WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – After winning the Little East Conference women's soccer regular-season title despite being selected to finish fourth in the pre-season coaches' poll, Eastern Connecticut State University has garnered a commanding seven all-conference picks and two major awards in the LEC season-ending awards program.

Sophomore keeper Alex Ignatowicz (Coventry) repeated as Goalie-of-the-Year and the coaching staff was named Coaching Staff-of-the-Year while graduate forward Katelyn Herbert (Bethpage, NY) and sophomore midfielder Glenda Zhiminaicela (Clinton) both repeated all-LEC honors. It was the third all-conference honor for Herbert.

Three first-year players in the conference were named first-team all-conference, two representing Eastern in defender Jordan Fabry (Lisbon) and forward Michaela Gasparri (Prospect). That duo joined Ignatowicz, who was a first-team repeater.

Joining Zhiminaicela on the second team was junior midfielder Emily Dunlea (Attleboro, MA) while senior defender Kylie Gentile (Berlin) joined Herbert on the third team, both named for the first time.
Eastern led all teams with three first-teamers and seven total selections.

In 2024, the Warriors paced fourth in the LEC regular-season with a 3-3-2 record. Picked for that position this year, Eastern finished 5-1-2 in the LEC, taking its first  outright regular-season crown since 2016. In eight LEC regular-season matches, Eastern led the conference by allowing an average of 0.75 goals per match and was third in scoring (1.75). The Warriors posted four shutouts in those matches and allowed only one opponent to score more than once.

A total of 37 players were named to one of three all-conference teams. The first and second teams consisted of 12 players each, with 13 players named to the third team.
   
Goalkeeper-of-the-Year and First Team All-LEC
Alex Ignatowicz, So., Coventry

Ignatowicz earns her second Goalkeeper-of-the-Year award in as many years with the program, following an impressive sophomore year. She kept six clean sheets in 14 starts, holding a goals against average of just 1.26 (tied for lowest in the LEC) and a .810 save percentage. Eastern's 19 goals allowed on the season (15 by Ignatowicz) were the tied-fewest in the conference, equaling Rhode Island College, who played one game less. Ignatowicz held a record of 8-3-3 in net for the regular season conference champions. In crucial conference matchups late in the season against UMass Boston and Western Connecticut, Ignatowicz did not allow a  goal, with her 13 saves over those two matches leading the Warriors to consecutive victories. She received two Little East Conference Goalkeeper of the Week honors, on August 31 and October 12.

Coaching Staff-of-the-Year

Head coach Sarah Tompkins and second-year assistant Emily Morphitis and tenth-year goalkeeper coach Phil Stevens led the Warriors to a record of 10-5-3 in her fourth year with the Warriors. She becomes the first head coach to win the award for Eastern since 2015. The Warriors reached double-digit wins for the first time since 2018 (11), improving upon their 6-10-2 record last season. With a first place finish in the Little East Conference regular season, Eastern achieved a bye into the conference semi-finals for the first time since 2019.

First Team  
Michaela Gasparri, Fy., F, Prospect

Gasparri led the Warriors with ten goals and five assists, totaling 25 points (5^th in LEC). Gasparri had a streak of six goals in six games from October 1 - October 18, including two games with three goal contributions. Her highest point tally came in a 4-1 win against Plymouth State, when she scored twice  and added an assist. Gasparri received four LEC weekly awards: one Offensive Player-of-the-Week and three Rookie-of-the-Week awards. Gasparri started the first 17 matches but missed the LEC semifinal loss due to illness.

Jordan Fabry, Fy., D, Lisbon

Fabry was a sophomore academically with freshman eligibility after transferring from Quinnipiac University last spring.  As a wing defender who took the majority of corner kicks, Fabry helped Eastern to another outstanding defensive season.

She was one of three players and the only freshman to start all 18 matches, leading the team in minutes (1,509) and average minutes (83.8). She was voted Defensive Player-of-the-Week four times, ranging from September 7 to October 19. She added one goal and three assists, scoring her goal in a 2-0 win against UMass Boston.

Second Team
Emily Dunlea, Jr., MF, Attleboro, MA

Dunlea received her first all-conference recognition in her third year. The junior tri-captain was one of three players to start all 18 matches and was second in minutes (1,259) and average minutes (77.0).  As a midfielder, Dunlea was thought to possess excellent distribution skills, helping her team dictate the tempo with her vision on the ball. Her composure helped Eastern keep possession throughout the season.
 
Glenda Zhiminaicela, So., M, Clinton
Zhiminaicela moved up a spot to second team after being voted to the third team in only her first season in 2024. She scored two goals and had three assists, ranking her third on the team in points (7). Both of her goals are classified as game-winners, scoring against VTSU Castleton and Plymouth State. Zhiminaicela also had two assists in the 4-1 victory over Plymouth. She covered an incredible amount of ground this season in all areas of the field, setting the tone for her teammates with the intensity she provided. With seven assists, she is the program's active leader in that category.

Third Team 
Katelyn Herbert, Gr., F, Bethpage, NY

Herbert was named to her third All-LEC team, earning second-team honors last year and third-team mention in 2022 (injury limited her to nine matches as a sophomore in 2023 when she was still able to lead the team in goals (4) and points (9). This year, she scored seven goals (second to Gasparri) and had two assists, totaling 16 points (second most on team). Herbert had a goal contribution in eight games, with her multi-goal game coming against Simmons University. She joined Dunlea and Fabry as the only three Warriors to start all 18 games of the season. At season's end, Herbert was the active leading scorer in goals (22)  and points (50), reaching the 50-point milestone at home in an LEC 1-0 win over Western Connecticut.

Kylie Gentile, Sr., D, Berlin

A wing defender, Gentile was in her first official season with the Warriors, having missed last season due to injury. The Central Connecticut State transfer helped Eastern to eight clean sheets in her 17 starts, totalling 1,100 minutes with an average of 64.7 per game. Her energy gave the Eastern backline a spark all season, covering the entire sideline for the Warriors. Even as a defender, she was an attacking threat, showcasing her ability to contribute on both sides of the ball.