BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Kasey Ricard, who graduated magna cum laude from Boston University in May, was voted the 2026 Patriot League Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year when the League office announced the honor. Ricard is a three-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Year and two-time Patriot League Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The Littleton, Mass., native obtained her bachelor’s degree in health science/biology with a 3.90 cumulative GPA. The three-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Year and two-time Patriot League Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year led NCAA Division I with 33 wins and 13 shutouts from the circle, posting a 3.07 ERA. She recorded 107 career wins, first among all active NCAA softball players.
“Excellence on the field and excellence in the classroom were never separate goals for Kasey,” Boston University softball head coach Ashley Waters said. "She was relentless in her pursuit of greatness in everything she did. The milestones, the records and the awards were destined to happen with her unwavering dedication and discipline. Being named the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year to end her collegiate career is the perfect ending to a storybook career. Her journey of academic achievement with athletic brilliance will be remembered long after her last pitch. I am incredibly honored and grateful I had the opportunity to coach such an incredible human being.”
Ricard is the fourth Terrier women’s student-athlete to claim the prestigious League award, joining Vera Sjöberg (cross country/indoor and outdoor track and field, 2025), Caitlin Coker (softball, 2023) and Allison Barwise (outdoor track and field, 2014). She is also the third softball student-athlete to earn the honor, with former teammate Coker and Bucknell’s Lauren Wible in 2005.
Voting for the Patriot League Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year was conducted by the athletics communications staff from each of the League’s member institutions.
2025-26 Patriot League Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., Softball, Littleton, Mass./Littleton
*Ricard guided the Terriers to a 2026 Patriot League Softball Championship, earning her second Patriot League Tournament MVP honor.
*The two-time Patriot League Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and three-time Academic All-League selection earned her bachelor’s degree in health science/biology, finishing with a cumulative GPA of 3.90.
*The three-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Year and four-time First Team All-Patriot League honoree set League career records for wins (107), strikeouts (933) and shutouts (42).
*Ricard has worked as a patient care technician at Tufts Medical Center after serving as a mobility intern at Boston Medical Center in the fall.
*The Littleton, Mass. native signed with the Kansas City Diamonds of the new Professional Softball League (PSL).
Student-athletes eligible for the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 and be a starter or key player in their sport. Freshmen or student-athletes in their first academic year at their respective institutions are not eligible for this honor.
The Patriot League Women’s and Men’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year is presented annually. The Patriot League Men’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be announced on Wednesday, June 24. The candidates for these honors are comprised of student-athletes selected as the scholar-athlete of the year in their respective sports. For the 2025-26 academic year, there were 22 different candidates from 24 Patriot League sports.
Each sport-specific Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winner is eligible to collect the end-of-the-year honor. The 2025-26 women’s field included Laura Fern Jones (Navy women’s rowing), Raffi Fragomeni (Lafayette field hockey), Giulianna Gianino (Boston University women’s soccer), Emma Gu (Navy women’s tennis), Amy Han (Boston University women’s golf), Teresa Kiewiet (Lafayette women’s basketball), Madison McCartney (Lehigh women’s volleyball), Peace Omonzane (Boston University women’s indoor and outdoor track and field), Morgan Quade (Loyola Maryland women’s lacrosse), Charlotte Richman (Army West Point women’s cross country) and Molly Webber (Army West Point women’s swimming and diving).
