EDISON, NJ (November 1, 2021) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has announced the 2021 Women’s Soccer All-MAAC Team and Major Award winners. All awards were voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches.
The 2021 MAAC Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Year is Florence Vaillancourt of Niagara University. Vaillancourt becomes just the second Purple Eagle, since the award was expanded to distinguish between offensive and defensive players, to be selected and the first since Brittany Bisnott in 2014. Vaillancourt’s 2021 season is one of the best in the league’s history. She led the MAAC in goals (13), game-winning goals (5), points (36), points per game (2.25), and finished second in assists (10). Vaillancourt tied Bisnott’s mark in points per game ranking sixth all-time and her 36 points ties her for 16
th all-time in a single season. Vaillancourt registered her first career hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Syracuse on August 26.
For the second-straight season in 2021, Monmouth University defender Sarina Jones has been selected as the Defensive Player of the Year. Jones has now been a First Team All-MAAC selection for the fourth consecutive season. Jones played over 80 minutes in every contest in 2021 with the exception of one which happens to be the Hawks’ only loss in conference play. Not only a great defender, Jones holds quite a bit of offensive prowess as well. In her career, Jones has tallied five goals and eight assists, including a game-winner this season in the 76
th minute against Saint Peter’s on October 2.
The 2021 MAAC Women’s Soccer Rookie of the Year is Kedarjah Lewis of Iona College. Lewis becomes the third Gael to earn the award in program history. Lewis finished the season with five goals and two assists in her breakout campaign including three game-winners, tying her for the third best mark in the MAAC. Lewis’ most recent game-winner came on October 16 against Fairfield in a 2-0 victory. Lewis scored her first two career-goals against VMI on August 26 in just 37 minutes of play. For the season, Lewis totaled 1047 minutes in 18 games for the Gaels.
The 2021 MAAC Women’s Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year is Marist College’s Natalie Kelchner. Kelchner becomes the second player in Red Foxes’ history and first since Mellanie Nai in 2001 to earn the honor. Kelchner led the conference in save percentage (.871), finished second in goals against average (.869) and saves (88). Kelchner was in goal for 1348 minutes this season and allowed just 13 goals in 14 games, the second least number of goals allowed in the MAAC.
The 2021 MAAC Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year is Dr. Krissy Turner of Monmouth University. In her 24 seasons at the helm for the Hawks, this will be Turner’s fifth honor as the league’s top coach. Turner led the Hawks to a 12-4-1 overall record and a league-best 8-1-1 record. In 2021, Turner added a Defensive Player of the Year, two All-MAAC First Team selections, three All-MAAC Second Team selections, and three All-MAAC Rookie Team selections to her already impressive coaching resume at Monmouth. Turner now boasts a career record of 279-163-45 and 164-43-20 in MAAC play.
For the full list of awards, including the All-MAAC Team, see below.
| 2021 MAAC Women’s Soccer Major Awards |
| Award |
Player |
School |
| Offensive Player of the Year |
Florence Vaillancourt |
Niagara |
| Defensive Player of the Year |
Sarina Jones |
Monmouth |
| Rookie of the Year |
Kedarjah Lewis |
Iona |
| Goalkeeper of the Year |
Natalie Kelchner |
Marist |
| Coach of the Year |
Dr. Krissy Turner |
Monmouth |
| 2021 MAAC Women’s All-MAAC First Team |
| Player |
Class |
School |
Position |
| Rebecca Cooke |
So. |
Quinnipiac |
Forward |
| Elle Scott |
So. |
Fairfield |
Forward |
| Florence Vaillancourt |
Jr. |
Niagara |
Forward |
| Jill Conklin |
Sr. |
Monmouth |
Midfield |
| Gabby Diodati |
Gr. |
Fairfield |
Midfield |
| Emily McNelis |
Sr. |
Siena |
Midfield |
| Selena Salas |
Sr. |
Quinnipiac |
Midfield |
| Sarina Jones |
5Y |
Monmouth |
Defense |
| Mackenzie Meixner |
R-Sr. |
Iona |
Defense |
| Ida Miceli |
Sr. |
Niagara |
Defense |
| Natalie Kelchner |
Sr. |
Marist |
Goalkeeper |
| 2021 MAAC Women’s All-MAAC Second Team |
| Player |
Class |
School |
Position |
| Chloe Fisher |
Jr. |
Rider |
Forward |
| Lauren Karabin |
Sr. |
Monmouth |
Forward |
| Faith Preziosi |
Sr. |
Iona |
Forward |
| Jesi Rossman |
Sr. |
Monmouth |
Forward |
| Djeynaba Thiam |
Jr. |
Niagara |
Forward |
| Markela Bejleri |
Jr. |
Quinnipiac |
Midfield |
| Amanda Caldarelli |
So. |
Marist |
Midfield |
| Emma Davies |
Sr. |
Niagara |
Midfield |
| Kiera Haggerty |
Jr. |
Iona |
Midfield |
| Alexis Horwedel |
Gr. |
Niagara |
Midfield |
| Lauren Bruno |
So. |
Monmouth |
Defense |
| Niamh Cashin |
Sr. |
Rider |
Defense |
| Fatou Doucoure |
Sr. |
Saint Peter’s |
Defense |
| Josie Horosky |
Jr. |
Fairfield |
Defense |
| Deanna Lomino |
Gr. |
Marist |
Defense |
| Mackenzie Mix |
Gr. |
Niagara |
Defense |
| Samantha Sturno |
Jr. |
Marist |
Defense |
| Sofia Lospinoso |
So. |
Quinnipiac |
Goalkeeper |
| 2021 MAAC Women’s All-MAAC Rookie Team |
| Player |
Class |
School |
Position |
| Julianna Jatkola |
Fr. |
Saint Peter’s |
Forward |
| Kedarjah Lewis |
Fr. |
Iona |
Forward |
| Maia MacLean |
Fr. |
Niagara |
Forward |
| Olivia Ramiz |
Fr. |
Monmouth |
Forward |
| Ava Allen |
Fr. |
Monmouth |
Midfield |
| Reagan Klarmann |
Fr. |
Fairfield |
Midfield |
| Autumn Smith |
Fr. |
Marist |
Midfield |
| Gabby Allen |
Fr. |
Monmouth |
Defense |
| Myla Rodrigues |
Fr. |
Iona |
Defense |
| Raelyn Stranc |
Fr. |
Niagara |
Defense |
| Annabelle Adams |
Fr. |
Saint Peter’s |
Goalkeeper |
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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