Four players, all from Vermont and UMass Lowell, the top two seeds in the #AEWSOC Championship, have earned major awards for their performances during the 2021 regular season. Vermont took home Midfielder of the Year (Ella Bankert) and Goalkeeper of the Year (Lydia Kessel) while UMass Lowell garnered Striker and Rookie of the Year (Ioanna Papatheodorou) and Defender of the Year (Dunja Mostarac). Additionally, Vermont’s coaching staff earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors after the Catamounts won the regular-season title.
The major award winners were determined in a vote by the league's nine head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
2021 #AEWSOC Major Award Winners
Striker & Rookie of the Year
Ioanna Papatheodorou, Fr., UMass Lowell
- Leads the league in goals (10) and points (20).
- Six of her goals were game winners.
- First-ever #AEWSOC player to earn Striker and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season.
- First River Hawk to earn Striker of the Year honors.
- Second-straight UMass Lowell player to win Rookie of the Year.
- Earned Rookie of the Week honors three times.
- Was also selected to first-team All-Conference and the All-Rookie team.
Midfielder of the Year
Ella Bankert, Gr., Vermont
- First-ever Catamount to be named Midfielder of the Year.
- First Vermont player to win an #AEWSOC major positional award.
- Led a midfield that helped Vermont obtain a league-best +10 goal differential in league play.
- Was named America East Offensive Player of the Week once this season.
- Also earned first-team All-America East and All-Academic honors.
Defender of the Year
Dunja Mostarac, Sr., UMass Lowell
- Just the sixth #AEWSOC standout to earn a second-straight Defender of the Year honor.
- Led a UMass Lowell defense which ranked among the best in the league.
- One of only 10 field players in the league to log over 1,500 minutes this season.
- Also earned first-team All-Conference honors for the third time and was an All-Academic selection.
Goalkeeper of the Year
Lydia Kessel, Sr., Vermont
- First-ever Catamount to earn Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
- Leads the conference and among national leaders in saves per game (6.4).
- Was at her best in conference play, ranking first in save percentage (.903), third in GAA (.646) and tied for second in shutouts (4).
- Also named the first-team All-Conference goalkeeper and an All-Academic selection.
Coaching Staff of the Year
Vermont
- Led by head coach Kristi Huizenga, Vermont captured its first regular-season title since 1996 and just its second in league history.
- Top seed for the #AEWSOC Championship for just the second time.
- UVM’s 12 wins are their most since 1996.
- Vermont won its last seven conference games and rides a seven game winning streak into the America East Championship.
- Huizenga is assisted by Michael Skelton and Gene Bushey.
On Oct. 30, 22 players earned All-Conference recognition while 11 were All-Rookie choices and 12 garnered All-Academic recognition. View a complete list of All-Conference, All-Rookie & All-Academic selections.
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