Army West Point Athletics
Johns, Padon and Cassalia Dominate Postseason Patriot League Honors
April 13, 2021 | Women's Soccer
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point women's soccer won three-of-six major Patriot League Postseason honors, as Erynn Johns was named Offensive Player of the Year, Mia Padon was named Defensive Player of the Year and Sydney Cassalia was named Goalkeeper of the Year, it was announced today by the conference office.
The Black Knights also led the conference with four First Team All-Patriot League honors, as Johns, Padon and Cassalia were joined by sophomore midfielder Lauren Drysdale on the first team.
Three Black Knights earned Third Team All-Patriot League honors, with Elise Urkov, Emily Torres and Morgan Walsh all earning third team selections.
Overall, the Black Knights' seven selections were tied with Loyola for the most postseason honorees.
Johns became the first Black Knight to earn Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year since Holly Pedley earned the honor in 1997. Overall, the Austin, Texas, native is just the third Black Knight to earn the honor after capping the 2021 spring season with two goals and one assist for a team-leading five points.
"Erynn was one of our biggest threats in creating chances," said first-year head coach Tracy Chao. "She was fantastic in not only utilizing her physicality and pace in 1v1 situations but created even more dangerous opportunities for herself and the team with her ability to read the space ahead. Erynn's work rate is excellent, and even more so, her character on and off the field is exceptional."
Padon, a senior from Spokane, Wash., became the first Black Knight since Molly McGuigan was named Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons in 2010 and 2011. Overall, she is just the third Black Knight to earn the honor, as Lauren Rowe was the first Black Knight to do so in 2002.
On Padon, Chao said, "Mia has been an absolute warrior for us in our backline. She is a selfless leader and truly was an unsung hero throughout the spring in playing every second of every match as we only conceded two goals in five matches. Mia has an undeniable grit and relentlessness as a defender that proved that she was tough to beat."
Rounding out the three major award winners for the Black Knights was goalkeeper Sydney Cassalia, who is earning Goalkeeper of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons after also earning the honor for the 2019 season. A candidate for the Senior CLASS Award as a standout in the classroom as well as the pitch, Cassalia is the second Black Knight to earn the honor, following Rebecca Garcia in 2005.
"Syd has continued to show her consistency between the posts," said Chao. "She immediately establishes a major presence on the field with her technical ability on the ball in our build up and assertiveness to direct, lead and organize. Syd's physical traits combined with being a natural born leader were truly evident for us and certainly influential in our successes this spring."
2020-21 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year
Erynn Johns, Army West Point, Sr., F, Austin, Texas/Texas Rush
* Johns capped the regular season with two goals and one assist for a team-leading five points.
* The senior was named offensive player of the week on March 23 when she scored a career-best two goals in a 5-0 victory at American, to go along with one assist.
* In 56 career appearances for Army, Johns has scored nine goals and dished out 10 assists for 28 points.
* Johns was named to the Patriot League Women's Soccer All-Tournament team in 2018 and 2019.
2020-21 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year
Mia Padon, Army West Point, Sr., D, Spokane, Wash./Spokane Sounders
* Padon helped back the defense which held opponents to 0.40 goals per game as Army went 2-1 in the North Division.
* The senior defender aided in the Cadets' three shutouts on the year.
2020-21 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year
Sydney Cassalia, Army West Point, Sr., GK, Omaha, Neb./Elite Academy
* In four games in goal this season, Cassalia collected 13 saves for a .929 save percentage and posted a 0.24 goals-against average for the Black Knights.
* The senior owns a 23-25-13 record, 254 saves and 25 shutouts, to go with a .724 save percentage and a 1.03 goals-against average in 61 career appearances.
* Cassalia was named the goalkeeper of the year in 2019, while earning US Soccer Coaches' All-North Region Second Team laurels.
* Cassalia was the preseason pick for Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year
* Finished her career with 25 shutouts, good for second-most in program history and tying her for seventh-most in Patriot League history.
* Finished her career with the fourth-most goalie minutes played in program history.
