Gryphons Sweep All-Conference Awards

Gryphons Sweep All-Conference Awards

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BRONXVILLE, N.Y.- Following a historic season for the Sarah Lawrence women's soccer team, seven different Gryphons players were recognized by the Skyline Conference with all-conference recognition. 

Maurizio Grillo, Skyline Coach of the Year
Head Coach Maurizio Grillo was awarded the Skyline Conference Coach of the Year award after leading the Gryphons to both regular-season and tournament titles. Grillo led the Gryphons to many firsts for the program this season, including a trip to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament, where they will take on MIT on Saturday, November 12th at 11:00 a.m. Grillo instilled a tough defense that held many of the conference's best offenses in check throughout the season and his diligent work in film study paid dividends on the field.

Cora Colvin, Skyline Offensive Player of the Year; First Team All-Conference
Forward Cora Colvin received Skyline Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading the Gryphons in goals with 13 while adding seven assists. Colvin scored goals in many of the Gryphons' big games this season, including both goals in a 2-0 win over then-first-seeded Mount Saint Vincent on September 24th. Colvin also scored the lone goal against Farmingdale State in their matchup on October 18th in what would end up being a preview of the Skyline Tournament Championship Game. The sophomore was even more important to the Gryphons during the playoff push, scoring six goals in the team's final five regular-season games and helping build momentum for the eventual Skyline Tournament run. 

Lainie Cadieux, Skyline Defensive Player of the Year; First Team All-Conference
Senior Lainie Cadieux did it all for Sarah Lawrence this season, spearheading a relentless defense that held Skyline opponents to just three goals all season and keeping teams scoreless in the Skyline Tournament. While she was excelling on the defensive side of the ball, the senior also finished tied for second on the team with seven goals on the season, including some very important goals late in the season. Cadieux flourished in the aforementioned conference tournament, scoring the eventual game-winning goal in the Gryphons' semi-final match against Manhattanville, converting on a penalty kick in the 58th minute to put the Gryphons ahead and lead them to their first conference tournament championship game appearance in program history. After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer in the Skyline Tournament Championship Game against Farmingdale State, Cadieux took the first shot in the penalty shoot-out and found the back of the net to give the Gryphons the momentum and early advantage that they needed to win the shoot-out 4-2 and earn their first Skyline Conference Championship.

Viktoria Balbin, Skyline Rookie of the Year; First Team All-Conference
While the Sarah Lawrence defense was undoubtedly incredible this season, it was the tandem of Colvin and Viktoria Balbin who led the offense for the Gryphons. The first year from Northridge, Calif. finished behind only Colvin in goals with seven on the season and added six assists. Balbin's amazing footwork and ball skills allowed her to constantly pressure the opposing defense, using her speed and strength to keep defenders on their heels. Balbin tied with Colvin with 75 shots on the season and played all 200 minutes of the Skyline Tournament for the Gryphons, helping lead them to the championship. 

Bridgette Lee, Skyline First Team All-Conference
The Gryphons' success on defense was due in large part to Lee's performance in goal throughout the season. Lee allowed just two goals in conference play and held both opposing teams scoreless in the Skyline Conference Tournament. With an impressive 0.63 goals allowed on average throughout the season, Lee paced the Skyline Conference by over .3 goals. She also was the conference leader in save percentage, stopping 81.8% of shots on goal throughout the season.

Daniela Perez, Skyline First Team All-Conference
Much like Colvin and Balbin on the offense, the Gryphons had a tandem of defenders that made it nearly impossible for opposing offenses to get quality looks on goal. Daniela Perez and the aforementioned Cadieux formed an unbreakable line in the back of the Sarah Lawrence defense that opposing forwards feared. In addition to anchoring the defense, Perez hit what was possibly the most memorable shot of the season for the Gryphons, the winning penalty-kick in the Skyline Conference Championship Game against Farmingdale State. With a 3-2 lead on kicks and just one member from each team remaining in the first set, Perez found the back of the net and propelled the Gryphons to both a conference tournament championship and the first NCAA tournament berth in program history.

Lily Matalus, Skyline First Team All-Conference
An anchor in the midfield, Lily Matalus always seemed to be in the right place at the right time for the Gryphons, allowing her teammates to play off of her and find success, evidenced by her six assists on the season. As an extremely important part of the Sarah Lawrence success, Matalus played all 200 minutes of the conference tournament and provided a consistent force in the middle of the field who her teammates could rely on and look to if a possession was in danger.

Grace Carter, Skyline Second Team All-Conference
As a first year, Grace Carter played a very important role in the success of the Gryphons throughout the season and continued to play a valuable role in the postseason. In the regular-season matchup with Manhattanville, which would eventually turn out to be a conference tournament semi-final preview, Carter opened the scoring off an assist from Balbin to give the Gryphons a lead that they would hold for the remainder of the game. Her five goals and five assists on the year demonstrate her importance to the Gryphon's success.

What's Next for the Gryphons?
Sarah Lawrence will travel to Cambridge, Mass. to take on MIT in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament on Saturday, November 12th at 11:00 a.m.

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