NEW HAVEN, Conn. (July 28, 2025) – Soccer standouts Felix Nassen of Post University and Liv Riddel of Thomas Jefferson University have been named the 2024-25 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference/Conference Commissioners Association Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year, CACC Commissioner Dan Mara announced today. Nominating and voting for the CACC/CCA Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards was conducted by the league’s directors of athletics communications.
Nominees must have been a starter or key reserve with legitimate athletic credentials and a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.20. They must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their institution and have completed at least one full academic year at their current institution. Nassen and Riddel will advance for consideration for regional and national scholar-athlete awards administered by the CCA.
Nassen, a graduate defender from Stockholm, Sweden, is believed to be the first male from Post to win the award. He breaks Jefferson’s three-year hold on the men’s honor. He started 20 games on the back line, recording two assists, in leading the Eagles to record 10 shutouts and capture the 2024 CACC regular-season championship. Post reached the conference final and made a run to the NCAA Division II round of 16.
Nassen was selected as the CACC Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Year and to the all-conference First Team. A consensus First-Team All-East Region selection, he was voted onto the D2 CCA All-America Second Team. Nassen has achieved a perfect 4.00 GPA as both an undergraduate and graduate student in Post’s Business Administration program, and was the CACC Men’s Soccer Top XVII Award winner. He earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® and CACC All-Academic honors.
During Nassen’s three seasons at Post, the Eagles won three CACC regular-season crowns, two conference championships, and reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament three consecutive times. He is a two-time D2 CCA All-American and a two-time CACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Riddel, a senior from Jerrabomberra, Australia, was the starting goalkeeper for the most successful women’s soccer team in Jefferson history. She went 18-1-3, setting a school record for victories, as the Rams won CACC regular-season and tournament championships and reached the NCAA Tournament East Region final (national round of 16).
Riddel’s 12 shutouts, .892 save percentage, and 0.43 goals-against average were all among the top 10 in Division II. She was the 2024 CACC Women’s Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year and the CACC Tournament Most Valuable Player, and went on to earn D2 CCA Third-Team All-America Honors. With a 3.89 GPA in Pre-Medical Studies, Riddel was a CSC First Team Academic All-American® and was named PhillySIDA Academic Performer of the Year and to the CACC All-Academic Team.
A two-time CACC Goalkeeper of the Year, Riddel is third on the Jefferson career lists with 37 wins and 22 solo shutouts. She collected 220 saves and a 0.89 GAA over her Ram career. She is the third consecutive Jefferson student-athlete to win the CACC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year Award, following Jess Molen (2022-23, Volleyball) and Sam Yencha (2023-24, Basketball).
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.