Army West Point Athletics
Tracy Chao Wins Patriot League Coach of the Year, Eight Named to All-Patriot League Teams
October 27, 2023 | Women's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, PA. – Army West Point women's soccer head coach Tracy Chao won Patriot League Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year as voted by the other coaches the league announced Friday afternoon.
She became the first Army coach to win Patriot League Coach of the Year in back to back years since Paul Peck of women's tennis in 2018 and 2019. She is the first women's soccer coach to repeat the award since Kelly Cook of Bucknell in 2015 and 2016 and the first Army women's soccer coach to do so since Gene Ventriglia in 1991 and 1992.
Chao in her fourth year at the helm of the Army women's soccer program, leading the team to its second straight Patriot League regular season title (2022-23). This season the Black Knights went 9-6-3, 6-2-1 PL following a slow 0-4-2 start. In 2022 she led the Black Knights to a 9-4-7 record and won the regular season Patriot League championship after a thrilling 3-2 victory on the road over Boston U.
Army had eight players named to all-league teams. Brigid Duffy landed on the first team after her impressive six-goal, three-assist season where she led the team in goals and was second in points with 15. Duffy has now been named to the All-Patriot League First Team in women's lacrosse and women's soccer.
Joining her was team-leader in points Kaelan Bradley. She had five goals and seven assists on the year. Her seven assists were third-most in the conference.
Star goalkeeper Sage Strohman landed on the second team. Strohman led the Patriot League with a goals-against average of .667 in conference play. She only gave up multiple goals once (2 vs. American) in league play. She had seven clean sheets this season which is the second most in the league.
Sydney Bender was also named to the second team. Bender was a key part of the Army backline that allowed only 1.00 goal per game in the regular season and only .667 per game in conference play. The senior played in all 18 games this season making 17 starts playing 1,510 minutes.
The third team was made up of four Black Knights. Bender's backline mates Keira Vesy and Jordan Follenweider were honored by the league.
Vesy made it after starting all 18 games this season and playing all but 20 minutes. She had one assist this season and was one of the leaders of the Army backline.
Follenweider started 17 games and scored a goal against Auburn. She was relentless on defense all season long as shown by the team's GAA of 1.00.
Joining them is senior Madison Niebish. Entering league play with zero career goals, Niebish scored three goals to help spur the Black Knights run to a regular season title. She scored against Bucknell, Lafayette, and Navy.
Last but not least is Cami Silvestro who started all 18 games and scored a goal from about 30 yards out against Princeton. She tacked on two assists as well.
"First and foremost, I could not be prouder of our group of 31 and how they took on this season," Coach Chao said. "To win this league is hard and to win back-to-back Patriot League Regular Season Championships is truly a testament to the collective efforts of every member of our program. Every team goes through its own challenges each season with varying highs and lows, individually and collectively, on and off the field, and for our cadet-athletes, their challenges go far beyond any other student-athlete. So, for us to accomplish navigating one of the program's toughest non-conference schedules and finish the regular season on top reflects their resilience and relentless commitment to thrive and stay focused on our team values and stay true to our process and our identity. It is an absolute privilege to be a part of it and grateful for the recognition, but this is all about our amazing 31 young women and our village of coaching staff, support staff, limitless managers, and beyond that continue to support them and develop them into leaders and champions. No doubt we have a talented squad and appreciate our Patriot League coaches recognizing them for the growth throughout their careers and the impact they make each season. And these 8 receiving All Conference Team honors is a celebration of what can be accomplished when a group continues to come together with Agape (unconditional love), Ubuntu (I am because we are), and Invictus (unconquerable). Now, we turn the page on our regular season segment, and we're motivated and excited to continue our pursuit for a Patriot League Tournament Championship!"
The Black Knights now turn their attention to the Patriot League Tournament. With a first-round bye, they will await their matchup against the lowest seed remaining. It will take place at Malek Stadium on Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. on ESPN+. With a win, Army would host the conference championship game slated for noon on Nov. 5. The game will air on CBSSN.
