By: Zach Harnischfeger
BROCKPORT, NY--- The 2024 season for the Brockport women's soccer team was the most successful in program history. In their first season as a member of the Empire 8 conference, they finished with a 15-1-2 overall record and a 10-1 conference record 16 pitched shutouts, which is the most in program history. The team also ranks fourth nationally in goals against average.
Although Brockport lost in the Empire 8 Semi-Finals, they still received an At-Large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Eagles are making just their second NCAA Tournament appearance in program history and their first appearance since 2006 when they won the SUNYAC Conference Championship to earn an automatic bid.
The Golden Eagles have claimed 10 All-Conference selections, a trio of Empire 8 awards, and two All-Tournament Team selections.
Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year: Forward Jaylah Cossin
Cossin was named Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year after another strong season. She led the conference in goals with 11 and finished second in the conference in goals per game with a 3.56. These awards go along with her 2nd Team All-Conference and 1st-Team All-Region selections from last season.
"Being named Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year is such an honor and I feel extremely grateful," Cossin said. "It means a lot, not just to me, but to our program to get three major awards. This being the first year in this conference, I think it really highlights the support and adaptability of my teammates and coaches. None of this happens without them, and it really shows how hard we’ve all worked together to get here."
Cossin knows the challenges of moving into a new conference but is proud of the team for not letting the change hinder the team's goals, leading to the most successful season in program history.
"This season has been something special," Cossin said. "Since I transferred into Brockport last year, moving into the Empire 8 this year marks three conferences I’ve played in throughout my college experience. Of course, moving into a new conference can be tricky sometimes, but overall, I don’t think we let it get in our heads. We stayed focused on what we do best and took it one game at a time. Everyone stepped up when it mattered, and we just trusted each other. It’s been amazing to see how that trust and hard work turned into such a historic season."
Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year: Midfield/Defense Lyndsey Miller
Miller played a big factor on defense. She played the second-most minutes on the team with 1,344 and helped the Golden Eagles lead the conference in the least amount of goals scored with four, which was also top five nationally. Miller also finished the season with three goals, one assist, and seven points. Last season, Miller was a SUNYAC Third-Team All-Conference selection.
"Lyndsey absolutely deserves E8 Defensive Player of the Year," Cossin said. "She’s been a rock for us all season, consistently leading by example and stepping up in huge moments. Our defense as a whole has been incredible—they’ve given us so much confidence up top to push forward knowing they have our backs. I’m so proud of Lyndsey for everything she’s done, she’s an incredible player and teammate."
Empire 8 First-Team All-Conference: Midfield Amelia Breton
Breton was very impactful on offense as she finished the season with eight goals and 16 points. Her eight goals were second most on the team and seventh best in the Empire 8. Breton was named Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week back in October.
Empire 8 Second-Team All-Conference: Forward Sierra Edwards
This was Edwards's first season as a Golden Eagle after transferring from Division I Le Moyne College. In her first season at Brockport, she finished with six goals, two assists, and 14 points.
Empire 8 Second-Team All-Conference: Midfield Megan Gerber
Gerber finished the season with over 1000 minutes played and recorded a total of four goals, one assist, and nine points. Last season, Gerber was a SUNYAC Third-Team All-Conference selection.
Empire 8 Second-Team All-Conference: Defense Kellie Gentile
Gentile was a critical component of the Brockport defense as she played all 90 minutes in the last four games of the season and totaled 1,275 minutes. She also had one assist on the year in a matchup against Nazareth.
Empire 8 Second-Team All-Conference: Goalkeeper Madeline McCrosson
After being a SUNYAC Third-Team All-Conference selection last season, McCrosson was named Empire 8 Second-Team All-Conference and Empire 8 Sportswoman of the Year. McCrosson played 1,189 minutes between the pipes and finished the season with 33 saves and only four goals against. Her 0.303 goals-against average is ninth-best in the nation.
"I think it's really cool to have been chosen," McCrosson said. "I know that they pick one person from each team, so to be able to be that person was really cool. I don't think I really knew what it was going into this season but I am really happy that I was able to accomplish that and have my sportsmanship show."
Empire 8 Third-Team All-Conference: Forward McKenna Slate
Slate had a strong sophomore season for Brockport as she finished with four goals, one assist, and nine points.
Empire 8 Third-Team All-Conference: Forward/Midfield Autumn Edwards
Autumn Edwards, who transferred from Le Moyne along with her sister Sierra Edwards, had two goals and four assists which was good enough for eight points.
Empire 8 Third-Team All-Conference: Defense Ella Camalleri
Camalleri led the team in minutes played with 1,384 and played every minute in each postseason game. She also recorded two assists.
Empire 8 All-Tournament Team: Forward Katie Hotaling and Defense Lena Turaj
Hotaling scored a goal in PKs against Nazareth in the Empire 8 Semi-Finals loss. On the entire season, she had two goals and two assists. Turaj helped the defense by not allowing a goal in the tournament against Elmira or Nazareth. She also helped the team clinch the No. 1 Seed against Geneseo, as she played for all 90 minutes and played both center back and outside back blocking multiple shots by the Knights' offense.
"It means a lot," Turaj said. "I'm thankful that the Empire 8 saw those accomplishments. Winning alongside Katie I think is a testament that there's talent across the team from the defensive side all the way to the offensive side."
"I think it's awesome," Hotaling said. "Jaylah is such a special player. She is insanely good. Same with Lyndsey, it's just been solid throughout all three of her years. It's nice to get the recognition you deserve. And Mike [Idland] coached a great year. I mean having four goals against is just unheard of. Overall, every player that was on those teams deserves to be on those teams. It was nice to come off a not-so-satisfying end to the postseason, but have something to show for it in the end."
Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year: Head coach Mike Idland's Brockport Golden Eagles staff
The last accolade given to Brockport was Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year. Head coach Mike Idland and assistant coach Sydnee Smith led the team to a record-breaking season in the first year in the Empire 8 with 15 shutouts, which was two more than the previous record of 13 in 1995 and 2023.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the team received an At-Large Bid into the NCAA Tournament. The team watched it live on the selection show.
"Coming off of our game against Nazareth, I think everyone was a little emotionally drained," McCrosson said. "It was a disappointing way for the season to end or so we thought to end. Once we found out we were actually in, everyone was so excited. We were all jumping up and down and screaming and then an hour later we were on the turf practicing. We're excited for the opportunity and we're ready to go."
The Golden Eagles will travel to the University of Scranton for first-round action of the NCAA Tournament where they will take on Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
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