The 2024 SC Best XI
Here are my picks for the best women soccer players in Division III.
| Name | Position | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney Connor | Goalkeeper | Washington University | Conner picks up a First Team All-America honor for the second-straight season, anchoring the Bears’ defense that ranks fifth among Division III teams for goals-against average. Conner earned All-Region honors for the third time in her career after picking up a second team nod as a sophomore and first team honors a season ago. Conner has played and started in 21 of the Bears 23 games this season, tallying 1,689 minutes and allowing just seven goals for a 0.37 save percentage. She has made 4 saves for a .851 save percentage and has earned nine shutouts. First Team All UAA. This is her fourth-straight All-UAA honor and third First Team honor. |
| Salange Bell | Goalkeeper | Montclair State | Freshman. Bell earned All-Region IV Second Team recognition in her first collegiate season as a goalkeeper, adding to her NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year and First Team All-NJAC accolades. The two-time NJAC Rookie of the Week started all 18 matches for the Red Hawks, posting a 0.68 goals-against average, an .844 save percentage, and 65 saves. Bell recorded eight wins this season which all came in shutout fashion. |
| Patricia DePalma | Goalkeeper | Pomona-Pitzer Colleges | Sophomore. Named Academic All-District … named Third Team Academic All-American … earned United Soccer Coaches NCAA DIII Second Team … named First Team All-SCIAC … named SCIAC All-Academic Team |
| Leah Atkins | Goalkeeper | Sewanee – U of the South | Second-Team All-Region. First Team all SAA |
| Kyleigh Bland | Goalkeeper | St. Mary’s of Maryland | Second Team All-United Soccer Coaches Region IV … First Team All-United East |
| Ava Curtis | Defender | College of New Jersey | First Team All American. A third-team All-American in 2023, Curtis is one of the most decorated defenders in school history. She was a four-time All-NJAC selection (three-time first team honoree) and a two-time first-team All-Region performer, and was named the NJAC Defender of the Year this fall. She started all but one of her 75 career games, posting 12 goals and 14 assists. |
| Lauren Davis | Defender | MIT | 2nd Team All American. Davis, who earned First Team All-Region this year, was also the NEWMAC Defensive Athlete of the Year as she anchored the Engineer defense which posted 14 shutouts and allowed just 13 goals in 24 games. She recorded a career-high four goals and nine points this past season with two game-winning scores. She scored the decisive goals against Clark on October 5 and against Babson on October 23. |
| Annie Isphording | Defender | Johns Hopkins | Isphording adds her third All-America nod to a 2024 resume that also includes First Team USC All-Region and First Team All-Centennial Conference honors; she was also named the Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Year after anchoring a Blue Jay defense that allowed just 18 goals in 24 games and posted 14 shutouts on the year. In all, the Blue Jay defense held 19 of 23 opponents to one goal or less this season. Since she arrived and took over a starting spot on defense in 2022, Johns Hopkins has posted 42 shutouts in 70 games and allowed a total of just 42 goals. – United Soccer Coaches (USC) Third Team All-American (2023) – USC First Team All-American (2022) – USC First Team All-Region V (2022, 2023) – 2022 Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year |
| Avery West | Defender | Cal Lutheran | Avery West of Cal Lutheran women’s soccer was named United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-America, announced by the association on Thursday afternoon. This is the senior defender’s first all-American honor and it serves as an excellent way to cap off the career she has had as a Regal. Just this season, West was named SCIAC Defensive Athlete of the Year, First Team All-SCIAC, and First Team All-Region X all for the second consecutive year. |
| Charlotte Huang | Defender | Amherst | 4th Team All American. Earlier this season she received her fourth All-NESCAC honors and finished out her career as the first ever NESCAC Defender of the Year (2023), also receiving All-New England, 2nd team USC All-American, and USC Scholar All-American accoloades. |
| Marjorie Plants | Defender | William Smith | 2nd Team All American. 2024 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. All-Region III first team and the All-Liberty League first team. |
| Kylie Harris | Defender | Trinity | First Team All Region. Harris was named the SCAC Defensive Player of the Year and the SCAC Newcomer of the Year, marking the first time in conference history that a player won both awards in the same season. She also made the All-SCAC First Team and the All-SCAC Freshman Team in her rookie year. Harris scored one goal and had two assists this season, while also anchoring a Trinity back line that recorded 19 total shutouts in 23 games played. |
