BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bucknell tallied two of this year's six women's soccer major awards when the League office announced its postseason honors on Friday afternoon. Army West Point, Lafayette, Lehigh, and Loyola Maryland all recorded one apiece.
Bucknell junior midfielder Teresa Deda was named midfielder of the year, while teammate senior Jenna Hall earned goalkeeper of the year honors. Both student-athletes earned their respective awards for the second straight year.
Loyola junior forward Baylee DeSmit collected Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. Lehigh fifth-year defender Ryelle Shuey was named defensive player of the year, while rookie of the year honors went to Lafayette freshman Nadia Zaffanella.
After guiding the Black Knights to their second-straight Patriot League regular-season title, Army head coach Tracy Chao was named coach of the year.
Eleven student-athletes were named to both the first- and second All-Patriot League teams. Thirteen student-athletes made the third team. Army and Boston University led the way with six all-League selections each, followed by Bucknell and Lehigh with five apiece. Navy placed four members on the three all-League teams. American and Loyola Maryland had three, followed by Colgate (2), Holy Cross (1) and Lafayette (1).
The major awards and All-Patriot League teams were voted on by the 10 Patriot League women's soccer head coaches, who could not vote for their student-athletes or themselves.
2023 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year
Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Jr., F,
Towson, Md./McDonogh School
* DeSmit capped the regular season, leading the Patriot League in goals (10) and points (28) and finishing second in assists (8).
* The two-time Patriot League Midfielder of the Week finished with six goals and 16 points in League play to lead the Patriot League in both categories.
* In 16 career appearances for Loyola, DeSmit has scored 20 goals and dished out 16 assists for 56 points.
* DeSmit was named First Team All-Patriot League in 2022 and a second-team honoree in 2021.
2023 Patriot League Midfielder of the Year
Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Jr., M,
New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle
* Deda, the two-time Patriot League Women's Soccer Midfielder of the Year, led the League in assists (9) and was second in goals (7) and points (23).
* In League play, her five assists led the Patriot League, while her nine points were tied for sixth.
* In 58 career games, Deda has tallied 11 goals and 29 assists for 51 points.
* Deda was named to the All-Patriot League First Team in 2022.
2023 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year
Ryelle Shuey, Lehigh, 5th, D, Schaefferstown, Pa./Eastern Lebanon County
* Shuey helped back a defensive line that held opponents to 1.00 goals per game as Lehigh earned a spot in the postseason.
* The defender aided in Lehigh's five shutouts on the year.
* On the offensive end, Shuey scored five goals for 10 points for the Mountain Hawks.
* During her career, Shuey is a three-time All-League selection and a spot on the 2022 Patriot League All-Tournament Team.
2023 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year
Jenna Hall, Bucknell, Sr., GK, Huger, S.C./Miss Porter's School (Conn.)
* In 18 games this season, Hall recorded 110 saves for a .853 save percentage and posted a 1.06 goals-against average for the Bison.
* The two-time goalkeeper of the year honoree's save percentage, total saves and saves per game (6.11) rank first in the League this season.
* In 63 career appearances, the senior owns a 28-16-15 record, 322 saves, and 25 shutouts, to go along with a .843 save percentage and a 0.99 goals-against average.
* Hall is a three-time All-League and two-time Patriot League All-Tournament selection.
2023 Patriot League Rookie of the Year
Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette, Fr., M, Ellington, Conn./Ellington
* Zaffanella finished her freshman season with five goals and two assists for 12 points as she appeared in 16 contests.
* The two-time rookie of the week's five goals and 12 points are good for first on the team.
2023 Patriot League Coach of the Year
Tracy Chao, Army West Point
* Chao led the Black Knights to the No. 1 seed of the Patriot League Women's Soccer Championship and the regular season title for the second straight year.
* Under her leadership, Army finished Patriot League play with a 6-1-2 record.
* Chao holds an overall record of 29-20-13 at Army.
2023 Women's Soccer All-Patriot League and Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Jr., F
Midfielder of the Year – Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Jr., M
Defensive Player of the Year – Ryelle Shuey, Lehigh, 5th, D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Jenna Hall, Bucknell, Sr., GK
Rookie of the Year – Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette, Fr., F
Coach of the Year – Tracy Chao, Army West Point
First Team
Kaelan Bradley, Army West Point, Jr., F
Abby McNulty, Boston University, Sr., F
Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Jr., F
Brigid Duffy, Army West Point, So., M
Giulianna Gianino, Boston University, So., M
Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Jr., M
Ari Bezanson, Colgate, So., M
Brooke Tracey, Bucknell, Sr., D
Ryelle Shuey, Lehigh, 5th., D
Alex Searing, Loyola Maryland, Gr., D
Jenna Hall, Bucknell, Sr., GK
Second Team
Natalie Godoy, Boston University, So., F
Henna Andican, Bucknell, So., F
Corinne Lyght, Lehigh, Jr., F
Alexa Riddle, Navy, Jr., F
Faith Dobosiewicz, Lehigh, Jr., M
Elizabeth Gallagher, Loyola Maryland, Jr., M
Katie Herrmann, Navy, Sr., M
Sydney Bedner, Army West Point, Sr., D
Katie Schiano, Bucknell, Jr., D
Olivia Anderson, Colgate, Jr., D
Sage Strohman, Army West Point, Jr., GK
Third Team*
Izzy Kadzban, American, Sr., F
Madison Niebish, Army West Point, Sr., F
Morgan Fagan, Boston University, Jr., F
Paige Temple, Bucknell, Jr., F
Sara Oswald, Lafayette, Sr., F
Cami Silvestro, Army West Point, So., M
Mackenzie Stickelman, Boston University, So., M
Delaney DeMartino, Loyola Maryland, So., M
Jordan Follenweider, Army West Point, So., D
Keira Vesy, Army West Point, Jr., D
Cerys Balmer, Holy Cross, Sr., D
Rory Schauder, Lafayette, Sr., D
Celia Braun, Boston University, Jr., GK
Note: Student-athletes are listed by positions; then alphabetically by institution
* Due to a tie in voting, there are 13 members on the third team.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
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.