Deda, Schiano, Cook Collect Major Awards as Six Bison Earn All-Patriot League Women's Soccer Honors

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Senior midfielder Teresa Deda, senior defender Katie Schiano and head coach Kelly Cook collected Patriot League women's soccer major awards, and four other Bucknell players joined Deda and Schiano on the All-League Team as the Patriot League announced its postseason honors on Friday. Deda was named the Midfielder of the Year for the third year in a row and Schiano was named Defensive Player of the Year as both earned First Team All-Patriot League honors. Cook was named Coach of the Year for the third time.

Senior goalkeeper Jess Benattar earned Second Team honors in her first year as Bucknell's starting netminder, and freshman forward Katie Connell, senior midfielder Reese Evans, and junior defender Meghan White received Third Team honors.

Cook earned the Coach of the Year honor after leading the Bison to a 2024 regular season title, finishing the season 11-4-2 and 7-2 in Patriot League play to earn the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League Tournament. Bucknell's 2-0 win over Lehigh on Wednesday secured the regular season championship and gave Cook a school-record-tying 94th career win. Her 94 career wins for the Bison are fourth-most all time in the Patriot League. Cook was previously named the Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2016, leading the Bison to a Patriot League Championship in 2016. The Bison are aiming for their fourth consecutive Patriot League Tournament crown, winning each of the previous three seasons.

Deda notches her third consecutive Patriot League Midfielder of the Year award, and this marks her fourth selection to the All-Patriot League First Team. Deda becomes the third Bison to be selected any all-league team in all four years of her career, joining Krista Lee Gentile '08 and Katie McElligott '00. Deda is the first player in Bucknell history and the 10th player in Patriot League history earn First Team honors four times.

Heading into postseason play, Deda has already matched her top scoring mark of nine goals and provided a league-leading eight assists for the Bison. Deda tied Lisa Gibbons' school-record in assists (35) with three assists at American, later becoming Bucknell's all-time assist leader with a helper at Lafayette later in the season. Her 37 career assists are fourth-most in Patriot League history and fourth-best among all active Division I players. Deda has posted a career 0.47 assists per game, ranking fifth among all active players.

Deda ranks third in the Patriot League in goals scored (9) and points (26). Her five game-winning goals this season ranks first in the league, matching Loyola's two-time Offensive Player of the Year Baylee DeSmit. Bucknell has a 32-2-3 record when Deda scores at least one point, including a 10-1-0 record this season.

Schiano, a two-time All-Patriot League player, earns her first Defensive Player of the Year honor. After missing most of her rookie season due to injury, Schiano made a position switch to right back and has been one of the league's elite defenders for the last three seasons. This year, she provided an assist in each of the first three games and was a big contributor to the Bison being one of the most dominant backlines in the Patriot League. Bucknell led the Patriot League this season with a remarkable 0.82 goals against average on the season, and the Bison allowed just four goals in nine league matches for a 0.44 average.

Schiano is Bucknell's second Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honoree and the first since Nicole Marotta in 2006.

Benattar earns her first career All-Patriot League selection in her first year of action for the Bison. Benattar sat behind two-time PL Goalkeeper of the Year Jenna Hall during the previous two seasons before taking over in goal.

Benattar, the final line for the Bison's incredible defense this season, allowed just six goals in 15 matches she featured in, keeping nine clean sheets. Benattar's 0.46 goals against average is a league-best with Loyola's Brigid Mulholland as the next closest with a 0.95 goals against average. In league action, Benattar was good for a 0.38 GAA.

White joins the Bison honorees on the Third Team, collecting her first all-conference honor. White started all 17 games for the Bison at left back, featuring in all but 27 minutes of action on the season. A starter from day one at Bucknell, White is not only rock solid on the left flank of the Bison defense, but she can get in on the attack as well. She scored a critical goal against Boston University in last year's Patriot League Tournament semifinals.

Evans joins White as a first-time honoree for the Bison. Evans featured in the midfield alongside Deda, helping the Bison create and transition through the middle third. Evans played in all 17 matches, starting in 14 of them. She recorded three goals and three assists, scoring a game-winning goal against Saint Joseph's and assisting a game-winning goal against Holy Cross.

Connell also earns her first All-Patriot League selection in her first season for the Bison. Connell had an excellent debut season for Bucknell, notching four goals and two assists as a right-winger. She started in 15 matches after scoring in just her second match off the bench in a 1-1 draw against Delaware. Connell's first assists provided the Bison with a game winning goal against Navy with her second assist coming in the title-clinching match against Lehigh.

As the No. 1 seed, Bucknell has a bye into the semifinal round of the Patriot League Tournament. The Bison will host an opponent to be determined on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.

2024 Women's Soccer All-Patriot League and Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Sr., F
Midfielder of the Year – Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Sr., M
Defensive Player of the Year – Katie Schiano, Bucknell, Sr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Sage Strohman, Army West Point, Sr., GK
Rookie of the Year – Bella Conti, Army West Point, Fr., F
Coach of the Year – Kelly Cook, Bucknell

First Team
Kaelan Bradley, Army West Point, Sr., F
Margy Porta, Boston University, Jr., F
Baylee DeSmit, Loyola Maryland, Sr., F
Alexa Riddle, Navy, Sr., F
Giulianna Gianino, Boston University, Jr., M
Teresa Deda, Bucknell, Sr., M
Ari Bezanson, Colgate, Jr., M
Katie Schiano, Bucknell, Sr., D
Olivia Anderson, Colgate, Sr., D
Zoe Willis, Loyola Maryland, Jr., D
Sage Strohman, Army West Point, Sr., GK

Second Team*
Lailah Stewart, American, Yr., F
Morgan Fagan, Boston University, Sr., F
Ellie Stokes, Colgate, Jr., F
Brigid Duffy, Army West Point, Jr., M
Alexa Jindal, Lafayette, Sr., F
Mackenzie Stickelman, Boston University, Jr., M
Elizabeth Gallagher, Loyola Maryland, Sr., M
Grace Pohlidal, Army West Point, Fr.
Keira Vesy, Army West Point, Sr., D
Helene Tyburczy, Boston University, Jr., D
Jess Benattar, Bucknell, Sr., GK
Catherine Apker, Lafayette, So, GK

Third Team
Bella Conti, Army West Point, Fr., F
Katie Connell, Bucknell, Fr., F
Cyndea Labissiere, Lehigh, So., F
Izzy Kadzban, American, Sr., M
Cami Silvestro, Army West Point, Jr., M
Reese Evans, Bucknell, Sr., M
Allison Hanlon, Boston University, Sr., D
Meghan White, Bucknell, Jr., D
Lauren Stewart, Lafayette, Sr., D
Corrine Lyght, Lehigh, Sr., D
Bridget Carr, Boston University, Fr., GK

* Due to a tie in voting, there are 12 members on the second team.

Bucknell University Athletics

Deda, Schiano, Cook Collect Major Awards as Six Bison Earn All-Patriot League Women's Soccer Honors

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Players Mentioned

Jess Benattar

Katie Connell

Teresa Deda

Reese Evans

Jenna Hall

Katie Schiano

Meghan White

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