TOWSON, Md. --- The Moravian College women's soccer team has had three players named to the 2017 Landmark All-Conference Teams with senior defender Lauren Bertucci on the First Team and junior midfielder Shae Duka and sophomore defender Paige Weiss making the Second Team while freshman defender Sara Cassel was honored as the Landmark Conference Co-Rookie of the Year.
The Greyhounds finished the 2017 season with a 9-6-1 overall record and the squad was 3-4 in Landmark Conference matches. The Hounds allowed just six goals this fall, the fewest in program history, with six 1-0 losses including two in overtime.
Bertucci earned a spot on the Landmark All-Conference Team for the fourth straight season and her second consecutive spot on the First Team after being on the Second Team as a freshman and sophomore. Bertucci had one goal in 2017 which was a game-winner, and she finished her career with three goals and an assist for seven points in 63 career matches including a pair of game-winning goals.
"Our staff and I are so happy for Lauren to be recognized as the best defender in the conference," stated Head Coach Jeff Ykoruk, who finished his fourth season leading the Greyhounds this fall. "Never have I had a player who competed at such a high-level day in and day out. She has been our rock in the back for the last two seasons and her leadership and dedication to the program will truly be missed."
Cassel played in 16 contests and made 13 starts in her debut season. She had one assist on the year, and was a keep part of Moravian's back line with Bertucci and Weiss that posted 10 shutouts. Cassel also took 32 corner kicks for the Greyhounds.
"Sara stepped in right away and played like an upperclassman," Ykoruk commented. "She is strong and powerful and played out of position as a left back. The right side is normally the strong for your opponent and positioning her at left back helped stymie that. She also was very dangerous on attacking free kicks and corners."
Weiss, who was the 2016 Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year, had one goal this fall in 15 matches and a total of four career goals in 33 contests with all four of her tallies coming off of corner kicks.
"We are excited for Paige and her accomplishment," Ykoruk said. "She was a big part of us only allowing six goals on the year which set a new record for our program. She is a strong physical central defender and has improved her ability and skill level on the ball."
Duka, who was selected to the Landmark All-Conference Second Team for the second consecutive fall, had one assist while playing in 14 matches this fall. Duka has a goal and an assist in 32 matches over her two seasons with the Greyhounds.
"Shae had another outstanding season," noted Ykoruk. "I was happy to see her repeat as an All-Conference central mid. She is our anchor in the central part of the field and her athleticism and ball winning ability separate her from the rest. She played a major role in locking teams in and allowing us to create scoring chances."
Ykoruk has 30 players set to return to the program in the fall of 2018.