Brandywine Receives Five Women’s Soccer All-Conference Honorees

MEDIA, Pa. -- Five Penn State Brandywine women's soccer players were named to the All-Penn State University Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Teams, including four to the first team, on Monday.

Earning first team recognition was senior Meltem Ozdemir (Carney's Point, N.J./St. Mark's), sophomore Olivia Esposito (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester) and freshmen Jess James (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) and Jolyn Walleekendeh (Trainer, Pa./Chichester). Barbara Munn (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) received honorable mention laurels.

Ozdemir, who earned her second First Team All-PSUAC selection, played in all 11 matches this fall, recording four goals and five assists. She matched Esposito for the team lead in assists and tied James for second on the squad with 13 total points.

Ozdemir opened the season with a three-goal performance in a win over Valley Forge. She tallied assists in three of Brandywine's final seven games.

A senior captain, Ozdemir played in all 46 of Brandywine's games since the beginning of the 2018 season, registering 10 goals and 10 assists. She also received the John Fritz Sportsmanship Award. Named after former PSUAC Commissioner John Fritz, the sportsmanship award is given to one player from each team in the league who best displays the core values of the league and sportsmanship to teammates and opponents throughout the season.

Epsosito was one-of-three players to start all 11 games this fall. She tied for the team lead in assists with five and finished 10th in the conference in total scoring after adding three goals.

In the season opener, Esposito posted a goal and two assists in a win over Valley Forge. She tallied the first two-goal match of her career during a 5-0 home triumph over Penn State Beaver on Oct. 16.

James came on strong at the end of the year, scoring goals in five of her final six matches. She added three assists, including two against Valley Forge, and posted a three-point game with a goal and an assist in a win over Penn State Beaver.

In 10 matches, James totaled 13 points, matching her with Ozdemir for seventh among PSUAC scorers. Her five goals tied for sixth in the conference and were the second-highest mark on the team.

Walleekendeh served as Brandywine's leading goal scorer with 14 markers in 11 matches. She ranked second in the conference and tied for fifth nationally in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association in both goals and total points (30).

Walleekendeh opened the season with goals in eight-straight games, including a career-high four scores in the season opener at Valley Forge. She tallied four multi-goal efforts overall.

Munn started seven games on the backline for the Lions. She helped the Brandywine defense post three shutouts, including two in conference play. Defensively, Brandywine ranked second in the PSUAC by allowing 19 goals during league play.

Munn also contributed one assist in a victory against Valley Forge and seven shots on goal overall during the year.