ECAC Announces Women's Soccer Players of the Month for October

11/7/2018 2:11:56 PM

DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced the Women’s Soccer Players of the Month for October 2018.

Division II
Offensive Player of the Month
Thuto Ramafifi - So., F, Salem University

Sophomore Thuto Ramafifi notched six multi-goal games in the month of October. She cumulated a total 17 goals and six assists for the month. Ramafifi currently sits at fifth in the country in goals per game at 1.21 and points per game at 2.86.

Defensive Player of the Month
Valentina Bonaiuto - So., GK, Salem University

Bonaiuto aided the Tigers to seven straight victories with only seven goals against in eight games. During the seven-game win streak she posted three shutout wins.

Rookie of the Month
Aliyah Armijo - Fr., F, Salem University

Aliyah Armijo scored one goal in six of the eight matches in the month of October. She paired that with three assists during the month. She also scored two game-winning goals for the Tigers.

Division III - North
Offensive Player of the Month
Jessica Egan - Jr., M, Wilkes University

Egan was named a First Team All-Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom midfielder at the conclusion of October. The junior posted four goals and one assist for nine points in October. She scored three consecutive game-winning goals for the Colonels. She also assisted one game-winning goal that came in the MAC Freedom semifinal game against DeSales. The assist on a corner kick help send the Colonels to the MAC Freedom championship game.

Defensive Player of the Month
Fiona Walsh - So., GK, Vassar College

Walsh was named Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week on Oct. 22 after making a career-high 15 saves, including 10 in the second half of Vassar's 1-0 win at William Smith. This was Vassars first-ever victory over William Smith. She posted a back-to-back shut out after beating by blanking RPI. In total she had four shutouts in eight games while accumulating 49 saves.

Rookie of the Month
Kaleigh Dale - Fr., M, Springfield College

Dale recorded seven goals and three assists for 17 points in the month of September. She helped the Pride to lock up the No. 2 seed in the NEWMAC Championship Tournament. Dale pushed her season total to 17 goals, which is tied for the most from a freshman in Springfield College women's soccer program history.

Division III - South
Offensive Player of the Month
Mackenzie Forsythe - Jr., F, Wesley College

Forsythe went on a five-game scoring run in conference play, where she scored two or more goals in four straight games. She scored a career-high four goals in a 4-4 tie against Immaculata on Oct. 17. Forsythe was also a two-time Atlantic East Offensive Player of the Week in October. She totaled 13 goals, two of which were game winners during the month.

Defensive Player of the Month
Camille Holzschuh - Fr., GK, Westminster College (PA)

During October Holzschuh, helped lead her team into the conference semifinals. She totaled 35 saves and a .70 goal against average. In the PAC she is fourth in saves (88), third in goals against average (.81), third in save percentage (.846) and tied for third in shutouts with six.

Rookie of the Month
Kaitlin Thomas - Fr., F, Neumann University

Thomas set the single-season record in goals and points for Neumann as she netted 10 goals for 20 points in the month of October. The pervious single-season record was 10 and the freshman now has 16 for the season. In a 5-0 October win over Marywood, Thomas scored four of the team's five goals.

Division III - Metro
Offensive Player of the Month
Christina Gagliardi - Jr., F, St. Joseph's College L.I.

During the month of October, Gagliardi led the Golden Eagles in goals, points, and game-winning goals. She scored 13 goals with three assists for 29 points. She recorded three hat-tricks in the month and was named Skyline Conference Player of the Week two different times on Oct. 1 and Oct. 29 and twice made the Weekly Honor Roll on Oct. 8 and Oct. 15.

Defensive Player of the Month
Meghan Marhan - So., GK, NYU

Marhan helped lead NYU during October shutting out three opponents and giving up just .56 goals per game. The sophomore helped NYU knock off a pair of ranked opponents, including 10^th ranked University of Chicago, when she made a career-high 11 saves in a 1-0 win, and a 2-1 win over 13^th ranked Brandeis University. She went 5-1-3 on the month with 42 saves and a .894 save percentage.

Rookie of the Month
Natalie Dorsheimer - Fr., F, DeSales University

Dorsheimer led DeSales in scoring in October with four goals and three assists for 11 points. During a game against Eastern University, Dorsheimer scored twice to help lead her team to victory.

ABOUT THE ECAC
Established in 1938, the ECAC is the nation's largest Conference, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. The ECAC hosts numerous championships in men's and women's sports across Divisions I, II and III, offering opportunities for thousands of student-athletes. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.

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