2020-21 Patriot League Spring Women's Soccer Major Awards & All-Patriot League Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Erynn Johns, Army West Point, Sr., F
Midfielder of the Year: Victoria Tran, Navy, Jr., M
Defensive Player of the Year: Mia Padon, Army West Point, Sr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year: Sydney Cassalia, Army West Point, Sr., GK
Rookie of the Year: Chloe Dawson, Navy, Fr., D
Coach of the Year: Carin Gabarra, Navy
First Team All-Patriot League
Erynn Johns, Army West Point, Sr., F
Jenna Oldham, Boston University, Jr., F
Ada Clare Tempert, Loyola Maryland, So., F
Lauren Drysdale, Army West Point, So., M
Hannah Pinkus, Colgate, Jr., M
Sophie Saldivar, Lafayette. Sr., M
Victoria Tran, Navy, Jr., M
Mia Padon, Army West Point, Sr., D
Claire Beath, Loyola Maryland, Sr., D
Avery Fries, Navy, Jr., D
Sydney Cassalia, Army West Point, Sr., GK
Second Team All-Patriot League*
Ellis Miller, Colgate, Sr., F
Adrienna Vaughn, Colgate, Jr., F
Krista Kissell, Lafayette, Sr., F
Melissa Lamanna, Lafayette, So., F
Tina Dzhandzhapanyan, Navy, Sr., F
Sage Digiulio, Colgate, Sr., M
Sydney Fisher, Holy Cross, Sr., M
Ryelle Shuey, Lehigh, So., M
Chloe Christakos, Bucknell, Sr., D
Ruby Diodati, Colgate, Jr., D
Erin Keefe, Lehigh, Jr., D
Morgan Messner, Boston University, Jr., GK
Third Team All-Patriot League**
Elise Urkov, Army West Point, So., F
Rebecca Van Siclen, Lehigh, Jr., F
Sarah Bayer, Loyola Maryland, Jr., F
McKenna Kennedy, Boston University, Sr., M
Petie Nassetta, Bucknell, So., M
Carolyn Mang, Navy, Jr., M
Emily Torres, Army West Point, Sr., D
Morgan Walsh, Army West Point, Sr., D
Lyna Schaffer, Colgate, Fr., D
Nicole Rivas, Loyola Maryland, Sr., D
Sophia Boggs, Colgate, Sr., GK
Paige Sim, Loyola Maryland, So., GK
Note: Student-athletes are listed by positions; then alphabetically by institution
* Due to a tie, there are two non-position-specific players on the second team.
** Due to a tie, there are two goalkeepers on the third team.
The Black Knights also led the conference with four First Team All-Patriot League honors, as Johns, Padon and Cassalia were joined by sophomore midfielder Lauren Drysdale on the first team.
Three Black Knights earned Third Team All-Patriot League honors, with Elise Urkov, Emily Torres and Morgan Walsh all earning third team selections.
Overall, the Black Knights' seven selections were tied with Loyola for the most postseason honorees.
Johns became the first Black Knight to earn Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year since Holly Pedley earned the honor in 1997. Overall, the Austin, Texas, native is just the third Black Knight to earn the honor after capping the 2021 spring season with two goals and one assist for a team-leading five points.
"Erynn was one of our biggest threats in creating chances," said first-year head coach Tracy Chao. "She was fantastic in not only utilizing her physicality and pace in 1v1 situations but created even more dangerous opportunities for herself and the team with her ability to read the space ahead. Erynn's work rate is excellent, and even more so, her character on and off the field is exceptional."
Padon, a senior from Spokane, Wash., became the first Black Knight since Molly McGuigan was named Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons in 2010 and 2011. Overall, she is just the third Black Knight to earn the honor, as Lauren Rowe was the first Black Knight to do so in 2002.
On Padon, Chao said, "Mia has been an absolute warrior for us in our backline. She is a selfless leader and truly was an unsung hero throughout the spring in playing every second of every match as we only conceded two goals in five matches. Mia has an undeniable grit and relentlessness as a defender that proved that she was tough to beat."
Rounding out the three major award winners for the Black Knights was goalkeeper Sydney Cassalia, who is earning Goalkeeper of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons after also earning the honor for the 2019 season. A candidate for the Senior CLASS Award as a standout in the classroom as well as the pitch, Cassalia is the second Black Knight to earn the honor, following Rebecca Garcia in 2005.
