LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The IUP women's soccer team placed three student-athletes on the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division All-Conference teams, highlighted by senior defender Emma Hays earning her third consecutive first-team selection, the league announced.

Hays was joined by junior midfielder Kat Morgan and sophomore forward Zoe Ans-Bitchoka, who each earned All-PSAC recognition for the first time in their careers.

The honors come following another postseason appearance for the Crimson Hawks, who concluded their season in the opening round of the PSAC Tournament against Edinboro.

Hays continued to establish herself as one of the conference's premier defenders, earning All-PSAC recognition for the fourth consecutive season and first-team honors for the third straight year. The reigning 2025 PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year anchored an IUP defensive unit that proved especially difficult to break down at home.

The Crimson Hawks posted a 6-1-2 record in Indiana this season, with Hays helping lead a defensive effort that held opponents to one goal or fewer in all but three matches. IUP also recorded four shutouts during the campaign, including three victories and a scoreless draw against Lake Erie in the season opener.

Morgan enjoyed a breakout junior campaign, finishing tied for the team lead with four goals. The midfielder emerged as a consistent offensive contributor, highlighted by a two-goal performance against Clarion in September that earned her PSAC West Athlete of the Week honors.

Morgan also delivered the game-winning goal in IUP's 3-1 victory over California (Pa.) at South Campus Field. She added another goal in a 4-0 victory over Pitt-Johnstown, helping the Crimson Hawks secure a conference win during the final stretch of the regular season.

Ans-Bitchoka made an immediate impact in her first season wearing the Crimson and Gray, tying Morgan for the team lead with four goals while adding two assists. The Canadian forward emerged as one of IUP's primary attacking threats, starting all 18 matches and leading the team with 46 shots and 29 shots on goal.

Her four goals came in four different matches, showcasing her ability to contribute throughout the season. Ans-Bitchoka also recorded a season-high five shots on goal on two occasions, first in a draw at Pitt-Johnstown and again in a late-season draw against Clarion.

The trio played key roles in helping IUP return to the PSAC Tournament under first-year head coach Kernell Borneo. The Crimson Hawks finished the season with a 7-7-4 overall record and a 7-6-3 mark in PSAC West play, earning the division's No. 5 seed in the conference postseason.

2026 PSAC Women's Soccer All-PSAC

EASTERN DIVISION
 
Eastern Division Athlete of the Year: Aubrey Strohecker, Millersville
Eastern Division Defensive Player of the Year: Maura Day, Kutztown
Eastern Division Freshman of the Year: Carly Louey, Kutztown
Eastern Division Coach of the Year: Erik Burstein, Kutztown
 
PSAC Women's Soccer Eastern Division First Team All-Conference

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Position	Name	Cl.	Institution
Defense	Maura Day*	Sr.	Kutztown
Defense	Katie Dougherty*	So.	West Chester
Defense	Taylor Schuck	Sr.	Shepherd
Defense	Alexis Varela	Fr.	Kutztown
Midfield	Reagan Ackermann^*	Sr.	Shepherd
Midfield	Lia Francis^*	Jr.	Millersville
Midfield	Giavanna Marciano	Fr.	Kutztown
Midfield	Lauren Reimold*	Sr.	West Chester
Forward	Kianna Barber*	Jr.	West Chester
Forward	Merritt Delk	Jr.	Shepherd
Forward	Carly Louey	Fr.	Kutztown
Forward	Aubrey Strohecker*	Sr.	Millersville
Goalkeeper	Grace Keen*	Sr.	West Chester

 
PSAC Women's Soccer Eastern Division Second Team All-Conference

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Position	Name	Cl.	Institution
Defense	Maia Iannuzzi	Jr.	Millersville
Defense	Maddie Lamb	Sr.	East Stroudsburg
Defense	Melanie Love	Sr.	Millersville
Defense	Daryn Savage	Sr.	Bloomsburg
Midfield	Anna Dalesandro	Sr.	Bloomsburg
Midfield	Cheyenne Forte	So.	Millersville
Midfield	Olivia Gardner	Jr.	Shepherd
Midfield	Jade Wiley^	Jr.	East Stroudsburg
Forward	Corinne Morgan**	Sr.	Kutztown
Forward	Kali O'Connell	Fr.	East Stroudsburg
Forward	Aniyah Parker	So.	Shepherd
Forward	Adriana Ryder	Sr.	West Chester
Goalkeeper	Morgan O'Donnell	Sr.	Kutztown

 
* Indicates previous All-PSAC First Team selection
^ Indicates previous All-PSAC Second Team selection
 
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WESTERN DIVISION
 
Western Division Athlete of the Year: Brooklyn Respecki, 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

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Position	Name	Cl.	Institution
Defense	Eliza Artell	Fr.	Seton Hill
Defense	Libby Earley	Jr.	Slippery Rock
Defense	Emma Hays^**	Sr.	IUP
Defense	Hannah Shepard***	Sr.	Gannon
Midfield	Grace Emanuel***	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***	Sr.	Gannon
Goalkeeper	Leah Allman^	Sr.	Slippery Rock

 
PSAC Women's Soccer Western Division Second Team All-Conference

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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	So.	Gannon
Midfield	Kat Morgan	Jr.	IUP
Midfield	Bella Prince	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