Soccer Lady Bobcats shut out of MEC postseason awards

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The Mountain East Conference announced its women’s soccer all-conference teams and major award winners following a voted of the league’s head coaches.

West Virginia Wesleyan did not land a player on the team.

The University of Charleston swept the MEC postseason awards with midfielder Lina Jaime earning MEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and defender Angela Gatto garnering Defensive Player of the Year accolades. UC forward Juliette Lucas was voted the league’s Freshman of the Year. In addition, first-year UC head coach Gary Ogilvie was recognized as the league’s Coach of the Year.

Jaime, a junior from Bogota, Columbia, scored 26 points on the season, including eight goals and 10 assists. She had two game-winning goals and went 1-for-1 on PK attempts during the season. The midfielder fired 21 shots on goal this season for a .538 shots on-goal average. Jaime led the MEC in assists and ranked top five in the league in points and top 10 in the league in goals.

Gatto, a junior from France, scored four goals from her defensive position during the 2023 season. Gatto also led a UC defense that surrendered just eight goals this season. The Golden Eagles allowed just .33 goals per game and recorded 11 total shutouts on the season.

Lucas, a freshman from New Zealand, tied for the UC lead with 26 points as a freshman this season. The forward also tied for the team lead with 10 goals while adding six assists on the year. She fired 28 shots on goal this season and made three game-winning goals for the Golden Eagles. Lucas ranked in the top 10 in the league in points, goals, game-winning goals and assists this season.

Ogilvie led the Golden Eagles to a 15-0-3 record this season and won the MEC South Division Championship. UC currently ranks first in the Atlantic Region and sixth nationally in the United Soccer Coaches national poll. UC is one of seven teams in DII women’s soccer without a loss this season.

The 2023 MEC All-Conference teams are listed below.

2023 All-MEC First Team
Pos.NameCl.School
GKAshley BilgerSr.Frostburg State
FEsther DhiramoGr.West Virginia St.
FToni Fiocco-MizerSr.Frostburg State
FJuliette LucasFr.Charleston
FMiriam SzijartoJr.Notre Dame
MOlivia BekeleskiGr.Concord
MReeanna CookSo.Concord
MLina JaimeJr.Charleston
MCarina WidauerGr.Charleston
DMaxima BellscheidtJr.West Virginia St.
DAngela GattoJr.Charleston
DHannah GoesFr.Charleston
DCatherine SmithJr.Frostburg State
2023 All-MEC Second Team
Pos.NameCl.School
GKJordan MaynardJr.Charleston
GKJordan PasalaquaSr.Notre Dame
FAlejandra PuertoSo.Fairmont State
FMerel SmetsJr.Glenville State
FAlexa ToddGr.Concord
MAlba ClosaJr.West Virginia St.
MIsabella MaldonadoFr.Fairmont State
MAshley RainhoJr.Notre Dame
MHannah ThompsonSr.Frostburg State
DAnaya EdwardsSr.Notre Dame
DLotte FasenFr.Concord
DMei HommanJr.Frostburg State
DOlivia ShollenbergerJr.Concord
2023 All-MEC Honorable Mention
GK: Olivia Kqira (WU)

F: Mary DiFonzo (WU), Kiera Kuzinski (FAIR), Frankie Morrow (UC)

M: Jori Alexander (WLU), Ciara Casamento (DE), Amelia Compston (WLU), Paula Murcia (WVSU), Aitana Viejo (GSU), Michelle Wenger (UC)

D: Carolyn DeSena (FROST), Emma Ring (CU), Gracie Smith (FAIR), Anna Van Der Reijden (UC)
2023 All-MEC Freshman Team
Pos.NameSchool
MCiara CasamentoDavis & Elkins
DLotte FasenConcord
DHannah GoesCharleston
MWilma HedenbergConcord
FJuliette LucasCharleston
MIsabella MaldonadoFairmont State
FNyah SmithWheeling
MAitana ViejoGlenville State
MMichelle WengerCharleston
Offensive Player of the Year: Lina Jaime (Charleston)
Defensive Player of the Year: Angela Gatto (Charleston)
Freshman of the Year: Juliette Lucas (Charleston)
Coach of the Year: Gary Ogilvie (Charleston)

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