"Syd has continued to show her consistency between the posts," said Chao. "She immediately establishes a major presence on the field with her technical ability on the ball in our build up and assertiveness to direct, lead and organize. Syd's physical traits combined with being a natural born leader were truly evident for us and certainly influential in our successes this spring."
2020-21 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year
Erynn Johns, Army West Point, Sr., F, Austin, Texas/Texas Rush
* Johns capped the regular season with two goals and one assist for a team-leading five points.
* The senior was named offensive player of the week on March 23 when she scored a career-best two goals in a 5-0 victory at American, to go along with one assist.
* In 56 career appearances for Army, Johns has scored nine goals and dished out 10 assists for 28 points.
* Johns was named to the Patriot League Women's Soccer All-Tournament team in 2018 and 2019.
2020-21 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year
Mia Padon, Army West Point, Sr., D, Spokane, Wash./Spokane Sounders
* Padon helped back the defense which held opponents to 0.40 goals per game as Army went 2-1 in the North Division.
* The senior defender aided in the Cadets' three shutouts on the year.
2020-21 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year
Sydney Cassalia, Army West Point, Sr., GK, Omaha, Neb./Elite Academy
* In four games in goal this season, Cassalia collected 13 saves for a .929 save percentage and posted a 0.24 goals-against average for the Black Knights.
* The senior owns a 23-25-13 record, 254 saves and 25 shutouts, to go with a .724 save percentage and a 1.03 goals-against average in 61 career appearances.
* Cassalia was named the goalkeeper of the year in 2019, while earning US Soccer Coaches' All-North Region Second Team laurels.
* Cassalia was the preseason pick for Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year
* Finished her career with 25 shutouts, good for second-most in program history and tying her for seventh-most in Patriot League history.
* Finished her career with the fourth-most goalie minutes played in program history.
2020-21 Patriot League Spring Women's Soccer Major Awards & All-Patriot League Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Erynn Johns, Army West Point, Sr., F
Midfielder of the Year: Victoria Tran, Navy, Jr., M
Defensive Player of the Year: Mia Padon, Army West Point, Sr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year: Sydney Cassalia, Army West Point, Sr., GK
Rookie of the Year: Chloe Dawson, Navy, Fr., D
Coach of the Year: Carin Gabarra, Navy
First Team All-Patriot League
Erynn Johns, Army West Point, Sr., F
Jenna Oldham, Boston University, Jr., F
Ada Clare Tempert, Loyola Maryland, So., F
Lauren Drysdale, Army West Point, So., M
Hannah Pinkus, Colgate, Jr., M
Sophie Saldivar, Lafayette. Sr., M
Victoria Tran, Navy, Jr., M
Mia Padon, Army West Point, Sr., D
Claire Beath, Loyola Maryland, Sr., D
Avery Fries, Navy, Jr., D
Sydney Cassalia, Army West Point, Sr., GK
Second Team All-Patriot League*
Ellis Miller, Colgate, Sr., F
Adrienna Vaughn, Colgate, Jr., F
Krista Kissell, Lafayette, Sr., F
Melissa Lamanna, Lafayette, So., F
Tina Dzhandzhapanyan, Navy, Sr., F
Sage Digiulio, Colgate, Sr., M
Sydney Fisher, Holy Cross, Sr., M
Ryelle Shuey, Lehigh, So., M
Chloe Christakos, Bucknell, Sr., D
Ruby Diodati, Colgate, Jr., D
Erin Keefe, Lehigh, Jr., D
Morgan Messner, Boston University, Jr., GK
Third Team All-Patriot League**
Elise Urkov, Army West Point, So., F
Rebecca Van Siclen, Lehigh, Jr., F
Sarah Bayer, Loyola Maryland, Jr., F
McKenna Kennedy, Boston University, Sr., M
Petie Nassetta, Bucknell, So., M
Carolyn Mang, Navy, Jr., M
Emily Torres, Army West Point, Sr., D
Morgan Walsh, Army West Point, Sr., D
Lyna Schaffer, Colgate, Fr., D
Nicole Rivas, Loyola Maryland, Sr., D
Sophia Boggs, Colgate, Sr., GK
Paige Sim, Loyola Maryland, So., GK
Note: Student-athletes are listed by positions; then alphabetically by institution
* Due to a tie, there are two non-position-specific players on the second team.
** Due to a tie, there are two goalkeepers on the third team.
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
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