Army West Point Athletics
Cassalia Named to Preseason All-Patriot League Team
August 07, 2019 | Women's Soccer
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Rising junior goalkeeper Sydney Cassalia of the Army West Point women's soccer team was named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team announced by the league on Tuesday. Also released was the Patriot League Preseason Poll which Army was slated fifth.
Cassalia returns to the Black Knights' squad after being named to the All-Region First Team and All-Patriot League Second Team last season.
"We are very proud of Sydney," said head coach Adrian Blewitt. "She represents our program at the highest level in everything she does and it is an accurate representation that she made the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. We look forward to Sydney and her teammates having a great season."
Cassalia improved upon her impressive rookie campaign by playing all 1,772 minutes of Army's 18 games in 2018, earning nine shutouts. The Omaha, Neb., native boasted a 0.66 goals-against average after allowing just 13 goals, while her 100 saves contributed to an 0.885 save percentage. Additionally, she dished out two assists on the year, becoming the first goalkeeper in program history to record a point. Sydney's first helper came in the season opener at Wagner before a booming punt led to the opening goal in the Star Game at Navy on Oct. 12.
The junior captain made at least six saves on nine occasions, including a personal-best 12 denials against Marshall on Aug. 19. Cassalia put together a scoreless streak of 495:17 over a six-game stretch that included four shutouts and 28 consecutive saves, the longest since Alex Lostetter in 2008.
She became the 11th keeper in program history to clear the century mark for saves and is the first to do it since her sister, Jordan Cassalia, in 2014. She was also the ninth Cadet to post nine or more clean sheets in a season, moving into fifth on the all-time list with 15 career shutouts in 35 games.
Also released was the Patriot League Preseason Poll where Army was slated fifth with 91 points. The top-four was represented by Boston U. (154 points, 12 first-place votes), Colgate (146 points, 6 first-place votes), Navy (136 points, 2 first-place votes) and Lehigh (105 points).
The Black Knights earned a berth to the Patriot League Tournament for the first time last season since 2014 and defeated Navy, 1-0, in double overtime to advance to the Patriot League Semifinals.
The Black Knights open the season with four-straight home games beginning on Aug. 22 against Northern Arizona.
For more information on Army West Point women's soccer, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com and follow @ArmyWP_WSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.
2019 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason All-League Team*
Anna Heilferty, Boston University, Jr., F
Ellis Miller, Colgate, Jr., F
Abby Sotomayor, Colgate, Sr., F
Mara Cosentino, Colgate, Sr., M
Kayla Arestivo, Lehigh, Sr., M
Baseley McClaskey, Navy, Sr., M
Cadie Higginson, Navy, Sr., M
McKenna Kennedy, Boston University, Jr., D
Leah Lewis, Colgate, Sr., D
Dom DeMarco, Colgate, Sr., D
Alex Jackson, Navy, Sr., D
Sydney Cassalia, Army West Point, Jr., GK
*Due to ties at the midfielder and defender positions, there is no non-specific position player.
2019 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Anna Heilferty, Boston University, Jr., F
2019 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Midfielder of the Year: Mara Cosentino, Colgate, Sr., M
2019 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Jackson, Navy, Sr., D
2019 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
Boston University - 154 (12 first-place votes)
Colgate - 146 (6 first-place votes)
Navy - 136 (2 first-place votes)
Lehigh - 105
Army West Point - 91
Bucknell - 91
Loyola Maryland - 71
Holy Cross - 48
American - 38
Lafayette - 20
Cassalia returns to the Black Knights' squad after being named to the All-Region First Team and All-Patriot League Second Team last season.
"We are very proud of Sydney," said head coach Adrian Blewitt. "She represents our program at the highest level in everything she does and it is an accurate representation that she made the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. We look forward to Sydney and her teammates having a great season."
Cassalia improved upon her impressive rookie campaign by playing all 1,772 minutes of Army's 18 games in 2018, earning nine shutouts. The Omaha, Neb., native boasted a 0.66 goals-against average after allowing just 13 goals, while her 100 saves contributed to an 0.885 save percentage. Additionally, she dished out two assists on the year, becoming the first goalkeeper in program history to record a point. Sydney's first helper came in the season opener at Wagner before a booming punt led to the opening goal in the Star Game at Navy on Oct. 12.
The junior captain made at least six saves on nine occasions, including a personal-best 12 denials against Marshall on Aug. 19. Cassalia put together a scoreless streak of 495:17 over a six-game stretch that included four shutouts and 28 consecutive saves, the longest since Alex Lostetter in 2008.
She became the 11th keeper in program history to clear the century mark for saves and is the first to do it since her sister, Jordan Cassalia, in 2014. She was also the ninth Cadet to post nine or more clean sheets in a season, moving into fifth on the all-time list with 15 career shutouts in 35 games.
Also released was the Patriot League Preseason Poll where Army was slated fifth with 91 points. The top-four was represented by Boston U. (154 points, 12 first-place votes), Colgate (146 points, 6 first-place votes), Navy (136 points, 2 first-place votes) and Lehigh (105 points).
The Black Knights earned a berth to the Patriot League Tournament for the first time last season since 2014 and defeated Navy, 1-0, in double overtime to advance to the Patriot League Semifinals.
The Black Knights open the season with four-straight home games beginning on Aug. 22 against Northern Arizona.
For more information on Army West Point women's soccer, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com and follow @ArmyWP_WSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.
2019 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason All-League Team*
Anna Heilferty, Boston University, Jr., F
Ellis Miller, Colgate, Jr., F
Abby Sotomayor, Colgate, Sr., F
Mara Cosentino, Colgate, Sr., M
Kayla Arestivo, Lehigh, Sr., M
Baseley McClaskey, Navy, Sr., M
Cadie Higginson, Navy, Sr., M
McKenna Kennedy, Boston University, Jr., D
Leah Lewis, Colgate, Sr., D
Dom DeMarco, Colgate, Sr., D
Alex Jackson, Navy, Sr., D
Sydney Cassalia, Army West Point, Jr., GK
*Due to ties at the midfielder and defender positions, there is no non-specific position player.
2019 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Anna Heilferty, Boston University, Jr., F
2019 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Midfielder of the Year: Mara Cosentino, Colgate, Sr., M
2019 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Jackson, Navy, Sr., D
2019 Patriot League Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
Boston University - 154 (12 first-place votes)
Colgate - 146 (6 first-place votes)
Navy - 136 (2 first-place votes)
Lehigh - 105
Army West Point - 91
Bucknell - 91
Loyola Maryland - 71
Holy Cross - 48
American - 38
Lafayette - 20
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's SoccerFriday, June 12
Wednesday, May 27
Saturday, May 23
Monday, May 11