Patriot League Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honorees
| Year |
Female Scholar-Athlete |
Sport |
Cl. |
GPA |
Major |
| 1992 |
Lauren Gubicza, Fordham |
Cross Country/Track and Field |
Jr. |
3.93 |
Accounting |
| 1993 |
Lauren Gubicza, Fordham |
Cross Country/Track and Field |
Sr. |
3.61 |
Accounting |
| 1994 |
Jen Smith, Colgate |
Basketball |
Jr. |
4.02 |
History/Psychology |
| 1995 |
Jen Smith, Colgate |
Basketball |
Sr. |
3.98 |
History/Psychology |
| 1996 |
Jill Altshuler, Lehigh |
Lacrosse |
Sr. |
3.80 |
Psychology |
| 1997 |
Kathy Courtney, Holy Cross |
Basketball |
Sr. |
3.86 |
Mathematics |
| 1998 |
Amy O'Brien, Holy Cross |
Basketball |
Jr. |
3.43 |
Psychology/Spanish |
| 1999 |
Nicole Aunapu, Navy |
Soccer |
Sr. |
3.87 |
Mech. Engineering |
| 2000 |
Lori Houck, Bucknell |
Basketball |
Sr. |
3.60 |
Accounting |
| 2001 |
Alison Fisher, Lafayette |
Field Hockey/Lacrosse |
Sr. |
3.59 |
Biology |
| Becki Marshall, Bucknell |
Cross Country/Track and Field |
Jr. |
3.75 |
Civil Engineering |
| 2002 |
Kate Macfarlane, Navy |
Soccer |
Sr. |
3.92 |
Mathematics |
| 2003 |
Karla Kucerkova, American |
Volleyball |
Jr. |
3.98 |
Bus. Admin./Finance |
| 2004 |
Karla Kucerkova, American |
Volleyball |
Sr. |
4.00 |
Bus. Admin./Finance |
| 2005 |
Lauren Wible, Bucknell |
Softball |
Jr. |
3.76 |
English |
| 2006 |
Julie Jorgensen, Army |
Soccer |
Sr. |
4.21 |
Mathematics |
| 2007 |
Kirsten Andrews, Navy |
Track & Field |
Sr. |
3.91 |
Quantitative Economics |
| 2008 |
Kelly Zahalka, Navy |
Swimming & Diving |
Jr. |
4.00 |
Honors History |
| 2009 |
Lizzie Barnes, Navy |
Soccer |
Sr. |
3.90 |
Computer Science |
| 2010 |
Beth Reed, Navy |
Soccer |
Sr. |
3.95 |
Mech. Engineering |
| 2011 |
Elise DeRoo, Colgate |
Cross Country/Track & Field |
Jr. |
3.93 |
Molecular Biology |
| 2012 |
Elise DeRoo, Colgate |
Cross Country |
Sr. |
3.97 |
Molecular Biology |
| 2013 |
Brigid Byrne, Navy |
Outdoor Track & Field/Cross Country |
Sr. |
3.83 |
English |
| 2014 |
Allison Barwise, Boston U. |
Outdoor Track & Field |
Gr. |
3.85 |
Speech-Lang. Pathology |
| 2015 |
Jen Dumiak, American |
Basketball |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Mathematics |
| 2016 |
Ellen Bradford, Navy |
Swimming &Diving |
Sr. |
4.00 |
Honors Systems Eng. |
| 2017 |
Natalie Konerth, American |
Field Hockey |
Sr. |
4.00 |
Applied Mathematics |
| 2018 |
Christine Bendzinski, Bucknell |
Cross Country/Track & Field |
Sr. |
3.84 |
Cell Bio/Biochemistry |
| 2019 |
Kristen Yanchoris, Loyola |
Women’s Lacrosse |
Sr. |
3.97 |
Bus. Admin/Marketing |
| 2020 |
Not Awarded |
Due to COVID-19 Pandemic |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2021 |
Elli Kluegel, Loyola |
Women’s Lacrosse |
Sr. |
4.00 |
Biology |
| 2022 |
Elli Kluegel, Loyola |
Women’s Lacrosse |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Emerging Media |
| 2023 |
Caitlin Coker, Boston U. |
Softball |
Sr. |
3.87 |
Biology |
| 2024 |
Annie Taylor, Navy |
Outdoor Track & Field |
Sr. |
4.00 |
Mathematics |
| 2025 |
Vera Sjöberg, Boston U. |
Cross Country/Indoor Track & Field/Outdoor Track & Field |
Jr. |
3.97 |
English |
| 2026 |
Kasey Ricard, Boston U. |
Softball |
Sr. |
3.90 |
Health Science/Biology |
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.