Women’s Soccer Trio Honored as MAAC Announces Regular Season Award Winners

Led by junior midfielder Jessica Whitaker, three members of the Canisius women's soccer team were recognized as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announced its regular-season award winners on Monday.

Whitaker was named to the All-MAAC First Team while senior midfielder Skylar Cornell garnered All-MAAC Second Team honors. Fellow senior Lizzy Harkness rounded out the award winners as she was an All-MAAC Third Team selection.

A native of Bolton, Englnd, Whitaker appeared in all 16 regular-season contests for the Golden Griffins, leading the squad in both assists (6) and points (14). Tied for fifth in the league in assists, Whitaker became one of just four league players to record three assists in a game this season when when she dished out a career-best three helpers in the Griffs' 5-1 victory against Saint Peter's on Oct. 25. She also netted two goals in a 4-2 triumph against Merrimack at the Demske Sports Complex on Sept. 13.

Cornell garnered All-MAAC distinction for the first time in her career after posting three goals, two assists and eight points in 14 games played. The Bainbridge Township, Ohio product found the back of the net in both of the Griffs final two games of the regular season, including a three-point performance in the regular-season finale at Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara on Oct. 29.

Harkness received All-MAAC Third Team recognition for the third consecutive season after starting all 16 games for Canisius during the regular season, playing 1438 of a possible 1440 minutes in those contests. A Preseason All-MAC honoree, Harkness notched three goals, including the game-winning marker in the Griffs' 3-2 victory against Iona at the Demske Sports Complex back on Sept. 27 and notched the opening goal in the victory against the Purple Eagles to clinch a berth in the MAAC Championship.

The MAAC also announced its All-Academic Team on Monday. To be eligible, a student-athlete must complete two semesters at their institution and hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a 4.0 scale.

Canisius landed 17 student-athletes on the MAAC All-Academic Team. Sacred Heart placed a conference-best 25 student-athletes on the squad while Iona was second (21) and Fairfield third (20).

The No. 3 seed in the 2025 MAAC women's soccer championship, Canisius returns to action Thursday when it squares off against No. 2 seed Quinnipiac in a 1 p.m. contest at the Quinnipiac Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium in Hamden, Conn.

2025 MAAC Women's Soccer All-Academic Team

Name	Class	Major
Emily Brewer	Senior	Marketing
Elizabeth Cavanaugh	Junior	Psychology
Skylar Cornell	Senior	Animal Behavior Ecology Conservation
Maggie Cregan	Junior	Psychology
Azaria Fagan	Sophomore	Criminal Justice
Puneet Gill	Sophomore	Sports and Exercise Health Care
Elizabeth Harkness	Senior	Finance and Economics
Jazmin Herrera	Junior	Biology
Samantha Hyde	Sophomore	Finance
Mia Iacona	Senior	Sport Management
Meghan Joerger	Sophomore	Finance
Mya Jones	Sophomore	Psychology
Mary Molloy	Junior	Integrated Marketing Communications
Lina Pinella	Sophomore	Finance
Sofia Ruffa	Junior	Biology
Nikki Silverman	Junior	Management
Jessica Whitaker	Junior	Sports and Exercise Health Care

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Players Mentioned

#22 Emily Brewer: M; 5' 2"; Senior

#7 Skylar Cornell: M/F; 5' 4"; Senior

#20 Maggie Cregan: F; 5' 7"; Junior

#13 Azaria Fagan: F; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#2 Puneet Gill: D; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#8 Lizzy Harkness: M; 5' 9"; Senior

#18 Jazmin Herrera: M; 5' 3"; Junior

#21 Samantha Hyde: D; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#9 Mia Iacona: F; 5' 4"; Senior

#10 Meghan Joerger: M/D; 5' 6"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#22 Emily Brewer
: 5' 2"; Senior
: M

#7 Skylar Cornell
: 5' 4"; Senior
: M/F

#20 Maggie Cregan
: 5' 7"; Junior
: F

#13 Azaria Fagan
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: F

#2 Puneet Gill
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: D

#8 Lizzy Harkness
: 5' 9"; Senior
: M

#18 Jazmin Herrera
: 5' 3"; Junior
: M

#21 Samantha Hyde
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: D

#9 Mia Iacona
: 5' 4"; Senior
: F

#10 Meghan Joerger
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: M/D