Bucknell University Athletics
11/6/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – As the Bucknell women's soccer team prepares to head to Boston University for the start of postseason play, the team on Friday learned that five members of its starting unit have earned All-Patriot League honors. Sophomore forward Gaby Parker, sophomore defender Emma Gavin, and freshman goalkeeper Sarah McFarland were named to the Second Team, while senior defender Julia Palitti and freshman midfielder Ingrid Murphy earned spots on the Third Team.
This is the fifth time in the last six years that the Bison have had at least five All-Patriot League honorees. This year's group includes two freshmen and two sophomores, who helped propel the team back into the postseason after a rare one-year absence. Bucknell went 4-3-2 in league play this fall and enters the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 5 seed.
Center backs Gavin and Palitti along with the rookie goalkeeper McFarland have made up the core of Bucknell's defense that has been stout for most of the season. The Bison have posted six shutouts and recently had a seven-game stretch where the only three goals against came on penalty kicks. Bucknell ranks fourth in the league in goals against (1.33), and 15 of the 24 goals conceded were confined to four games against Penn State (5), Towson (3), Army (4), and Colgate (3).
Gavin and Palitti have both played nearly every minute this season on the back line. In 18 games, both have played the full 90 minutes 17 times, with their only rest coming in an 8-1 rout of Mount St. Mary's early in the season. While the two center backs have been stout defensively, both have made goal contributions over the last two games. Palitti notched her first career goal against Colgate last Saturday, while Gavin headed in a corner kick to put an exclamation point on Wednesday's 5-1 win at American.
McFarland won the lead goalkeeper job in preseason camp and has started every game this season. Her six shutouts are the most by a freshman in team history. She ranks third in the league in shutouts and fifth in goals-against average (1.35). One of those clean sheets came at No. 23 Villanova, and McFarland's diving stop in the game's final seconds was selected as the IWSOC National Save of the Week.
At the other end of the pitch, Parker and Murphy have developed into two of the league's most dangerous attacking players. The duo tied for the team lead with four goals, and they ranked 1-2 in points with 12 and 11 respectively. Parker ranks third in the league with four assists, and her 60 total shot attempts are eight more than any other Patriot League player. Boston University's Kat Slott, the Patriot League Forward of the Year, was next with 52.
Parker scored both goals in a key 2-1 road win over Boston University, and she added a key insurance goal against American on Wednesday. Murphy scored the team's first goal of the season in a 1-0 win at Montana, and 10 days later she bagged a brace in a 4-0 win over La Salle.
Bucknell and Boston University meet on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Nickerson Field, with the winner drawing either No. 1 Navy or No. 2 Army in the semifinal round.
2026 Women's Soccer All-Patriot League and Major Awards
Forward of the Year – Kat Slott, Boston University, Sr., F
Midfielder of the Year – Sam Halligan, Holy Cross, Fifth Year, M
Defender of the Year – Daisy West, Army West Point, Jr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Karalyn Dail, Army West Point, Jr., GK
Rookie of the Year – Kamryn McWhinney, Army West Point, Fr., F
Coaching Staff of the Year – Army West Point (Head Coach Tracy Chao)
2026 First Team All-Patriot League Women's Soccer*
Bella Conti, Army West Point, Jr., F
Kamryn McWhinney, Army West Point, Fr., F
Kat Slott, Boston University, Sr., F
Grace Pohlidal, Army West Point, Jr., M
Maddi Woodward, Army West Point, Sr., M
Sam Halligan, Holy Cross, Fifth Year, M
Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette, Sr., M
Sophia Ryan, Navy, Fr., M
Daisy West, Army West Point, Jr., D
Helene Tyburczy, Boston University, Sr., D
Helen Bonner, Navy, So., D
Karalyn Dail, Army West Point, Jr., GK
2026 Second Team All-Patriot League Women's Soccer
Gaby Parker, Bucknell, So., F
Abby Cushing, Holy Cross, Sr., F
Jessica Black, Navy, So., F
Chiara Cosenza, Navy, Sr., F
Ciara Kennedy, Boston University, Sr., M
Samantha Ryan, Boston University, Fr., M
Betzael Contreras, Loyola Maryland, Jr., M
Emma Gavin, Bucknell, So., D
Karenna Beckstein, Holy Cross, Sr., D
Lauren Toms, Navy, Jr., D
Sarah McFarland, Bucknell, Fr. GK
2026 Third Team All-Patriot League Women's Soccer
Olivia Avellar, Boston University, Jr., F
Georgia Prouty, Boston University, So., F
Ava Graham, Holy Cross, Jr., F
Nina Tzouganatos, Boston University, So., M
Ingrid Murphy, Bucknell, Fr., M
Ande Swan, Navy, Jr., M
Ailyn Rowe, Army West Point, So., D
Julia Palitti, Bucknell, Sr., D
Caroline Bierfeldt, Holy Cross, Jr., D
Ali Barrow, Navy, Sr., D
Hannah Goetzer, Loyola Maryland, Sr., GK
This is the fifth time in the last six years that the Bison have had at least five All-Patriot League honorees. This year's group includes two freshmen and two sophomores, who helped propel the team back into the postseason after a rare one-year absence. Bucknell went 4-3-2 in league play this fall and enters the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 5 seed.
