NEW HAVEN, Conn. (November 13, 2024) – Caldwell University junior Taina Gervais has been voted the 2024 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. Gervais, who was also named to the All-CACC First Team at forward, headlines the all-conference teams and major award winners announced today by CACC Commissioner Dan Mara. The voting was conducted by the conference’s 12 head coaches.
Georgian Court freshman forward Chelsea Lavezzo was selected as the 2024 CACC Women’s Soccer Rookie of the Year. The other three major individual awards went to Thomas Jefferson University. Ram junior Carly Yeager repeated as the Defensive Player of the year, as did senior teammate Liv Riddel as Goalkeeper of the Year. Lavezzo, Yeager and Riddel also nabbed All-CACC First-Team honors. Jefferson head coach Kyle Schumann was voted the 2024 CACC Coach of the Year, and Lincoln University is the winner of the Women’s Soccer Team Sportsmanship Award.
Gervais, from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is second in the CACC in goals (13), points (30) and shots (63). She enjoyed a four-goal goal game in Caldwell’s Sept. 14 victory over Molloy University, and in October recorded five goals during a four-game Cougar conference winning streak. She has helped lead Caldwell to an 11-4-2 overall won-lost-tied record and a spot in Thursday’s league semifinals.
Lavezzo’s 17 goals, 36 points and 70 shots all lead the CACC. The Jackson, N.J., resident ranks fourth nationally in NCAA Division II with 0.89 goals per game. Lavezzo has posted five multi-goal matches, including hat tricks against Felician University (Sept. 21) and Goldey-Beacom College (Oct. 29). Lavezzo and the Lions will also compete in Thursday’s semifinals.
Yeager, of Cinnaminson, N.J., was also named the CACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. She has helped the Rams limit opponents to six goals in 18 matches this season and post 12 shutouts. Jefferson is tied for fifth in the country among D-II schools in team goals-against average.
Riddel earns her second consecutive CACC Goalkeeper of the Year Award. Her .903 save percentage ranks fourth nationally and her 0.35 goals-against average is eighth. The Jerrabomberra, Australia, native is 15-1-2 with 10 solo shutouts heading into Thursday’s quarterfinals.
Schumann, selected by the league’s directors of athletics communications, is completing his third season with the Rams. He led Jefferson to the CACC’s first undefeated, untied conference regular season since 2017. The Rams are 15-1-2 overall and listed fourth in the most recent NCAA Division II East Region ranking.
Lincoln, led by head coach Sal Minor, is in its first year as a CACC member. The Lions were the coaches’ choice for demonstrating class and character throughout the regular season.
The 2024 CACC women’s soccer major award winners and all-conference teams are listed below.
2024 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Taina Gervais (Caldwell University)
2024 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Chelsea Lavezzo (Georgian Court University)
2024 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Carly Yeager (Thomas Jefferson University)
2024 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Liv Riddel (Thomas Jefferson University)
2024 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH OF THE YEAR
Kyle Schumann (Thomas Jefferson University)
2024 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Lincoln University
2024 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
F – Nikki Dedes (Thomas Jefferson University)
F – Taina Gervais (Caldwell University)
F – Chelsea Lavezzo (Georgian Court University)
F – Jordan Siok (Wilmington University)
M – Alyssa Ruggeri (Wilmington University)
M – Kiery Spatz (Thomas Jefferson University)
M – Isabella Wysocki (Dominican University)
D – Megan Feehan (Caldwell University)
D – Jeena Pressley (Thomas Jefferson University)
D – Brianna Wons (Wilmington University)
D – Carly Yeager (Thomas Jefferson University)
GK – Liv Riddel (Thomas Jefferson University)
2024 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
F – Brooke Boucher (University of Bridgeport)
F – Melissa Martinez (Caldwell University)
F – Evelyn Payne (Wilmington University)
F – Leigh-Ann Ramsay (University of Bridgeport)
M – Gianna Garozzo (Thomas Jefferson University)
M – Abby Kennelly (Georgian Court University)
M – Melissa Pires (Caldwell University)
M – Lauren Sullivan (Chestnut Hill College)
D – Mia Ferrara (Thomas Jefferson University)
D – Lexi Murphy (Holy Family University)
D – Corissa Robbins (Georgian Court University)
GK – Ariana Gaminara (Caldwell University)
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its affiliation with NCAA Division II. Conference institutions compete for championships in 18 sports – eight for men, nine for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 12 members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.