GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) announced its 2017 Women’s Soccer All-Conference Team and Individual Awards Thursday with 33 student-athletes from 10 institutions receiving recognition. All-Conference selections and individual award-winners were determined in a vote by the conference coaches.

Penn State Berks swept all four individual awards, beginning with Caitlin Golden (Lumberton, N.J.) as NEAC Player of the Year. The junior forward leads the NEAC with 55 points on a league-best 22 goals and 11 assists, which ranks third among conference players. Golden has scored at least one goal in 13 contests this season, including three games where she recorded a hat trick. She has started in all 19 games and has tallied at least one goal in each game of the Nittany Lions’ current seven-game win streak. A NEAC All-Conference First Team Selection, Golden also received the final two NEAC Offensive Player of the Week awards of the 2017 season.

Penn State Berks sophomore Megan Jardine (Mohrsville, Pa.) has been named NEAC Defensive Player of the Year as after serving as an instrumental piece in the Nittany Lions’ success thus far. Jardine’s strong play in the midfield was vital in helping Penn State Berks maintain possession and limit opponents’ scoring opportunities. With Jardine controlling the midfield, the Nittany Lions defense surrendered just 12 goals and has allowed only 71 shots on goal. In addition to her defensive contributions, Jardine ranks first in the NEAC with 14 assists and fifth with 40 points.

Penn State Berks forward Melissa Martin (Shillington, Pa.) receives NEAC Rookie of the Year honors after posting solid offensive numbers in her first season. The Nittany Lions sophomore has scored 18 goals and six assists for 42 points in 16 games during her first year of collegiate soccer. Martin has tallied a hat trick in four games and has been credited with three game-winning goals, including two against conference opponents. In NEAC statistical categories, Martin ranks third in points and fifth in goals.

Penn State Berks head coach Adrian Munteanu was selected by his peers as the NEAC Coach of the Year for the second-straight season and fifth time overall. With Munteanu as the helm, the Nittany Lions secured the top seed in the South Division with a 6-0-0 record and went undefeated against NEAC opponents en route to their sixth-straight regular season championship. Munteanu’s squad posted the league’s best numbers in goals (92), assists (76), goals allowed (12), goals-against average (0.62) and shutouts (11). This season, Penn State Berks totaled seven all-conference selections which included five first team honorees.

2017 NEAC Women's Soccer All-Conference Team

No.	Name	Institution	Year	Position	Hometown
First Team
32	Caitlin Golden	Penn State Berks	Jr.	F	Lumberton, N.J.
22	Emily McGuigan	Keuka College	So.	F	Lusby, Md.
18	Danielle Wheeler	Gallaudet University	Fr.	F	San Jose, Calif.
13	Nakeya Stedman*	SUNY Poly	Jr.	F	Sauquoit, N.Y.
5	Megan Jardine	Penn State Berks	So.	M	Mohrsville, Pa.
12	Raegan Horst	Lancaster Bible	Sr.	M	New Holland, Pa.
19	Charlotte Pizzuto	Penn State Berks	So.	M	Readington, N.J.
24	Shelby Baker	Penn State Berks	Sr.	D	Mount Laurel, N.J.
5	Alicia Wittmann	SUNY Poly	Sr.	D	Rome, N.Y.
16	Karina Raykova	Penn State Berks	So.	D	Yardley, Pa.
1	Angela Bartlett	SUNY Poly	Gr.	GK	West Winfield, N.Y.
Second Team
10	Melissa Martin	Penn State Berks	So.	F	Shillington, Pa.
6	Ashley Donat	Penn College	Fr.	F	Lenhartsville, Pa.
8	Shelby Puccio	Bryn Athyn College	So.	F	Southampton, Pa.
13	Kelly Brennan*	Morrisville State College	Jr.	F	Sauquoit, N.Y.
26	Jane Herman	Penn College	Jr.	M	Greencastle, Pa.
15	Casey Watson	Morrisville State College	Fr.	M	Stamford, Conn.
26	Rachel Kumher	Lancaster Bible	Sr.	M	Lancaster, Pa.
17	Jysenia Dunlavey	Keuka College	Fr.	D	Hamburg, N.Y.
4	Francesca Timpone	Penn College	So.	D	Smithtown, N.Y.
2	Maddie Dionne	Lancaster Bible	Jr.	D	Landisville, Pa.
1	Paige Elmy	Penn State Berks	Jr.	GK	Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Third Team
17	Dominique Brown	Penn College	Fr.	F	Benton, Pa.
21	Hailee Hartman	Penn College	Sr.	F	Lampeter, Pa.
9	Brittany Mallach	Gallaudet University	Jr.	F	Milton, Ontario
3	Brittany Waterbury	SUNY Poly	Sr.	M	Remsen, N.Y.
5	Kristen White	Bryn Athyn College	So.	M	Voorhees, N.J.
10	Mackenzie Maloney	Wells College	Jr.	M	Huntington Station, N.Y.
18	McKenna Hungerford*	SUNY Poly	Sr.	M	Morris, N.Y.
19	Brieca Beck	Penn College	So.	D	Lancaster, Pa.
14	Greta Sheridan	Penn State Abington	Sr.	D	Horsham, Pa.
19	Gianna Ciacciarelli	Bryn Athyn College	So.	D	Howell, N.J.
0	Taylor Gonzalez	Penn College	Fr.	GK	Lititz, Pa.

* Denotes At-Large Selection

 

**********************************************************************************************************************************************

The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has fourteen NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cazenovia College, College of St. Elizabeth, Gallaudet University, Keuka College, Lancaster Bible College, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Pennsylvania State University – Abington, Pennsylvania State University – Berks, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Morrisville State College, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Wells College, and Wilson College.  Associate members are: Cedar Crest College (W Swimming), D’Youville College (M Volleyball), Hilbert College (M&W Lacrosse, M Volleyball), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse, M Volleyball), Pennsylvania State University – Altoona (M Volleyball), and Rutgers University – Camden (M Golf). The NEAC has partnered with the North Atlantic Conference in the sports of field hockey and men’s tennis. For more information, please visit: www.neacsports.com.