VESTAL, N.Y. - Two-time reigning regular season champion Binghamton women's soccer had a strong presence in the America East awards, announced by the conference Tuesday afternoon. As the team prepares to host UMass Lowell in a Thursday night 6:07 p.m. semifinal game, BU's players received ample recognition from opposing coaches.  

Graduate Olivia McKnight repeated as Midfielder of the Year, freshman forward Paige Luke earned Rookie of the Year honors and senior back Lexi Vegoda joined McKnight as a first-team all-conference selection. Junior keeper Kaitlyn Williams and sophomore back Brooke Herber earned second-team all-conference laurels and freshman back Sophia Garofalo joined Luke on the All-Rookie Team. Additionally, McKnight and Vegoda repeated as members of the All-Academic Team.

"Our program is very happy and proud of these six players who have made significant contributions this fall," eighth-year head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "Olivia, Lexi, Brooke, Kaitlyn, Sophia, and Paige were all factors in how we played on both sides of the ball. We also note how important it was for everyone to contribute to what we do as a team on a daily basis in training to push one another to be the best versions of themselves. These individual merits are well deserved and also reflective of the collective efforts from everyone in the program that got us the regular season title this season and the No. 1 seed. We hope to continue this pathway of success as we host the semifinal on Thursday."

The Bearcats completed their first-ever unbeaten conference season (5-0-3) to win the program's second straight regular season title by three points over second-place Maine. Binghamton became the first team since 2012 to finish unbeaten in league play and joined Boston University (5x) and Hartford as the only programs to go unbeaten during the Bearcats' 22 years in the America East. Bhattacharjee and his coaching staff orchestrated a nine-game unbeaten streak to end the regular season. The Bearcats earned the No. 1 tournament seed and host role for the second straight season. Despite posting five conference wins and outscoring league foes by a 15-6 count, the staff was surprisingly overlooked for America East Coach of the Year accolades. It was just the second time in 23 years that an unbeaten regular season champion didn't yield the top coaching honor. Bhattacharjee was in line for a second straight coaching honor, having been selected in 2022. 

McKnight capped her stellar five-year career with her fourth all-conference selection and second straight Midfielder of the Year honor. It's the first time any America East midfielder has gone back-to-back outright in 20 years to win the award. McKnight wraps up her career as a three-time first-team honoree (2020, 2022, 2023) plus one second-team selection (2021) and an All-Rookie pick (2019). She leads the team with four goals, five assists and 13 points. She also made the All-Academic Team for a second straight year with a 3.66 graduate GPA in English and Social Work.

Luke capped a strong collegiate debut season with the highest rookie honor. She becomes the first Bearcat freshman in 22 years of conference membership to win the award. Luke tallied four goals and two assists to lead all America East freshmen. 

Vegoda repeated as both a first team all-conference selection and as a member of the All-Academic Team. She was a force at both ends of the field, helping secure six shutouts and also producing four goals and four assists on the offensive side. Off the field, she holds a 3.64 GPA in psychology. 

Williams and Herber also anchored BU's defensive unit. Williams started all 16 games and posted a 1.13 goals against average and a save percentage of 81%. She notched five solo shutouts and earned her first all-conference selection. One year after being named to the All-Rookie Team, center back Herber moved into the all-conference echelon with her selection to the second team. She is one of just four underclassmen selected to the 22-player teams. 

Garofalo gave BU yet another defender with recognition. After earning a starting role right out of the gate, she joined Herber to anchor the middle of the back line and logged 88 minutes a game during the regular season.  

Binghamton America East All-Conference Selections
2002:  Tracy Kasmarcik (1st Team), Lauren Cherry (2nd), Amanda Norman (Honorable Mention), Meghan Taylor (Honorable Mention), Lauren Massey (All-Rookie)
2003:  Tracy Kasmarcik (2nd), Tatiana Mathelier (Honorable Mention), Danielle White (All-Rookie)
2004:  Tatiana Mathelier (1st), Deli Plourde (1st), Meghan Taylor (1st), Caitlin O'Shaughnessy (2nd), Kim Povill (Honorable Mention & All-Rookie)
2005:  Meghan Taylor (1st), Kelly Burnham (2nd), Tricia Reed (2nd), Kristie Bowers (Honorable Mention), Kim Thomas (All-Rookie)
2006:  Tricia Reed (1st), Nicole Montoya (All-Rookie)
2007:  Amanda Casares (2nd), Kim Povill (2nd), Stefani Knopick (All-Rookie)
2008:  Amanda Casares (2nd), Nicole Montoya (2nd), Dani Raske (All-Rookie)
2009:  Amanda Casares (1st), Dani Raske (2nd), Jamie Holliday (All-Rookie), Emily Pape (All-Rookie)
2011: Connie Gormley (All-Rookie)
2012: Sarah Furminger (2nd)
2013: Rebecca Raber (1st), Connie Gormley (2nd), Katie O'Neill (All-Rookie)
2014: Katherine Corcoran (2nd), Katie O'Neill (2nd), Connie Gormley (2nd), Jacque Rice (All-Rookie)
2015: Katherine Corcoran (2nd)
2017: Kayla Saager (Striker of Year, 1st), Carly Barnett (2nd), Erin Theiller (2nd, All Rookie), Dora Hayes (2nd, All Rookie)
2018: Kayla Saager (2nd), Kayla Mackenzie (All-Rookie)
2019: Dora Hayes (2nd), Erin Theiller (2nd), Olivia McKnight (All-Rookie)
2020: Erin Theiller (1st), Olivia McKnight (1st), Nicole Scudero (2nd), Stefania Piantadosi (2nd), Haylee Poltorak (2nd), Victoria McKnight (All-Rookie)
2021: Maya Anand (2nd), Olivia McKnight (2nd), Nicole Scudero (2nd), Victoria McKnight (2nd), Peyton Gilmore (All-Rookie)
2022: Maya Anand (Striker of Year, 1st), Olivia McKnight (Midfielder of Year, 1st), Peyton Gilmore (1st), Lexi Vegoda (1st), Victoria McKnight (2nd), Brooke Herber (All-Rookie), Allison Falvo (All-Rookie)
2023: Olivia McKnight (Midfielder of Year, 1st), Lexi Vegoda (1st), Kaitlyn Williams (2nd), Brooke Herber (2nd), Paige Luke (Rookie of Year, All-Rookie), Sophia Garofalo (All-Rookie)