NEW HAVEN, Conn. (January 6, 2026) – Thomas Jefferson University senior midfielder Nikki Dedes and senior defender Carly Yeager have been selected to the 2025 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Women’s Scholar All-America Teams, the association recently announced. Dedes was chosen to the First Team, while Yeager was a Second Team honoree.

Student-athletes on this year’s Scholar All-America teams will be formally acknowledged for their accomplishments on the field and in the classroom at the United Soccer Coaches All-America ceremony on Saturday, January 17, in Philadelphia, Pa., in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches convention.

The awards capped highly-decorated senior seasons for Dedes and Yeager, who were the only Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference student-athletes, male or female, chosen for the honor. Dedes, who led the CACC with 34 points on 12 goals and 10 assists, was named the conference Player of the Year. She later earned consensus All-America and Third-Team Academic All-America® recognition. She has compiled a 3.89 cumulative grade-point average as a pre-medicine major.

Yeager, who repeated as the CACC Defensive Player of the Year, joined Dedes in helping lead Jefferson to its second consecutive NCAA Tournament Round of 16 and a final No. 12 national ranking. A D2 CCA Third-Team All-American and a Second-Team Academic All-America® choice, Yeager owns a 3.73 GPA while majoring in health sciences.

Dedes and Yeager were joined on the 2025 United Soccer Coaches Division II Women’s Scholar All-East Region team by Ariana Gaminara of Caldwell University. Bruno Cakurs of the University of Bridgeport was the only CACC representative on the association’s D-II Men’s Scholar All-East Region team.

Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., United Soccer Coaches is the trusted and unifying voice, advocate, and partner for coaches at all levels of the game.

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.