The rest of the Patriot League awards are as follows:
Offensive Player of the Year – Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Jr., F
Midfielder of the Year – Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Jr., M
Defensive Player of the Year – Ryelle Shuey, Lehigh, 5th, D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Jenna Hall, Bucknell, Sr., GK
Rookie of the Year – Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette, Fr., F
The Black Knights became the first regular season champion to walk away with zero player awards since the Patriot League moved to the current five award system in 2016 and only the second solo champion since 1997 to not win anything.
The full All-Patriot League Teams are listed below.
First Team
Kaelan Bradley, Army West Point, Jr., F
Abby McNulty, Boston University, Sr., F
Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Jr., F
Brigid Duffy, Army West Point, So., M
Giulianna Gianino, Boston University, So., M
Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Jr., M
Ari Bezanson, Colgate, So., M
Brooke Tracey, Bucknell, Sr., D
Ryelle Shuey, Lehigh, Sr., D
Alex Searing, Loyola Maryland, Gr., D
Jenna Hall, Bucknell, Sr., GK
Second Team
Natalie Godoy, Boston University, So., F
Henna Andican, Bucknell, So., F
Corinne Lyght, Lehigh, Jr., F
Alexa Riddle, Navy, Jr., F
Faith Dobosiewicz, Lehigh, Jr., M
Elizabeth Gallagher, Loyola Maryland, Jr., M
Katie Herrmann, Navy, Sr., M
Sydney Bender, Army West Point, Sr., D
Katie Schiano, Bucknell, Jr., D
Olivia Anderson, Colgate, Jr., D
Sage Strohman, Army West Point, Jr., GK
Third Team*
Izzy Kadzban, American, Sr., F
Madison Niebish, Army West Point, Sr., F
Morgan Fagan, Boston University, Jr., F
Paige Temple, Bucknell, Jr., F
Sara Oswald, Lafayette, Sr., F
Cami Silvestro, Army West Point, So., M
Mackenzie Stickelman, Boston University, So., M
Delaney DeMartino, Loyola Maryland, So., M
Jordan Follenweider, Army West Point, So., D
Keira Vesy, Army West Point, Jr., D
Cerys Balmer, Holy Cross, Sr., D
Rory Schauder, Lafayette, Sr., D
Celia Braun, Boston University, Jr., GK
* Due to a tie in voting, there are 13 members on the third team.
She became the first Army coach to win Patriot League Coach of the Year in back to back years since Paul Peck of women's tennis in 2018 and 2019. She is the first women's soccer coach to repeat the award since Kelly Cook of Bucknell in 2015 and 2016 and the first Army women's soccer coach to do so since Gene Ventriglia in 1991 and 1992.
Chao in her fourth year at the helm of the Army women's soccer program, leading the team to its second straight Patriot League regular season title (2022-23). This season the Black Knights went 9-6-3, 6-2-1 PL following a slow 0-4-2 start. In 2022 she led the Black Knights to a 9-4-7 record and won the regular season Patriot League championship after a thrilling 3-2 victory on the road over Boston U.
Army had eight players named to all-league teams. Brigid Duffy landed on the first team after her impressive six-goal, three-assist season where she led the team in goals and was second in points with 15. Duffy has now been named to the All-Patriot League First Team in women's lacrosse and women's soccer.
Joining her was team-leader in points Kaelan Bradley. She had five goals and seven assists on the year. Her seven assists were third-most in the conference.
Star goalkeeper Sage Strohman landed on the second team. Strohman led the Patriot League with a goals-against average of .667 in conference play. She only gave up multiple goals once (2 vs. American) in league play. She had seven clean sheets this season which is the second most in the league.
Sydney Bender was also named to the second team. Bender was a key part of the Army backline that allowed only 1.00 goal per game in the regular season and only .667 per game in conference play. The senior played in all 18 games this season making 17 starts playing 1,510 minutes.
The third team was made up of four Black Knights. Bender's backline mates Keira Vesy and Jordan Follenweider were honored by the league.
Vesy made it after starting all 18 games this season and playing all but 20 minutes. She had one assist this season and was one of the leaders of the Army backline.
Follenweider started 17 games and scored a goal against Auburn. She was relentless on defense all season long as shown by the team's GAA of 1.00.