| Bryn Bissinger | Defender | Washington & Lee | Bissinger, this season’s ODAC Defensive Player of the Year and a United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American, was a standout for the Generals this season, anchoring a defensive unit that was one of the best in Division III. With Bissinger’s help, the Generals allowed just six goals all season, tied for the second-fewest in a season in program history, while posting 19 total shutouts, tied for the most in Division III. Bissinger also added seven points on the offensive end on five assists and a goal, with her assist total tying for fourth on the team. |
| Kristina Ackselson | Midfielder | Messiah | On Thursday afternoon, the United Soccer Coaches (USC) announced their 2024 Division III Women’s Soccer All-Americans. The Falcons earned one selection, with Kristina Akselsen earning a third-team honor. The 2023 National Player of the Year, Kristina Akselsen earned USC Third team All-American honors after another season helping lead the Falcons midfield. The now three-time All-American, Akselsen finished the season with 18 points on seven goals and four assists. First Team All Region. |
| Isabel Doherty | Midfielder | Catholic | Isabel Doherty was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region V team it was announced today. The midfielder was named to the All-Region V Third Team, marking her the third player to earn all-region honors under Casey Sommers’ leadership. Doherty, a two-time All-Landmark Conference selection, earns her first all-region nod, joining Jordan Siok and Sam Cesario as recent recipients. Doherty becomes the 22nd all-region selection in program history (all since 2005) and the 20th player to receive the honor. The junior Massachusetts native adds a final accolade to an impressive fall that saw her earn all-conference honors while also excelling academically to earn a place on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team for the second time. Doherty led the Cardinals to an 8-7-4 record, scoring five goals and adding an assist to lead the team in points. |
| Grace Ehlert | Midfielder | Washington U. | Grace Ehlert, who was named the United Soccer Coaches National Scholar Player of the Year, the organization recently announced. Ehlert, who was also named a United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Women’s Scholar All-America First Team selection, This season, Ehlert was a First Team All-UAA, First Team All-Region VIII and First Team All-America selection, and was on the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team. |
| Julia Beck | Midfielder | Misericordia | Second Team All American. United Soccer Coaches 2024 NCAA Division III Scholar All-Region and Scholar All-America teams. A midfielder, Beck was the MAC Freedom Offensive Player of the Year and led the Cougars to their fourth straight MAC Freedom title. |
| Victoria D’Imperio | Midfielder | College of New Jersey | Second Team All American. D’Imperio continued her ascent up the program’s all-time charts this season, scoring 15 goals in addition to a pair of assists. The back-to-back NJAC Midfielder of the Year finished her career fourth in school history with 52 goals and fifth with 116 points. A three-time All-Region honoree (including consecutive first-team nods), D’Imperio joined Curtis as a three-time first-team All-NJAC selection. |
| Ellie Cox | Midfielder | Christopher Newport | Third Team All American. first team All-Region |
| Niamh Healy | Midfielder | University of Scranton | First Team All American. four-time All-Region and All-Conference honoree, three-time Landmark Conference Offensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023, 2024), and Landmark Rookie of the Year in 2021. Academically, Healy earned USC First Team Scholar All-American and CSC Second Team Academic All-American honors in 2023. |
| Arianna Lombardi | Midfielder | UW Platteville | Played in and started 21 games Totaled 11 goals and 15 assists for 37 points All-WIAC Team United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team |
| Hanna Hong | Forward | Pomona-Pitzer | United Soccer Coaches All-American First Team … named SCIAC Offensive Player Of The Year … earned United Soccer Coaches NCAA DIII First Team …named First Team All-SCIAC … named to the Academic All-District Team |
| Brianna Fee | Forward | Sewanee – U of the South | Fee earned Second Team honors. two-time Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Offensive Player of the Year, two-time First Team All-Region, two-time First Team All-SAA, SAA All-Tournament MVP, SAA All-Tournament Team selection, and earning addition honors as an SAA All-Conference team selection her freshman and sophomore years. Academically, she was also a three-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree. |
| Katie Sullivan | Forward | Johns Hopkins | Sullivan earned All-America honors four times, including three first team selections, in her career. The 2024 Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Year, she led Hopkins in goals (19), assists (8) and points (46). Her 19 goals this season are tied for sixth most in program history, while her 46 points rank eighth. Sullivan finished her career ranked second in program history in goals (60) and points (151) and tied for second in assists (31). |
| Ava Gizzie | Forward | Swarthmore | First Team All Region. All-Centennial First Team selection. |
