BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Boston University received two of the five Patriot League women’s soccer weekly awards when the League office announced the honors on Monday. Bucknell, Lafayette and Navy each collected an honor.
The Patriot League women’s soccer players of the week are selected in a vote by League head coaches, who are not eligible to vote for their student-athletes.
Patriot League Women’s Soccer Forward of the Week
Jessica Black, Navy, So., Forward, Cedaredge, Colo./Cedaredge
*Black played a pivotal role in Navy’s first Patriot League win as the sophomore assisted on both Mids’ second half goals in the 3-1 victory over Colgate.
*The Cedaredge, Colo. native connected with Graziano’s go-ahead goal in the 65th minute, before assisting on Sofia Grundy’s goal in the 68th minute.
*Black is tied for second in the Patriot League in assists (3) and tied for fifth in points (9).
Patriot League Women’s Soccer Midfielder & Rookie of the Week
Sam Ryan, Boston University, Fr., Midfielder, Duvall, Wash./Eastside Prep
*Ryan scored the game-winning goal in the 62nd minute of Boston University’s 1-0 victory at Loyola Maryland on Saturday.
*The freshman has scored two goals while playing the full 90 minutes in five of her 11 appearances this year, all starts.
Patriot League Women’s Soccer Defender of the Week
Emma Gavin, Bucknell, So., Defender, Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames
*Gavin turned in a strong 90-minute effort as Bucknell kept a clean sheet in a scoreless draw with Holy Cross on Saturday.
*The Bison defense held the Crusaders to only three shots on target all day and has now allowed only one goal over the last three games.
Patriot League Women’s Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week
Catherine Apker, Lafayette, Sr., Goalkeeper, Homer, N.Y./Homer
*Apker made five saves to record her fourth clean sheet of the season in Lafayette’s 1-0 win over American on Saturday.
*The senior leads the Patriot League in save percentage (.846) and shutouts (4), while ranking second in goals-against average (1.00) and saves per game (5.50).
Honorable Mentions
Bella Conti, Army West Point, Jr., Forward, Allentown, N.J./Allentown
*Conti delivered the insurance goal in Army West Point's 2-0 win over Lehigh, converting a penalty kick in the 56th minute.
*The junior ranks tied for 14th in the Patriot League with five points on two goals and one assist.
Maddie Woodward, Army West Point, Sr., Midfielder, Macungie, Pa./Emmaus
*Woodward was the catalyst in Army West Point's 2-0 win over Lehigh, scoring the game's opening goal in the 14th minute on a putback after her initial shot was saved.
*The senior ranks tied for 14th in the Patriot League with five points on two goals and one assist.
Bridget Carr, Boston University, Jr., Goalkeeper, Wychoff, N.J./Ramapo
*Carr tallied her first clean sheet of the season with three saves in Boston University’s 1-0 victory at Loyola Maryland on Saturday.
*The junior has now won three consecutive matches while improving to 13-0-6 all-time against Patriot League opponents in the regular season.
Sarah McFarland, Bucknell, Fr., Goalkeeper, Middletown, Del./Middletown
*McFarland made three saves against Holy Cross on Saturday on her way to her fourth shutout of the season.
*The freshman is tied for the Patriot League lead in shutouts (4) and ranks fourth in goals-against average (1.30).
Antriana Mila, Holy Cross, Jr., Goalkeeper, Larnaca, Cyprus/Saint George Lyceum
*Mila posted her fourth shutout of the season and made three saves in Holy Cross’ 0-0 draw with Bucknell.
*The junior is tied for the Patriot League lead in shutouts (4), ranks third in goals-against average (1.10) and fourth in save percentage (.771).
Mary Sommer, Holy Cross, Sr., Defender, Ellicott City, Md./Notre Dame Prep
*Sommer helped Holy Cross limit Bucknell to eight shots, with three coming on goal, in a 0-0 draw Saturday on the road.
Eva Acker, Lafayette, Sr., Defender, Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral
*Acker anchored Lafayette’s defense in a 1-0 win over American on Saturday, helping the Leopards improve to 2-0 in League play.
Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette, Sr., Midfielder, Ellington, Conn./Ellington
*Zaffanella scored the game-winning goal in the 71st minute of Lafayette’s 1-0 victory over American as the senior converted a penalty kick.
*The Ellington, Conn. native is tied for second in the Patriot League in game-winning goals (2) as well as tied for fourth in points (9) and goals (4).
Stella Jones, Navy, Fr., Midfielder, Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny
*Jones put Navy ahead 1-0 in the 7th minute with her second goal of the season as the freshman logged 46 minutes in the Mids’ 3-1 win over Colgate.
2026 Patriot League Women’s Soccer Standings (as of Sept. 28)
ONLINE SCHEDULE | ONLINE STATS
Forward of the Week
8.17 – Jaiden Schultz, Boston University, Jr., F
8.24 – Presley Sutter, Bucknell, Jr., F
8.31 – Abigail Cushing, Holy Cross, Sr., F
9.7 – Chiara Cosenza, Navy, Sr., F
9.14 – Sophia Henry, Army West Point, So., F
9.21 – Kamryn McWhinney, Army West Point, Fr., F
9.28 – Jessica Black, Navy, So., F
Midfielder of the Week
8.17 – Reagan Mallia, Loyola Maryland, Gr., M
8.24 – Sam Halligan, Holy Cross, 5th Year, M
8.31 – Kayana Adlam, Navy, Jr., M
9.7 – Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette, Sr., M
9.14 – Grace Pohlidal, Army West Point, Jr., M
9.21 – Louisa Thomsen, Bucknell, Jr., M
9.28 – Sam Ryan, Boston University, Fr., M
Defender of the Week
8.17 – Geneve Pouliot, Loyola Maryland, Fr., D
8.24 – Ailyn Rowe, Army West Point, So., D
8.31 – Sofia Scalise, Holy Cross, Sr., D
9.7 – Karenna Beckstein, Holy Cross, Sr., D
9.14 – Clare Nemsick, Bucknell, Fr., D
9.21 – Daisy West, Army West Point, Jr., D
9.28 – Emma Gavin, Bucknell, So., D
Goalkeeper of the Week
8.17 – Hannah Goetzer, Loyola Maryland, Sr., GK
8.24 – Antriana Mila, Holy Cross, Jr., GK
8.31 – Natasha Stramrood, Navy, Jr., GK
9.7 – Antriana Mila, Holy Cross, Jr., GK
9.14 – Sarah McFarland, Bucknell, Fr., GK
9.21 – Karalyn Dail, Army West Point, Jr., GK
9.28 – Catherine Apker, Lafayette, Sr., GK
Rookie of the Week
8.17 – Ingrid Murphy, Bucknell, Fr., M
8.24 – Kamryn McWhinney, Army West Point, Fr., M
8.31 – Stella Jones, Navy, Fr., M
9.7 – Francesca Curatolo, Loyola Maryland, Fr., D
9.14 – Sarah McFarland, Bucknell, Fr., GK
9.21 – Kamryn McWhinney, Army West Point, Fr., F
9.28 – Sam Ryan, Boston University, Fr., M
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.