BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bucknell received three of this year's six Patriot League Women’s Soccer major awards when the League office announced its postseason honors on Friday afternoon. Army West Point received two honors, and Loyola Maryland received one.
Loyola Maryland senior forward Baylee DeSmit was selected as the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year after leading the League in points (32).
For the third straight season, Bucknell senior midfielder Teresa Deda was named the Patriot League Midfielder of the Year. Bison senior defender Katie Schiano collected Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
Army West Point senior Sage Strohman garnered the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year award, while teammate and freshman Bella Conti earned Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors.
After guiding the Bison to the Patriot League regular-season title and the No. 1 seed, Bucknell head coach Kelly Cook was named Patriot League Coach of the Year for the third time in her career (2015-16, 2024).
Eleven student-athletes were named to both the first and third All-Patriot League teams, while twelve student-athletes made the second team. Army West Point and Boston University led the way with seven All-League selections each, followed by Bucknell with six honorees. Colgate, Lafayette, and Loyola Maryland placed three members on All-League teams, followed by American (2), Lehigh (2) and Navy (1).
The major awards and All-Patriot League teams were voted on by the ten Patriot League women's soccer head coaches, who could not vote for their student-athletes or themselves.
2024 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year
Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Sr., F,
Towson, Md./McDonogh School
*DeSmit, the two-time Patriot League Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Year, finished the regular season leading the Patriot League in points (32), tied for first in goals (14) and game-winning goals (5), while ranking tied for eighth in assists (4).
*A two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week, the senior concluded League play with eight goals and 18 points, ranking second in the Patriot League in both categories.
*In 70 career appearances for the Greyhounds, DeSmit has recorded 34 goals and 20 assists for 88 points.
*DeSmit was selected First Team All-Patriot League in 2022 and 2023 and was a Second-Team honoree in 2021.
2024 Patriot League Midfielder of the Year
Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Jr., M,
New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle
*Deda, the three-time Patriot League Women’s Soccer Midfielder of the Year, led the League in assists (8) and game-winning goals (5), while ranking third in goals (9) and points (26).
*In League play, her five assists and three game-winning goals tied for the lead in the Patriot League, while her 15 points and five goals ranked third.
*In 78 career games, Deda has recorded 81 points on 22 goals and 37 assists.
*Deda was named to the All-Patriot League First Team in 2022 and 2023.
2024 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year
Katie Schiano, Bucknell, Sr., D, New Albany, Ohio/Columbus Academy
*Schiano helped anchor a defensive line that held opponents to a Patriot League-low 0.82 goals per game as Bucknell clinched the top spot in the postseason.
*The New Albany, Ohio native aided in Bucknell’s nine shutouts this year and earned Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honors once during the regular season.
*On the offensive end, the senior tallied three assists for the Bison.
*During her career, Schiano is a two-time All-League selection and earned a spot on the 2023 Patriot League All-Tournament Team.
2024 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year
Sage Strohman, Army West Point, Sr., GK, La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada
*In 17 games this season, Strohman recorded 82 saves for an .828 save percentage and posted a 1.01 goals-against average for the Black Knights.
*A two-time Goalkeeper of the Week, Strohman ranked second in the Patriot League in saves, saves per game (4.82) and tied for second in shutouts (7).
*In 71 career appearances, the La Mirada, Calif. native owns a 34-22-15 record, 286 saves and 26 shutouts, along with a .806 save percentage and a 0.97 goals-against average.
*Strohman was selected Second Team All-Patriot League in 2022 and 2023.
2024 Patriot League Rookie of the Year
Bella Conti, Army West Point, Fr., F, Allentown, N.J./Allentown
*Conti concluded her freshman campaign with four goals and one assist for nine points, starting in 16 contests for the Black Knights.
*The Allentown, N.J. native was a three-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week during the regular season.
2024 Patriot League Coach of the Year
Kelly Cook, Bucknell
*Cook guided the Bison to the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League Women’s Soccer Championship for the first time since 2016, securing the regular-season title.
*Under her leadership, Bucknell finished Patriot League play with a 7-2-0 record.
*Cook holds an overall record of 94-22-16 at Bucknell.
2024 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, Sr., M
Defensive Player of the Year – Katie Schiano, Bucknell, Sr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Sage Strohman, Army West Point, Sr., GK
Rookie of the Year – Bella Conti, Army West Point, Fr., F
Coach of the Year – Kelly Cook, Bucknell
First Team
Kaelan Bradley, Army West Point, Sr., F
Margy Porta, Boston University, Jr., F
Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Sr., F
Alexa Riddle, Navy, Sr., F
Giulianna Gianino, Boston University, Jr., M
Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Sr., M
Ari Bezanson, Colgate, Jr., M
Katie Schiano, Bucknell, Sr., D
Olivia Anderson, Colgate, Sr., D
Zoe Willis, Loyola Maryland, Jr., D
Sage Strohman, Army West Point, Sr., GK
Second Team*
Lailah Stewart, American, So., F
Morgan Fagan, Boston University, Sr., F
Ellie Stokes, Colgate, Jr., F
Alexa Jindal, Lafayette, Sr., F
Brigid Duffy, Army West Point, Jr., M
Mackenzie Stickelman, Boston University, Jr., M
Elizabeth Gallagher, Loyola Maryland, Sr., M
Grace Pohlidal, Army West Point, Fr. M
Keira Vesy, Army West Point, Sr., D
Helene Tyburczy, Boston University, Jr., D
Jess Benattar, Bucknell, Jr., GK
Catherine Apker, Lafayette, So, GK
Third Team
Bella Conti, Army West Point, Fr., F
Katie Connell, Bucknell, Fr., F
Cyndea Labissiere, Lehigh, So., F
Izzy Kadzban, American, Sr., M
Cami Silvestro, Army West Point, Jr., M
Reese Evans, Bucknell, Sr., M
Allison Hanlon, Boston University, Sr., D
Meghan White, Bucknell, Jr., D
Lauren Stewart, Lafayette, Sr., D
Corinne Lyght, Lehigh, Sr., D
Bridget Carr, Boston University, Fr., GK
Note: Student-athletes are listed by positions; then alphabetically by institution
* Due to a tie in voting, there are 12 members on the second 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 who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.