HILTON, N.Y. – Russell Sage College women's soccer forward Natalie Ricci (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes), a graduate student, was voted the Empire 8 Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Results of the voting, which was done by the league's head coaches, were announced by the E8 earlier this afternoon.
Ricci, who garnered first-team All-Conference accolades for the fourth-straight fall, was one of seven Gators to receive All-E8 honors. She ranked second in E8 in scoring with 18 points on seven goals and four assists. Her seven goals also ranked second on the circuit. She closed her fall tied for fifth in program records with 71 career points.
"Natalie is so deserving of this award," said Head Coach Garrett Cobb. "The hard work she puts in every day shows in her play on the field and it is great to see her rewarded for it. She is humble and leads by example. All of us on the team congratulate Natalie on an exceptional season!"
Junior forward Kennedy Jones (Albany, NY/Albany), freshman defender Courtney Bush (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen), and sophomore defender Amelia Geesler (Glenmont, NY/Bethlehem Central) were second-team selections, while senior defender Delaney Gillis (Hardwick, MA/Quabbin Regional) and junior forward Marissa Key (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) took home third-team honors.
Jones tied for fifth in the E8 with 13 points on six goals and an assist. The newcomer tallied four game-winning goals, the most in the Conference.
Geesler and Key provided strong two-way play for RSC. Geesler ranked third on the Gators with eight points on three goals and two assists, while Key was fourth with five points.
Bush and Gillis both brought intelligence and authority as they anchored the Gator defense this fall. Bush started all 19 contests as a rookie, while Gillis served as a steady presence in the back. The duo helped RSC record six clean sheets.
One member of each institution makes the 2022 E8 Women's Soccer Sportswomen of the Year Team. The Empire 8 Conference emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees distinguish themselves by consistently exhibiting the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen. Senior Julia Gerringer, who had to transition from an active player to manager due to injury, represents the Gators on this squad.
The group helped RSC (8-10-1/6-3-0 E8) secure the three seed in the E8 Conference Championship Tournament. The Gators reached the Semifinals before falling at eventual champion Nazareth.
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