TOWSON, Md. --- The Moravian University women’s soccer team has had senior defender Hailey Scaff honored as the 2024 Landmark Women’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season, and she was named to the Landmark All-Conference First Team while seniors forward Carly Pyatt and midfielder Chelsea Meltzer and graduate student goalie Riley Spingler made the All-Conference Second Team.
The Greyhounds, under the direction of 11th year Head Coach Jeff Ykork, posted a 9-5-6 record this fall including a 3-2-4 mark in the Landmark Conference regular season to capture the six seed in the Landmark Conference Tournament, the Hounds sixth postseason appearance under Ykork. Moravian defeated third seed Elizabehtown College, 1-0 in double overtime, in the opening round before falling to second seed Lycoming College, 2-1, in the Semifinals.
Scaff, who also made the Landmark All-Conference First Team last fall, netted a game-winning goal this season, and she added an assist to give her two goals and three assists in 69 career matches. Scaff also anchored the Moravian defense that recorded 13 shutouts to tie the single-season program record and allowed just 0.55 goals per match.
“Hailey had another amazing season,” noted Ykoruk. “Her ability to cover ground as a central back and provide great second—and third-defender help was terrific. Her confidence and control of the ball allowed her to advance into the midfield, allowing us to overload that portion of the field, creating problems for opposing teams.”
Scaff earned her second straight Defensive Athlete of the Year honor, and she is the third Greyhound to be named the Landmark Conference Defensive Athlete of the Year, joining defenders Lauren Bertucci in 2017 and Eileen Black in 2012. Scaff is the just the second repeat winner of the honor in conference history, joining Marley Clendenin of Susquehanna University, who won the award in 2021 and 2022.
“What a tremendous honor!” exclaimed Ykoruk. “It has never been accomplished before in the program’s history. Much like Riley, she played a significant role in the 13 shutouts, and it was amazing to see her score the game-winner at Wilkes on a set piece. Her overall skill level shows how dedicated she is to our program. Nobody worked as hard as Hailey did in the offseason, and it showed when you watched her play.”
Pyatt, who was a member of the 2023 Landmark All-Conference Second Team, led the Greyhounds in scoring in 2024 as she netted seven goals and added three assists. Pyatt played in 68 career matches and registered 14 goals and four assists in her career with six game-winning goals.
“Carly was our engine up top and had a tremendous season,” stated Ykoruk. “Coming off being named All-Conference last season, she knew she would draw a lot of defensive attention from opposing teams. So, for her to manage being named All-Conference again speaks to how hard she worked in the offseason and how talented she is.”
Meltzer, who garnered Landmark All-Conference Second Team honors for the second time after making the team in 2021, had a pair of goals to go with an assist this fall. Meltzer finished her career with six goals and four assists including a pair of game-winning goals in 42 contests.
“I am very happy for Chelsea,” Ykoruk said. “She battled an injury all season and still produced at an All-Conference level. Her ball-winning ability is off the charts, and her services on corners and set pieces created many chances for her. I know the season did not end as she wanted, with her knee injury removing her from the playoffs, but I’m glad she gets to be honored with being named All-Conference.”
Spingler recorded a 0.60 goals-against average to go with 67 saves, a 6-5-5 record and ten shutouts in 1,500 minutes of action in her first season with the Greyhounds. The postseason honor was the second for Spingler in her collegiate career after making the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Second Team in 2022 while playing at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.
“Riley was a fantastic addition to our program this year,” commented Ykoruk. “She brought us outstanding leadership and a sense of calm for our back line. She is not only an excellent shot-stopper, but also vocal and organized our back four well. She was a large part of when we could tie the program record of 13 shutouts this season.”
To view the full 2024 Landmark Women’s Soccer All-Conference Teams, visit https://landmarkconference.
