertown, Mass./Belchertown
*In the Eagles’ 2-0 win over Lafayette, the sophomore assisted on the first goal of the game.
 
Francesca Ciatto, Holy Cross, Sr., D, Bethesda, Md./Stone Ridge
*The senior led the Crusaders back line to their third consecutive shutout, a 0-0 draw with Bucknell.
 
Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette, Fr., M, Ellington, Conn./Ellington
*In Lafayette’s 1-1 tie with No. 13 Princeton, the freshman scored her fourth goal of the season.
 
Imani Ashman, Lehigh, Sr. D, Jacksonville, Fla./ Stanton College Prep
*The senior anchored a Lehigh defense that shut out Army 1-0.
 
Corinne Lyght, Lehigh, Jr., F, Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood
*The junior scored the game-winner in the Mountain Hawks’ 1-0 win over Army.
 
Maggie Ousouljoglou, Lehigh, So., GK, Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan
*The sophomore goalkeeper made four critical saves in the Mountain Hawks’ 1-0 win over Army.
 
Elizabeth Gallagher, Loyola Maryland, Jr., M, Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Academy
*The junior tallied two assists in the Greyhounds’ 4-0 win over Colgate.
 
Previous Winner
Offensive Player
8.21 – Henna Andican, Bucknell
8.28 – Marlee Heaven, Navy
9.4 - Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette
9.11- Kaitlin Palaian, Army
9.18-Brooke Steel, American
9.25- Henna Andican, Bucknell
10.2- Abigail McNulty, Boston University

Midfielder
8.21 – Teresa Deda, Bucknell
8.28 – Mackenzie Stickelman, Boston University
9.4- Olivia Quaranta, Loyola
9.11- Teresa Deda, Bucknell
9.18-Baylee DeSmit, Loyola
9.25- Baylee DeSmit, Loyola
10.2- Giulianna Gianino, Boston University

Defensive Player
8.21 – Ryelle Shuey, Lehigh
8.28 – Cerys Balmer, Holy Cross
9.4- Katie Schiano, Bucknell
9.11- Ryelle Shuey, Lehigh
9.18-Tatum Kelly, Navy
9.25- Sydney Bender, Army
10.2- Giuliana Capraro, American,

Goalkeeper
8.21 – Jenna Hall, Bucknell
8.28 – Mattie Gallagher, Navy
9.4- Lindsay Dewar, Lafayette
9.11- Julia Walsh, Holy Cross
9.18-Lindsay Dewar, Lafayette
9.25- Sage Strohman, Army
10.2- Julia Walsh, Holy Cross

Rookie
8.21 – Ava Murphy, Lafayette
8.28 – Aminah Baruwa, Lehigh
9.4- Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette
9.11- Karenna Beckstein, Holy Cross
9.18- Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette
9.25- Kat Slott, Boston University 
10.2- Lailah Stewart, American


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The Patriot League is in its fourth 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.