West Babylon, N.Y. – The East Coast Conference announced its Women's Soccer All-Conference honors on Friday afternoon. Molloy standouts Lexi Verni (Patchogue, N.Y.) and Jackie Carty (East Islip, N.Y.Soc) claimed the Offensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Year awards, while Mercy’s Sydney Cooper (Long Beach, Calif.) was named Defensive Player of the Year and Daemen’s Alyssa Diaz (Rochester, N.Y.) claimed the ECC Rookie of the Year honor.
Verni and Carty played a huge role in leading Molloy to a 15-2 regular season record and the program’s first-ever ECC Regular Season Championship. Verni was honored as the league’s Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference with 12 goals, 26 points, and five game-winning goals. Her totals rank among the best in all of Division II as well. She ranks 23rd in goals and 13th in game-winning goals.
Carty’s play helped the Lions field one of the stingiest defenses in all of Division II. The two-time ECC Defensive Player of the Week led the ECC in nearly all statistical categories for goalkeepers. Among the columns she led include wins (12), shutouts (9), goals against average (0.52), and save percentage (.869). In addition, her shutout, save percentage, and goals against average marks all rank within the top-20 in the country.
Cooper was another of the ECC’s defensive standouts as an anchor of Mercy’s back line. Her lock down defense helped the Mavericks concede only 10 goals in 16 games for a goals against average of 0.59, good for second in the ECC and 24th in all of Division II. Cooper also contributed with one goal and two assists for four points on the season.
Diaz made an immediate impact in her first season with the Wildcats. The two-time ECC Rookie of the Week tallied six goals, four assists, and 16 points on the season. Five of her six goals and all four assists came during ECC play, leaving all goals, assists, and points totals among the top four in conference-only statistics.
Mercy’s Danny Leon, Jr. rounds out the major award winners as his peers selected him as the ECC Coach of the Year. Leon earned the honor after leading the Mavericks to a share of the ECC Regular Season Championship with an 8-1 mark in conference play.
2021 ECC Women's Soccer All-Conference
First Team
F - Alyssa Diaz, Fr., Daemen
F - Dana Poetzsch, Sr., Molloy
F - Lexi Verni, Jr., Molloy
M - Nikk Bermudez, Gr., Mercy
M - Annie Coogan, Jr., Molloy
M - Tatyjana Scalisi, Jr., Daemen
M - Eleni Sofroniou, So., Molloy
B - Sydney Cooper, Sr., Mercy
B - Skyler Schwenkler, So., Mercy
B - Sarah Tappeto, So., Molloy
GK - Jackie Carty, Sr., Molloy
Second Team
F - Amandajane Fuchs-White, Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas
F - Leigh-Ann Ramsay, Jr., Bridgeport
F - Abigail Sindoni, So., Roberts Wesleyan
M - Gabrielle Ciambella, So., Roberts Wesleyan
M - Sam Hanes, Gr., Daemen
M - Anisha Hill, Sr., Bridgeport
M - Olivia Pousette, Fr., Bridgeport
M - Grace Stranahan, Sr., Daemen
B - Sabrina Bell, Jr., Molloy
B - Julia Eichel, Jr., Daemen
B - Baylin Tighe, Fr., Daemen
GK - Melissa Torres, Sr., Mercy
Third Team
F - Jacklyn Diel, Fr., Queens
F - Nadia Evola, Fr., Staten Island
F - Julia Ragone, Fr., Queens
F - Sydney Regan, Sr., Roberts Wesleyan
M - Angelina LoFranco, Fr., Bridgeport
M - Parker Moss, Fr., Lincoln
M - Marina Pappas, So., Queens
M - Samantha St. Pierre, So., Bridgeport
B - Joanna Mauceri, So., Molloy
B - Makenzie Muoio, Sr., Roberts Wesleyan
B - Felicia Svensson, Fr., Bridgeport
GK - Tori DeLappi, Jr., Daemen
GK - Clara Karlsson, Fr., Bridgeport
Offensive Player of the Year: Lexi Verni, Molloy
Defensive Player of the Year: Sydney Cooper, Mercy
Goalkeeper of the Year: Jackie Carty, Molloy
Rookie of the Year: Alyssa Diaz, Daemen
Coach of the Year: Danny Leon, Jr., Mercy
