Moravian Honors 2020 Women's Soccer Seniors
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- With the final semester of their college experience moved remotely by COVID-19, the Moravian College Department of Athletics & Recreation today honors the four senior members of the Greyhounds’ women’s soccer squad that missed out on their traditional career-ending senior experiences.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- With the final semester of their college experience moved remotely by COVID-19, the Moravian College Department of Athletics & Recreation today honors the four senior members of the Greyhounds' women's soccer squad that missed out on their traditional career-ending senior experiences.
The quartet helped the Greyhounds to a 35-25-5 record the last four seasons and a pair of Landmark Conference Tournament appearances including a runner-up finish in 2016.
Midfielder Juliana Caranci played in 64 career matches, starting 56 of them, and Juliana had six goals and six assists for 18 points including two game-winning goals. Juliana is the daughter of Patricia and Nino Caranci, and she is majoring in business management at Moravian.
"Jules played the game with great passion and energy," commented Head Coach Jeff Ykoruk. "She was our spark this past season and her tenacity allowed for us to compete against a lot of high-level teams. Jules was explosive and would drive and pressure players with her speed which created a lot of problems for opposing teams. She had a strong offseason which allowed her to compete for the full 90 minutes."
Goalie Jamie Daly played in 42 career matches with 26 starts. Jamie had a 0.96 career goals-against average, which ranks fourth in school history, to go with 81 saves, a 10-10-4 record in 2,155 minutes while combining on seven shutouts. Jamie was selected to the 2019 Landmark Conference Fall All-Sportsmanship Team. Jamie, who has been on Moravian's Dean's List once, is the daughter of Debora and Michael Daly, and she is majoring in management with minors in accounting and public health at Moravian.
"Jamie had an outstanding senior season," Ykoruk said. "She had a great offseason and was able to showcase some very high-level goalkeeping skills. She came up with a lot of big saves this season which allowed us to stay in games. Her leadership and consistency kept our back line confident and organized. She also did a great job on defending set pieces which is really important to a team."
Forward Taylor Irr played in 18 matches with two starts, and Taylor scored one goal. Taylor, who has made the Dean's List seven times and was on the 2019 Landmark Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll, is the daughter of Dianne Pelaggi and Hans Irr, and she is majoring in health sciences with a minor in public health.
"Taylor is as hard working of a player as you will get," noted Ykoruk. "She had a very mature approach to practices and games. She used her quickness to get around defenders and help create opportunities for us in the attacking half of the field. Taylor also was a great role model for our younger players and all of them really look up to her."
Defender Paige Weiss played in 64 career matches, starting 63 of them, and Paige had 12 goals including five game-winning goals. Paige was selected to the 2019 Landmark All-Conference First Team and the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III All-Mid-Atlantic Region Third Team. Paige was also named as the 2016 Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year, and a member of the Landmark All-Conference Second Team in 2017 and 2018. She is a three-time member of the Landmark Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll as well as the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society. Paige, who has made the Dean's List seven times, is the daughter of Holly and Tom Weiss, and she is majoring in nursing at Moravian.
"Paige had an amazing career and was out rock in the back," Ykoruk stated. "Never did Paige have a day where she didn't work hard. That consistent hard work, combined with her leadership qualities is what made Paige great. Paige also dominated in the air and was one of the top scoring threats on corner kicks. Her physicality as a central defender made it extremely hard for forwards to get shots off."
Graphics on all four seniors will be posted throughout the day on Moravian's social media accounts.
