Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Schiano Named Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Joins Francis on Academic All-PL Team
11/6/2024 11:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell women's soccer team claimed the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second straight season, as senior defender Katie Schiano earned the prestigious honor on Wednesday. Schiano and senior midfielder Kelley Francis were both named to the 11-person Academic All-Patriot League Team.
Schiano follows former back-line teammate Brooke Tracey, who was the league's Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2023. This is the seventh time a Bison has earned the honor. In addition to Schiano and Tracey, Kendall Ham won it in back-to-back years in 2016 and 2017, and Shannon Curd (2006), Joanne Crane (1994), and Christina Baselga (1990) were also selected.
This is the second major award this postseason for Schiano who carries a 3.83 cumulative grade-point average as a marketing, innovation, and design major in the Freeman College of Management. Last week, she was selected as the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year while also earning a spot on the All-Patriot League First Team.
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.
Francis garnered a spot on the PL All-Academic Team for the first time. She is one of the few students in the entire senior class at Bucknell who has maintained a 4.0 cumulative GPA, and she has done it as a neuroscience major.
On the field, the Aspen, Colo., native has started every game this season and has two goals and two assists playing as a wide midfielder and forward. She scored a big goal last week in the regular-season title-clinching win over Lehigh, and earlier in the year she tallied a tiebreaking goal in the 77th minute in a win at American. Francis now has eight goals and three assists in 69 career matches.
Bucknell is 11-4-2 overall and went 7-2 in Patriot League play this season. The Bison earned the No. 1 seed for the Patriot League Tournament, and after receiving a quarterfinal bye, they will host No. 4 Loyola in the semifinal round on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium.
Schiano follows former back-line teammate Brooke Tracey, who was the league's Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2023. This is the seventh time a Bison has earned the honor. In addition to Schiano and Tracey, Kendall Ham won it in back-to-back years in 2016 and 2017, and Shannon Curd (2006), Joanne Crane (1994), and Christina Baselga (1990) were also selected.
This is the second major award this postseason for Schiano who carries a 3.83 cumulative grade-point average as a marketing, innovation, and design major in the Freeman College of Management. Last week, she was selected as the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year while also earning a spot on the All-Patriot League First Team.
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.
Francis garnered a spot on the PL All-Academic Team for the first time. She is one of the few students in the entire senior class at Bucknell who has maintained a 4.0 cumulative GPA, and she has done it as a neuroscience major.
On the field, the Aspen, Colo., native has started every game this season and has two goals and two assists playing as a wide midfielder and forward. She scored a big goal last week in the regular-season title-clinching win over Lehigh, and earlier in the year she tallied a tiebreaking goal in the 77th minute in a win at American. Francis now has eight goals and three assists in 69 career matches.
Bucknell is 11-4-2 overall and went 7-2 in Patriot League play this season. The Bison earned the No. 1 seed for the Patriot League Tournament, and after receiving a quarterfinal bye, they will host No. 4 Loyola in the semifinal round on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium.
Players Mentioned
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