NEW HAVEN, Conn. (November 12, 2025) – Thomas Jefferson University senior Nikki Dedes has been voted the 2025 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. Dedes, who was also named to the All-CACC First Team at midfield, 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.

Wilmington University freshman Eboni Bradshaw was selected as the 2025 CACC Women’s Soccer Rookie of the Year. Jefferson senior Carly Yeager repeated as the Defensive Player of the Year, and Caldwell University senior Ariana Gaminara was chosen as the Goalkeeper of the Year. Bradshaw, Yeager, and Gaminara also nabbed All-CACC First-Team honors. Caldwell head coach Sammy Adjei was voted the 2025 Athletic Solutions CACC Coach of the Year by his peers, and Lincoln (Pa.) University wins its second consecutive Women’s Soccer Team Sportsmanship Award.

Dedes, from Medford, N.J. is the CACC co-leader with 10 assists. She is tied for fourth in goals (10) and tied for second with 30 points. A two-time CACC Player of the Week in 2025, she enjoyed a three-goal, one-assist game in the Rams’ victory over Lincoln on Oct. 30. She has helped Jefferson to a 15-2-1 overall won-lost-tied record and a No. 11 national ranking.

Bradshaw’s 11 goals and 30 points are both tied for second in the conference. The Manchester, England, resident, shares the league lead with four game-winning goals. Bradshaw, who was the CACC Rookie of the Week on four occasions, scored at least one point in 11 games. She and the Wildcats will complete in Saturday’s championship final.

Yeager, of Cinnaminson, N.J., wins her third consecutive CACC Defensive Player of the Year award, a conference first. In 2025, she has helped the Rams limit opponents to nine goals in 18 games, including 14 shutouts. Jefferson entered the week tied for seventh in the country among D-II schools in team goals-against average.

Gaminara has helped lead the Cougars to their second consecutive trip to the CACC final. She is 12-2-4 on the season with seven solo shutouts. The Las Vegas, Nev., native has played the most minutes of any CACC goalkeeper with 1620, and owns a 1.22 goals-against average, a .776 save percentage, and 4.22 saves per game.

Adjei is completing his third season with the Cougars. He has guided Caldwell to the No. 2 seed in the CACC Championship tournament in each of the last two seasons and back-to-back trips to the final. This year’s Cougars are 13-2-4 overall.

Lincoln, led by head coach Sal Minor, is in its second year as a CACC member. The Lions were the coaches’ choice for demonstrating class and character throughout the regular season.
The 2025 CACC women’s soccer major award winners and all-conference teams are listed below.
 

2025 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nikki Dedes (Thomas Jefferson University)
 
2025 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Eboni Bradshaw (Wilmington University)
 
2025 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Carly Yeager (Thomas Jefferson University)
 
2025 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Ariana Gaminara (Caldwell University)
 
2025 ATHLETIC SOLUTIONS CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH OF THE YEAR
Sammy Adjei (Caldwell University)
 
2025 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Lincoln University
 
2025 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
GK – Ariana Gaminara (Caldwell University)
F – Eboni Bradshaw (Wilmington University)
F – Rosio Cardenas (Caldwell University)
F – Ryley Dixon (Goldey-Beacom College)
F – Taina Gervais (Caldwell University)
F – Kyra Lesko (Thomas Jefferson University)
F – Evelin Ventura-Garcia (Thomas Jefferson University)
M – Alexa Callahan (Thomas Jefferson University)
M – Nikki Dedes (Thomas Jefferson University)
M – Evelyn Payne (Wilmington University)
D – Mia Ferrara (Thomas Jefferson University)
D – Ayla Fraser (Caldwell University)
D – Carly Yeager (Thomas Jefferson University)
 
2025 CACC WOMEN’S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
GK – Carly Hayman (Thomas Jefferson University)
F – Rebecca Dalton (Chestnut Hill College)
F – Chelsea Lavezzo (Georgian Court University)
F – Chloe Oudin (University of Bridgeport)
M - Julia Eichenbaum (Georgian Court University)
M - Gianna Garozzo (Thomas Jefferson University)
M - Alexa Peto (Caldwell University)
M – Ana Pinzon (Caldwell University)
M - Melissa Pires (Caldwell University)
M - Lauren Sullivan (Chestnut Hill College)
D – Maria Frazier (Caldwell University)
D – Virginia Perry (Chestnut Hill College)
D – Dillan Sorino (Thomas Jefferson University)
 

Founded in 1961, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has been affiliated with NCAA Division II for 20 years. Conference institutions compete for championships in 17 sports – seven for men, nine for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 11 full members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes 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.