KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The United States Coaches announced the 2023 All-Region Teams featuring two Chargers from the women's soccer program. Junior
Bridget O'Connell (Peabody, Mass.) earned a second team All-Region nod and first-year
Riley Paul (Londonderry, Vt.) tabbed the third team All-Region slot.
O'Connell played a large role for the Chargers offensive tear throughout the 2023 season. The junior captain started in all 22 matches for the Chargers notching a program record 21 goals and tallying five assists. O'Connell was named GNAC Offensive player of the year and to the All-Conference First Team.
Paul maintained a strong defensive line for the Chargers in the 2023 season playing every single minute for Colby-Sawyer in all 22 matches. The first year defender tabbed one goal and one assist in her first season.
Coach's Corner:
"I think our team really took some strides this year from last year and we asserted ourselves as one of the top teams in the conference. It's great to get some individual accolades and Bridget and Riley were a big part of our success this season.
Bridget really took her game to a new level and established herself as one of the best and most dangerous players in our conference. She was more unselfish which I think led to her getting more good looks on goal and she was also more creative and scored goals in so many different ways. I'm looking forward to having Bridget one more season and helping us achieve our next goal which is to win the conference.
Riley stepped up as a first year and played center back every minute this year in a role she didn't play much in her career. She anchored a back line that played unlike any other team in our conference in the 3-5-2 and was solid and consistent for us.
The expectations for our team are even higher for next year and I think the success we had this year will get us more ready. We open up with a trip to Virginia next year and will play two of the top teams in the country.
Bridget and Riley will be a big part of our success again next year and I'm proud of them and happy they have received this accolade. It's not easy to be part of these all region teams and they earned it."
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