Joining them is senior Madison Niebish. Entering league play with zero career goals, Niebish scored three goals to help spur the Black Knights run to a regular season title. She scored against Bucknell, Lafayette, and Navy.
Last but not least is Cami Silvestro who started all 18 games and scored a goal from about 30 yards out against Princeton. She tacked on two assists as well.
"First and foremost, I could not be prouder of our group of 31 and how they took on this season," Coach Chao said. "To win this league is hard and to win back-to-back Patriot League Regular Season Championships is truly a testament to the collective efforts of every member of our program. Every team goes through its own challenges each season with varying highs and lows, individually and collectively, on and off the field, and for our cadet-athletes, their challenges go far beyond any other student-athlete. So, for us to accomplish navigating one of the program's toughest non-conference schedules and finish the regular season on top reflects their resilience and relentless commitment to thrive and stay focused on our team values and stay true to our process and our identity. It is an absolute privilege to be a part of it and grateful for the recognition, but this is all about our amazing 31 young women and our village of coaching staff, support staff, limitless managers, and beyond that continue to support them and develop them into leaders and champions. No doubt we have a talented squad and appreciate our Patriot League coaches recognizing them for the growth throughout their careers and the impact they make each season. And these 8 receiving All Conference Team honors is a celebration of what can be accomplished when a group continues to come together with Agape (unconditional love), Ubuntu (I am because we are), and Invictus (unconquerable). Now, we turn the page on our regular season segment, and we're motivated and excited to continue our pursuit for a Patriot League Tournament Championship!"
The Black Knights now turn their attention to the Patriot League Tournament. With a first-round bye, they will await their matchup against the lowest seed remaining. It will take place at Malek Stadium on Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. on ESPN+. With a win, Army would host the conference championship game slated for noon on Nov. 5. The game will air on CBSSN.
The rest of the Patriot League awards are as follows:
Offensive Player of the Year – Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Jr., F
Midfielder of the Year – Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Jr., M
Defensive Player of the Year – Ryelle Shuey, Lehigh, 5th, D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Jenna Hall, Bucknell, Sr., GK
Rookie of the Year – Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette, Fr., F
The Black Knights became the first regular season champion to walk away with zero player awards since the Patriot League moved to the current five award system in 2016 and only the second solo champion since 1997 to not win anything.
The full All-Patriot League Teams are listed below.
First Team
Kaelan Bradley, Army West Point, Jr., F
Abby McNulty, Boston University, Sr., F
Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Jr., F
Brigid Duffy, Army West Point, So., M
Giulianna Gianino, Boston University, So., M
Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Jr., M
Ari Bezanson, Colgate, So., M
Brooke Tracey, Bucknell, Sr., D
Ryelle Shuey, Lehigh, Sr., D
Alex Searing, Loyola Maryland, Gr., D
Jenna Hall, Bucknell, Sr., GK
Second Team
Natalie Godoy, Boston University, So., F
Henna Andican, Bucknell, So., F
Corinne Lyght, Lehigh, Jr., F
Alexa Riddle, Navy, Jr., F
Faith Dobosiewicz, Lehigh, Jr., M
Elizabeth Gallagher, Loyola Maryland, Jr., M
Katie Herrmann, Navy, Sr., M
Sydney Bender, Army West Point, Sr., D
Katie Schiano, Bucknell, Jr., D
Olivia Anderson, Colgate, Jr., D
Sage Strohman, Army West Point, Jr., GK
Third Team*
Izzy Kadzban, American, Sr., F
Madison Niebish, Army West Point, Sr., F
Morgan Fagan, Boston University, Jr., F
Paige Temple, Bucknell, Jr., F
Sara Oswald, Lafayette, Sr., F
Cami Silvestro, Army West Point, So., M
Mackenzie Stickelman, Boston University, So., M
Delaney DeMartino, Loyola Maryland, So., M
Jordan Follenweider, Army West Point, So., D
Keira Vesy, Army West Point, Jr., D
Cerys Balmer, Holy Cross, Sr., D
Rory Schauder, Lafayette, Sr., D
Celia Braun, Boston University, Jr., GK
* Due to a tie in voting, there are 13 members on the third team.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
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GK
/ Women's Soccer
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