WOMEN'S SOCCER: GNAC Announces All-Conference & Major Awards

Winthrop, Mass. - The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) office announced their major awards/all-conference teams on Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 11). Voting was conducted for each of the major awards and all-conference teams by the league's 14 head coaches before postseason play had begun. 

Rivier's Leah Morrier was voted Offensive Player of the Year, while Emmanuel's Annebel Balogh de Galantha won Defensive Player of the Year. Amy Stevens collected the Goalkeeper of the Year award as her Head Coach Nick Wajnowski collected Coach of the Year honors. Meanwhile, freshman Ayla Hathaway was named Rookie of the Year and Dean College won the institutional sportsmanship award. Full list of honorees below.

Offensive Player of the Year 

Leah Morrier, Rivier (So.)

Sophomore Leah Morrier was the engine behind Rivier's offense this year, leading the Raiders in goals, assists, and points. Morrier scored 18 times, which was second-best in the league and 13th in the nation with 13 of her goals coming in conference action. The Plaistow, N.H. native had nine assists on the season, also good for second-best in the league with four coming from league action. The sophomore totaled 45 points for Rivier, second in GNAC and 12th in DIII, with 30 coming from GNAC action. Morrier's offensive production proved to be valuable and timely as she finished second in the nation with eight game-winning goals, which was a league-best as well. Morrier won GNAC Player of the Week once this past season as well.

Defensive Player of the Year

Annebel Balogh de Galantha, Emmanuel (Sr.)

Senior Annebel Balogh de Galantha led a very strong Emmanuel defense that allowed a league-leading 15 goals on the season and only six goals in conference play. Emmanuel allowed 0.80 goals against per game, which was second in the GNAC. The Grafton, Mass native was the leader in a back-line that produced a league-leading 12 shutouts on the year and helped guide the Saints to the top seed in the GNAC tournament. As a result of her defensive leadership, Emmanuel won back-to-back GNAC titles and is headed back to the NCAA Tournament. 

Goalkeeper of the Year

Amy Stevens, Albertus Magnus (Sr.)

Senior Amy Stevens concludes her collegiate career as the all-time saves and shutout leader in the Albertus Magnus record books. She concluded her career with 329 saves and 19 shutout victories for the Falcons. The Lincoln, R.I. native posted a .806% save percentage, which was good for third in the league and allowed only 14 goals on the season with 58 saves. Stevens was second in the conference with six shutouts on the year, marking her presence as a strong force on the defensive side of the field. The senior won GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week two times this past year and helped lead the Falcons to the fourth seed in this year's tournament.

Rookie of the Year

Ayla Hathaway, Lasell (Fr.)

Freshman Ayla Hathaway made her mark on the attack this season for Lasell, being the lead goal-scorer for the Lasers. The Ballston Spa, N.Y. native scored 12 goals for Lasell, which was sixth-best in the conference and 10 of them coming from GNAC play with a third of her total goals being game-winning goals. Hathaway collected 26 points for the Lasers, which was also the sixth-best in the league. Her outstanding attack led her to winning Rookie of the Week twice and Player of the Week once this year.

Coach of the Year

Nicholas Wajnowski, Albertus Magnus

Head Coach Nicholas Wajnowski led an Albertus team who played strong on both sides of the field this year, earning the four seed in the GNAC with 30 points at a 9-1-3 conference record. Wajnowski's team finished amongst the top-three in the GNAC in goals and assists on the offensive side while having a demoralizing defense with 10 shutouts on the season, which was good for second in the league. 

Major Awards

Offensive Player Of The Year: Leah Morrier, Rivier

Defensive Player Of The Year: Annebel Balogh de Galantha, Emmanuel

Goalkeeper of the Year: Amy Stevens, Albertus Magnus

Coach Of The Year: Nick Wajnowski, Albertus Magnus

Rookie Of The Year: Ayla Hathaway, Lasell

Institutional Sportsmanship: Dean College