| Patience Kum | Forward | Amherst | First Team All Region. Kum earns her fourth straight All-Region accolade, capping off a remarkable career and leading the Mammoths to a historic season. She ends the season with 6 goals and 8 assists, totaling 20 points, and finishing with an impressive 42 goals and 19 assists over her four years. Throughout her career, Kum has been named NESCAC Player of the Year (2022), First Team ALL-NESCAC, First Team All-Region, All-New England, USC First Team All-American, and USC Scholar All-American. |
| Hanna Heaton | Forward | Christopher Newport | First Team all American . first team All-Region. Heaton was named the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a first team All-C2C selection. |
| Elsie Aires | Forward | Tufts | NESCAC Player of the Year (2024) All-NESCAC First Team (2023, 2024) United Soccer Coaches Womens All-Region First Team (2023, 2024) All-American Second Team (2024) All-American Third Team (2023) |
| Imani Jenkins | Forward | University of Hartford | Jenkins also made the All-ECAC First Team after being selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team after being named to the All-Region First Team earlier last week. Imani was the Conference of New England (CNE) Offensive Player of the Year, as well as being named to the CNE All-Conference First Team and the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Selection. |
| Savannah Johnson | Forward | Loras College | United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American USC First Team All-Region American Rivers Conference All-Conference Selection |
| Elle Sutter | Forward | North Central | USC Third Team All-American USC First Team All-Region CSC Academic All-District selection CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year First Team All-CCIW Awarded CCIW Offensive Player of Week on Sept. 3, Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Oct. 22, Oct. 29 Set a program record for points in a single season Set a program record in career assists |
| Sarah Dullagan | Forward | Emmanuel | Leading Scorer in D3 with… 45 goals! The third-year forward’s nomination to the USC Fourth-Team All-American squad adds to her list of awards this season. The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Year, the GNAC Women’s Soccer Tournament MVP, a GNAC All-Conference First Team selection, and a five-time GNAC Player of the Week honoree, now adds the first USC All-American Award in the program’s 29-year history. |
| Michaela Bosco | Forward | Trinity | Fourth Team All American. Bosco picked up her third United Soccer Coaches All-Region award earlier this week, earning First Team honors in 2022 and 2024, and getting a spot on the Third Team in 2023. She has also made the All-SCAC First Team each of the past three seasons and was the SCAC Tournament Offensive Most Valuable Player in both 2022 and 2024. Lewis was also a First Team All-Region selection in 2022 and 2024, as well as picking up three All-SCAC awards. This season was her first time on the All-SCAC First Team and she was also the SCAC Tournament Defensive Most Valuable Player in 2022 and 2024 |
| Shea Bechtel | Forward | St. Olaf | Senior forward Shea Bechtel of the St. Olaf College men’s soccer team was honored as a Second Team All-American. This fall, Bechtel was also named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Offensive Player of the Year for the second time (2022, 2024) and became the second four-time All-MIAC honoree in program history (John Zietlow ’11). In his senior season, Bechtel recorded 35 points on 13 goals and nine assists while starting all 23 games for the Oles. |
| Adam Knutson | Forward | Trinity | United Soccer Coaches All-Region (1st Team 2024) 3-time All-SCAC (1st Team 2022, 2024, 2nd Team 2023) SCAC Offensive Player of the Year (2024) SCAC Tournament Offensive MVP (2024) SCAC Newcomer of the Year (2022) SCAC Player of the Week (2024) |
| Jake Kidd | Forward | WI Superior | Jake Kidd (Superior, Wis./Superior) were slated to the all-region first team. Kidd displayed the best collegiate season at UW-Superior in 2024. Starting all 24 matches, he averaged a goal a match, scoring 24 while adding two assists for 50 points. He capped his junior season with a conference-leading .308 shooting percentage, while ranking second in goals scored in NCAA Division III. For his efforts, he was slated to the All-UMAC First Team for the second-straight season. |
| Weyimi Agbeyegbe | Forward | Washington & Lee | -United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-America -United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Region -ODAC Player of the Year -All-ODAC First Team -ODAC All-Tournament Team -2 time ODAC Offensive Player of the Week (9/30, 10/14) |
| Nathan Donovan | Forward | WI Eau Claire | United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Player of the Year United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American United Soccer Coaches Scholar National Player of the Year United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America First Team College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Team Member of the Year College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team College Sports Communicators Academic All-District United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Region IX WIAC Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete WIAC Kwik Trip Offensive Player of the Year All-WIAC First Team Two-time WIAC Kwik Trip Athlete of the Week Weeks of August 26-September 1, September 30-October 6 |