Center backs Gavin and Palitti along with the rookie goalkeeper McFarland have made up the core of Bucknell's defense that has been stout for most of the season. The Bison have posted six shutouts and recently had a seven-game stretch where the only three goals against came on penalty kicks. Bucknell ranks fourth in the league in goals against (1.33), and 15 of the 24 goals conceded were confined to four games against Penn State (5), Towson (3), Army (4), and Colgate (3).
Gavin and Palitti have both played nearly every minute this season on the back line. In 18 games, both have played the full 90 minutes 17 times, with their only rest coming in an 8-1 rout of Mount St. Mary's early in the season. While the two center backs have been stout defensively, both have made goal contributions over the last two games. Palitti notched her first career goal against Colgate last Saturday, while Gavin headed in a corner kick to put an exclamation point on Wednesday's 5-1 win at American.
McFarland won the lead goalkeeper job in preseason camp and has started every game this season. Her six shutouts are the most by a freshman in team history. She ranks third in the league in shutouts and fifth in goals-against average (1.35). One of those clean sheets came at No. 23 Villanova, and McFarland's diving stop in the game's final seconds was selected as the IWSOC National Save of the Week.
At the other end of the pitch, Parker and Murphy have developed into two of the league's most dangerous attacking players. The duo tied for the team lead with four goals, and they ranked 1-2 in points with 12 and 11 respectively. Parker ranks third in the league with four assists, and her 60 total shot attempts are eight more than any other Patriot League player. Boston University's Kat Slott, the Patriot League Forward of the Year, was next with 52.
Parker scored both goals in a key 2-1 road win over Boston University, and she added a key insurance goal against American on Wednesday. Murphy scored the team's first goal of the season in a 1-0 win at Montana, and 10 days later she bagged a brace in a 4-0 win over La Salle.
Bucknell and Boston University meet on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Nickerson Field, with the winner drawing either No. 1 Navy or No. 2 Army in the semifinal round.
2026 Women's Soccer All-Patriot League and Major Awards
Forward of the Year – Kat Slott, Boston University, Sr., F
Midfielder of the Year – Sam Halligan, Holy Cross, Fifth Year, M
Defender of the Year – Daisy West, Army West Point, Jr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Karalyn Dail, Army West Point, Jr., GK
Rookie of the Year – Kamryn McWhinney, Army West Point, Fr., F
Coaching Staff of the Year – Army West Point (Head Coach Tracy Chao)
2026 First Team All-Patriot League Women's Soccer*
Bella Conti, Army West Point, Jr., F
Kamryn McWhinney, Army West Point, Fr., F
Kat Slott, Boston University, Sr., F
Grace Pohlidal, Army West Point, Jr., M
Maddi Woodward, Army West Point, Sr., M
Sam Halligan, Holy Cross, Fifth Year, M
Nadia Zaffanella, Lafayette, Sr., M
Sophia Ryan, Navy, Fr., M
Daisy West, Army West Point, Jr., D
Helene Tyburczy, Boston University, Sr., D
Helen Bonner, Navy, So., D
Karalyn Dail, Army West Point, Jr., GK
2026 Second Team All-Patriot League Women's Soccer
Gaby Parker, Bucknell, So., F
Abby Cushing, Holy Cross, Sr., F
Jessica Black, Navy, So., F
Chiara Cosenza, Navy, Sr., F
Ciara Kennedy, Boston University, Sr., M
Samantha Ryan, Boston University, Fr., M
Betzael Contreras, Loyola Maryland, Jr., M
Emma Gavin, Bucknell, So., D
Karenna Beckstein, Holy Cross, Sr., D
Lauren Toms, Navy, Jr., D
Sarah McFarland, Bucknell, Fr. GK
2026 Third Team All-Patriot League Women's Soccer
Olivia Avellar, Boston University, Jr., F
Georgia Prouty, Boston University, So., F
Ava Graham, Holy Cross, Jr., F
Nina Tzouganatos, Boston University, So., M
Ingrid Murphy, Bucknell, Fr., M
Ande Swan, Navy, Jr., M
Ailyn Rowe, Army West Point, So., D
Julia Palitti, Bucknell, Sr., D
Caroline Bierfeldt, Holy Cross, Jr., D
Ali Barrow, Navy, Sr., D
Hannah Goetzer, Loyola Maryland, Sr., GK
Players Mentioned
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