Women’s Soccer Season In Review
MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine's first women's soccer season was filled with highlights, capped off by an appearance in the first-ever Penn State University Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championship game in State College on Nov. 1.
The Lions opened the year by winning three-of-four matches, including the program's inaugural match, a 5-2 home victory over Penn State Mont Alto on Sept. 9.
Brandywine then closed out the campaign by going undefeated over its last six matches (4-0-2) and clinched the PSUAC regular-season title by defeating Penn State Beaver 4-0 in its regular-season finale, but was upset by the same Beaver squad in penalty kicks one week later at the PSUAC Championship after the teams played to a 1-1 draw through 110 minutes.
Following the season, junior Olivia Encarnacion claimed USCAA All-American honorable mention accolades and was one-of-four Lions to be named all-conference. Encarnacion led the team with 22 points on 10 goals and two assists, while starting all 11 games. She scored the team's first-ever goal just 3:49 into the opening match with Mont Alto and also netted Brandywine's first-ever hat trick, scoring three times in a victory at Valley Forge on Oct. 13.
In addition to Encarnacion, junior Mary Mitcheli and freshmen Ami Iannello and Amber Phillips were selected PSUAC all-conference performers. Mitcheli scored goals in Brandywine's final three games and tallied five scores overall, while Iannello, a midfielder, added six goals and a team-leading three assists. Phillips anchored the Lions' defensive unit that surrendered the fewest goals and shots in the league.
Iannello also earned one of Brandywine's four weekly conference awards throughout the season. Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Abbonizio was named as the league's goalie of the week three times and was the national goalkeeper of the week in late October. Abbonizio owned the lowest goals-against average by a PSUAC net minder this fall.
Brandywine finished the year with a 7-2-2 record during PSUAC Coach of the Year Sharif Saber's first season leading the team.
