NEW HAVEN, Conn. (November 3, 2026) – University of Bridgeport junior Manuela Macedo has been voted the 2026 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. Macedo, who was also named to the All-CACC First Team at midfield, headlines the all-conference teams and major award winners announced tonight by CACC Commissioner Dan Mara. The voting was conducted by the conference’s 12 head coaches.
Thomas Jefferson University freshman Jalina Gonzalez was selected as the 2026 CACC Women’s Soccer Rookie of the year, and senior Jefferson teammate Dillan Sorino is the Defensive Player of the Year. Bridgeport nabbed the final two major awards, as senior Angelina Griva was chosen as the Goalkeeper of the Year and Purple Knight head coach Tania Armellino was voted the 2026 Athletic Solutions CACC Coach of the Year by her peers. Gonzalez, Sorino, and Griva joined Macedo as All-CACC First-Team honorees.
Macedo, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, is tied for third in the CACC with nine goals and sits fourth in the league with 18 points. Eight of her goals came in conference play, a total that ranks second in the CACC. Macedo also sits second in the conference with 3.06 shots per game. She scored twice during a Sept. 15 victory over Georgian Court University and is riding a three-match goal scoring streak heading into Wednesday’s conference semifinals.
Gonzalez’s six goals and 17 points are the top totals among CACC rookies. Overall, she is tied for sixth in the conference in goals, tied for fourth with five assists, and tied for fifth with 17 points. The Fleetwood, Pa., resident was the CACC Rookie of the Week on Oct. 26.
Sorino, of Pennsauken, N.J., has helped the Rams limit opponents to 11 goals in 17 games, including nine shutouts. She has also contributed on the offensive end, pushing forward for four goals and two assists. Jefferson, which owns a 0.65 team goals-against average, is 14-1-2 overall. The Rams completed a perfect 11-0 conference regular season and will play in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Griva has been the steady back end of a consistent Purple Knight defense. She is 11-2-5 on the season with 11 solo shutouts. The Zakynthos, Greece, native has played the most minutes of any CACC goalkeeper with 1562, and owns league bests of a 0.58 goals-against average and an .851 save percentage with 3.16 saves per game.
Armellino is the CACC Coach of the Year for the second time, have also earned the honor in 2022. She has guided this year’s Purple Knights to an 11-2-5 overall record, the No. 2 seed in the CACC playoffs, and the No. 5 spot in the Division II East Region NCAA Power Index (NPI) rankings. UB has improved by seven victories over 2025.
The complete list of 2026 All-CACC Women’s Soccer Teams and major award winners is below. Also listed is the inaugural CACC Women’s Soccer Sportsmanship Team, which contains the member of each conference team who, as selected by the coaches, best represented the spirit of class, character, and sportsmanship in practice, in competition, and off the field.
2026 CACC WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Manuela Macedo (University of Bridgeport)
2026 CACC WOMEN'S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Jalina Gonzalez (Thomas Jefferson University)
2026 CACC WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dillan Sorino (Thomas Jefferson University)
2026 CACC WOMEN'S SOCCER GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Angelina Griva (University of Bridgeport)
2026 ATHLETIC SOLUTIONS CACC WOMEN'S SOCCER COACH OF THE YEAR
Tania Armellino (University of Bridgeport)
2026 CACC WOMEN'S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
GK - Angelina Griva (University of Bridgeport)
F - Bridget Dickson (Holy Family University)
F - Jalina Gonzalez (Thomas Jefferson University)
F - Jessica Jensen (Goldey-Beacom College)
F - Chelsea Lavezzo (Georgian Court University)
F - Kyra Lesko (Thomas Jefferson University)
F - Chloe Oudin (University of Bridgeport)
M - Mia DiPronio (University of Bridgeport)
M - Hailey Funkhouser (Georgian Court University)
M - Isa Geoghan (Thomas Jefferson University)
M - Manuela Macedo (University of Bridgeport)
D - Ayse Ataol (University of Bridgeport)
D - Alexa Callahan (Thomas Jefferson University)
D - Rebecca Morris (University of Bridgeport)
D - Brooklyn Niemy (Felician University)
D - Erynn Richey (Georgian Court University)
D - Dillan Sorino (Thomas Jefferson University)
2026 CACC WOMEN'S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
GK - Ava Brochon (Thomas Jefferson University)
F - Grace DiQuattro (Felician University)
F - Miley Jones (Goldey-Beacom College)
F - Kayla Reed (Georgian Court University)
F - Evelin Ventura-Garcia (Thomas Jefferson University)
M - Seanna Boan (Georgian Court University)
M - Carly Fox (Holy Family University)
M - Sophia Henry (Thomas Jefferson University)
M - Tessa Hughes (Thomas Jefferson University)
M - Jana Mueller (University of Bridgeport)
M - Chelsea Ritter (Chestnut Hill College)
M - Cayley Winters (Wilmington University)
D - Marit Blom (University of Bridgeport)
D - Maria Fonseca (Goldey-Beacom College)
D - Maria Leguizamon (Wilmington University)
D - Ava Mosteller (Chestnut Hill College)
D - Samantha Pastino (Holy Family University)
2026 CACC WOMEN'S SOCCER SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
Pia-Laura Wisnewski (University of Bridgeport)
Claudia Penafiel (Caldwell University)
Shaina Klos (Chestnut Hill College)
Jadyn Hagerstrom (Dominican University)
Evee Augustine (Felician University)
Alexis West (Georgian Court University)
Lanie Pennington (Goldey-Beacom College)
Kenna Rozanski (Holy Family University)
Chelsea Edwards (Lincoln University)
Martha Joseph (Post University)
Sophia Henry (Thomas Jefferson University)
Claudia Gillum (Wilmington University)
Founded in 1961, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has been affiliated with NCAA Division II for 21 years. Conference institutions compete for championships in 18 sports – seven for men, 10 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.