BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Army West Point women’s soccer team received the top spot in the 2024 Patriot League Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll, with Black Knights’ senior Sage Strohman capturing preseason goalkeeper of the year when the League office announced preseason honors.
The Black Knights collected 155 points and 13 first-place votes while three-time defending champion Bucknell received 139 points and five first-place votes. Boston University finished third with 136 and the remaining two first-place votes, while Loyola Maryland (110) and Lehigh (95) rounded out the top five. Navy (79), Colgate (73), Lafayette (47), American (39) and Holy Cross (27) completed the women’s soccer preseason poll.
Loyola Maryland senior forward Baylee DeSmit was voted 2024 Patriot League Women’s Soccer Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. DeSmit, the 2023 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, led the League with 10 goals and 28 points while ranking second in the League with eight assists.
Bucknell senior Teresa Deda, the two-time defending Patriot League Midfielder of the Year, earned the 2024 preseason honor after leading the League in assists (9) and placing second in goals (7) and points (23) last season. Bison senior teammate Katie Schiano claimed 2024 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after earning second-team All-League honors in 2023.
The Black Knights’ Strohman earned preseason goalkeeper of the year recognition after being selected second-team All-League last season and helping Army West Point advance to the League title game.
Army West Point placed a League-high four student-athletes on the preseason All-League squad, with Boston University and Bucknell placing three and two players on the team, respectively. Colgate, Loyola Maryland and Navy are each represented by one student-athlete on the 12-member preseason team.
Voting for the Preseason All-Patriot League Women’s Soccer Team, major awards, and the preseason poll was completed by Patriot League women’s soccer head coaches and sports information directors from the 10 League schools. They cannot vote for their team or student-athletes.
2024 Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Sr., M, Towson, Md./McDonogh School
2023 Stats: 17 GP, 10 goals, 8 assists, 28 points
*DeSmit was named the 2023 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Patriot League in goals (10) and points (28).
*For the second consecutive season, she received first-team All-League honors after finishing with six goals and 16 points in League play.
*The two-time Patriot League Midfielder of the Week finished the season among the League leaders in assists per game (.47), points per game (1.65) and goals per game (.588).
*DeSmit contributed to Loyola Maryland’s seven-game win streak, tallying at least one point in seven straight games. She also recorded three games with two goals, all wins.
2024 Patriot League Preseason Midfielder of the Year
Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Sr., M, New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle
2023 Stats: 19 GP, 9 goals, 9 assists, 27 points
*She was named the 2023 Patriot League Midfielder of the Year for the second year in a row, becoming the first player to win the award twice since it was established in 2011.
*For the third straight season, she received first-team All-League honors and a spot on the Patriot League All-Tournament Team after leading the League in assists (9).
*Helped Bucknell to a third straight League title, leading the team and ranking second in the League with 27 points in 19 matches. She finished 12th in NCAA DI in shots per game (4.11).
*Deda earned United Soccer Coaches First Team All-North region honors.
2024 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Kate Schiano, Bucknell, Sr., D, New Albany, Ohio/Columbus Academy
2023 Stats: 21 GP, 1 goal, 4 assists, 6 points
*Schiano started all 21 games for the Bison, earning Second Team All-Patriot League honors.
*She garnered a spot on the Patriot League All-Tournament team en route to a third straight League title.
*The New Albany, Ohio native was part of a back line that kept nine clean sheets, including a 110-minute shutout against Army West Point in the Patriot League Championship Game.
*Contributed one goal and four assists while playing more than 90 minutes 14 times during the 2023 season.
2024 Patriot League Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Sage Strohman, Army West Point, Sr., GK, La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada
2023 Stats: 20 GP, 76 saves, .89 goals allowed per game, 10 wins
*Strohman anchored the team with 10 wins, helping earn Second Team All-Patriot League honors for the second year in a row.
*She finished the 2023 season as the Patriot League leader in goals-against average (0.89), shutouts per game (.450), and second in save percentage (.809).
*Strohman helped Army West Point to the Patriot League Championship Game against Bucknell, where she made seven saves to shut out the Bison through 110 minutes.
*The La Mirada, Calif. native did not allow a goal in 200 minutes through two games at the 2023 Patriot League Women’s Soccer Championship.
2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Women’s Soccer by the Numbers (2023 Stats)
Overall, 11 of the 12 Preseason All-Patriot League Women’s Soccer honorees were selected to one of the three 2023 All-League teams. DeSmit, Deda, Army West Point’s Kaelan Bradley (Sr., F) and Brigid Duffy (Jr., M) and Boston University’s Giulianna Gianino (Jr., M) were all 2023 first-team selections.
Schiano, Strohman, Boston University’s Natalie Godoy (Jr., F), Colgate’s Olivia Anderson (Sr., D) and Navy’s Alexa Riddle (Sr., F) earned spots on the 2023 second team, while the Black Knights’ Keira Vesy (Sr., D) made the third team.
Preseason All-Patriot League Women’s Soccer by Class
The 2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Women’s Soccer squad is heavy on experience. Nine members of the preseason team are entering their senior seasons. The remaining three preseason honorees are juniors.
2024 Patriot League Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point, 155 points (13 first-place votes)
2. Bucknell, 139 (5 first-place votes)
3. Boston University, 136 (2 first-place votes)
4. Loyola Maryland, 110
5. Lehigh, 95
6. Navy, 79
7. Colgate, 73
8. Lafayette, 47
9. American, 39
10. Holy Cross, 27
2024 Patriot League Preseason Women’s Soccer Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Sr.
Midfielder Player of the Year – Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year – Katie Schiano, Bucknell, Sr.
Goalkeeper of the Year – Sage Strohman, Army West Point, Sr.
2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Women’s Soccer Team*
Kaelan Bradley, Army West Point, Sr., F
Natalie Godoy, Boston University, Jr., F
Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Sr., F
Alexa Riddle, Navy, Sr., F
Brigid Duffy, Army West Point, Jr., M
Giulianna Gianino, Boston University, Jr., M
Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Sr., M
Keira Vesy, Army West Point, Sr., D
Eileen Solomon, Boston University, Sr., D
Katie Schiano, Bucknell, Sr., D
Olivia Anderson, Colgate, Sr., D
Sage Strohman, Army West Point, Sr., GK
*Additional student-athletes named to the team due to ties in the voting
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.