Women's Soccer | 11/4/2026 11:10:00 AM
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced its 2026 women's soccer postseason awards with Gannon well represented, highlighted by
Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane) being named the PSAC Western Division Athlete of the Year.
A total of five Golden Knights earned All-PSAC West recognition, including three first-team selections and two second-team honorees.
Slippery Rock earned two of the conference's other major awards, with midfielder Libby Earley named the Western Division Defensive Player of the Year and Noreen Herlihy selected Coach of the Year. Lock Haven's Colleen Lloyd was named Freshman of the Year.
Respecki was joined on the first team by fellow seniors
Grace Emanuel (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and
Hannah Shepard (Erie, Pa./McDowell). Sophomore midfielders
Olivia Dixon (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) and
Bella Prince (Bradford,Pa./Bradford Area) earned second-team honors.
Respecki becomes the fourth player in Gannon women's soccer history to earn PSAC Athlete of the Year honors and the first since Sarah Fails in 2022. She joins Courtney Rowan (2008), three-time winner Mani Brueckner (2012, 2013, 2015) and Fails (2022) as the only Golden Knights to receive the honor.
Respecki, Emanuel and Shepard each earned All-PSAC honors for the fourth consecutive season, joining an exclusive group in Gannon women's soccer history. The trio joins Amanda Sharbaugh (2008–11), Mani Brueckner (2012–15) and Taylor Lewis (2016–18, 2021) as the only players in program history to earn All-PSAC recognition four times.
Gannon enjoyed another successful regular season under head coach
Colin Petersen, finishing 13-2-3 overall and 12-2-2 in PSAC West play. The Golden Knights secured the Western Division's No. 2 seed in the PSAC Tournament and have since improved to 14-2-3 following a 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Shepherd on Tuesday evening at McConnell Family Stadium.
Respecki headlines Gannon's all-conference contingent after another impressive season leading the Golden Knights' offensive attack. The senior forward has totaled a team-leading 11 goals and 29 points while adding seven assists. She has recorded 99 shots, including 53 on goal, and accounted for three game-winning goals.
The McKean, Pa., native added to her impressive season totals with a two-goal performance in Tuesday's 2-0 PSAC Tournament quarterfinal victory over Shepherd, helping send the Golden Knights into the conference semifinals.
With her two-goal performance, Respecki moved into second place in program history with 48 career goals and 136 points. She now trails Amanda Sharbaugh's school record of 51 goals by three and sits just one point behind Mani Brueckner's career scoring record of 137 points. Respecki also ranks second in program history with 40 career assists, five shy of Brueckner's record of 45.
Her latest honor adds to an impressive list of conference accolades that includes PSAC West Freshman of the Year in 2023 and first-team All-PSAC West recognition in each of her four seasons.
Emanuel earned another first-team selection following a standout senior campaign in the midfield. She leads Gannon with 11 assists while contributing seven goals and 25 points, ranking second on the team in scoring behind Respecki. Emanuel also recorded two game-winning goals and reached the 100-career-point milestone earlier this season.
The Erie, Pa., native added another assist in Tuesday's quarterfinal victory, setting up Respecki's opening goal against Shepherd. Emanuel has also established herself among Gannon's all-time offensive leaders, ranking fourth in program history with 40 career goals and among the top five with 31 assists and 111 points.
She is one of just five players in program history to reach 100 career points and has been a consistent scoring threat and playmaker throughout her four seasons with the Golden Knights.
Shepard was once again recognized as one of the Western Division's top defenders. A senior and fixture on Gannon's back line, Shepard played a key role in a defense that allowed just 12 goals in 18 regular-season matches and recorded nine shutouts.
She also contributed offensively with one goal and two assists for four points while appearing in all 18 regular-season matches.
Shepard continued to anchor the Gannon defense in Tuesday's quarterfinal victory over Shepherd, helping the Golden Knights secure another shutout while limiting the Rams to just six shots. She also came up with a crucial defensive stop in the 36th minute to preserve Gannon's one-goal advantage.
Dixon earned her first All-PSAC West honor after developing into an important part of Gannon's midfield. The sophomore appeared in 10 regular-season matches, finishing third on the team in scoring with 12 points on five goals and two assists.
She recorded 26 shots, including 11 on goal, and tied for the team lead during the regular season with two game-winning goals. Dixon also converted both of her penalty kick attempts. Her season was highlighted by a two-goal performance in a 3-0 victory at California (Pa.) on September 12, while also finding the back of the net in wins over Pitt-Johnstown and IUP.
Prince rounded out Gannon's honorees with her first All-PSAC West selection. The sophomore midfielder appeared in 17 regular-season matches, contributing three goals and one assist for seven points. She recorded 21 shots, including 11 on goal, and added one game-winning goal. Prince was another key contributor in the Golden Knights' midfield throughout the season, including scoring a goal in Gannon's 4-1 victory at Lock Haven on October 17.
Western Division Athlete of the Year: Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane), Gannon
Western Division Defensive Player of the Year: Libby Earley, Slippery Rock
Western Division Freshman of the Year: Colleen Lloyd, Lock Haven
Western Division Coach of the Year: Noreen Herlihy, Slippery Rock
PSAC Women's Soccer Western Division First Team All-Conference
| Position |
Name |
Cl. |
Institution |
| Defense |
Eliza Artell |
Fr. |
Seton Hill |
| Defense |
Libby Earley |
Jr. |
Slippery Rock |
| Defense |
Emma Hays^** |
Sr. |
IUP |
| Defense |
Hannah Shepard (Erie, Pa./McDowell)*** |
Sr. |
Gannon |
| Midfield |
Grace Emanuel (Erie, Pa./McDowell)*** |
Sr. |
Gannon |
| Midfield |
Bailey McGee |
Sr. |
Slippery Rock |
| Midfield |
Sophia Palermo^ |
Sr. |
Slippery Rock |
| Midfield |
Maddie Teakle^ |
Sr. |
Seton Hill |
| Forward |
Jada Cole* |
So. |
Edinboro |
| Forward |
Colleen Lloyd |
Fr. |
Lock Haven |
| Forward |
Peyton Los |
Fr. |
Slippery Rock |
| Forward |
Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane)*** |
Sr. |
Gannon |
| Goalkeeper |
Leah Allman^ |
Sr. |
Slippery Rock |
PSAC Women's Soccer Western Division Second Team All-Conference
| Position |
Name |
Cl. |
Institution |
| Defense |
Kaitlin Bickhart |
Sr. |
California |
| Defense |
Aleigha Rieppel |
Sr. |
Lock Haven |
| Defense |
Lillian Snyder |
So. |
Slippery Rock |
| Defense |
Addison Thomas |
Jr. |
Edinboro |
| Midfield |
Bryn Constanzer |
Jr. |
Lock Haven |
| Midfield |
Olivia Dixon (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) |
So. |
Gannon |
| Midfield |
Kat Morgan |
Jr. |
IUP |
| Midfield |
Bella Prince (Bradford,Pa./Bradford Area) |
So. |
Gannon |
| Forward |
Zoe Ans-Bitchoka |
So. |
IUP |
| Forward |
Ciara DiMauro* |
Sr. |
Clarion |
| Forward |
Abby Paterline |
So. |
Slippery Rock |
| Forward |
Maci Shaffer |
So. |
Lock Haven |
| Goalkeeper |
Sage Sherk |
Sr. |
Clarion |
* Indicates previous All-PSAC First Team selection
^ Indicates previous All-PSAC Second Team selection
