Walters, Higgins Named Players of the Year; Seven Named to All-AEC Teams

Higgins Repeats as Defensive Player of the Year

Haddonfield, N.J. — Marywood University won two major Atlantic East Conference women's soccer awards, officials announced Tuesday. Additionally, the Pacers placed seven student-athletes on All-Conference teams.

Carly Walters was selected the Atlantic East Player of the Year. Britlyn Higgins repeated as Atlantic East Defensive Player of the Year.

Genevieve Morrison, Faith Meals and Bryn Stiles joined Carly Walters and Higgins as First Team All-Atlantic East recipients. Caroline Walters and Rylee Alston were selected to the Second Team All-Atlantic East.

Carly Walters earned the fourth First Team All-Atlantic East award of her career. She ranked second in the conference with 35 points. Walters was third in the conference with 16 goals, and she led the Atlantic East with seven game-winning goals. The midfielder ranked ninth in the nation with one goal per game. Her 2.19 points per game rank 14th in NCAA Division III. She adds a Player of the Year nod to her resume that includes a Rookie of the Year laurel in 2022.

Higgins captured the Defensive Player of the Year honor for the second consecutive season. She anchored the Marywood defense to 11 shutouts. The Pacers conceded just 11 goals on the season, averaging 0.56 per game. Higgins, a 2024 United Soccer Coaches Region V Third Team selection, kicked off the campaign with a game-winning goal in the opening match, showing her ability to impact the game on both sides. The Fort Worth, Texas native added one more goal and two assists on the season.

Morrison led the Atlantic East in goals-against average (.493), shutouts (8), and save percentage (.863). Morrison allowed just seven goals in 1,278 minutes, 56 seconds. It is her first career all-conference award.

Meals helped the Marywood back line to 11 clean sheets on the year. As a defender, Meals tied for seventh in the conference with five assists. She was named Atlantic East Defensive Player of the Week (9/29) and Atlantic East Weekly Honor Roll (10/13). Previously, Meals was named Second Team All-Atlantic East in 2024.

Stiles notched her first All-Conference award. She scored 10 goals and an assist on the season for 21 points. Stiles had four braces against Goucher, Oswego State, Neumann and Centenary. She was named Atlantic East Player of the week on Oct. 6. Stiles ranked seventh in the conference in goals.

Alston earned a spot on the Second Team All-Conference in her final collegiate season. She had two goals and two assists for six points. During conference play, Alston assisted a goal versus Saint Elizabeth and scored versus Pratt. It is the first career all-conference honor for the Le Moyne transfer.

Caroline Walters battled an injury that kept her out of six games to notch a spot on the Second Team. She led the conference with 11 assists, averaging .917 per game — a figure that would have lead Division III if it had met the participation-minimum mark. Walters added five goals for 21 points, ranking seventh in the Atlantic East with 1.75 per game. It is her second career honor. She was previously First Team All-Atlantic East in 2024.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Rylee Alston: M/F; 5' 7"; Graduate Student

#2 Britlyn Higgins: D; 5' 6"; Graduate Student

#4 Faith Meals: D; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#1 Genevieve Morrison: GK; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#26 Bryn Stiles: F; 5' 8"; Junior

#22 Carly Walters: D/M; 5' 9"; Senior

#14 Caroline Walters: M/F; 5' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#7 Rylee Alston
: 5' 7"; Graduate Student
: M/F

#2 Britlyn Higgins
: 5' 6"; Graduate Student
: D

#4 Faith Meals
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: D

#1 Genevieve Morrison
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: GK

#26 Bryn Stiles
: 5' 8"; Junior
: F

#22 Carly Walters
: 5' 9"; Senior
: D/M

#14 Caroline Walters
: 5' 8"; Senior
: M/F