Molly McLaughlin Named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year

NEW YORK – After leading Xavier in goals during the regular season, Xavier graduate student Molly McLaughlin was named the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year. She also earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team. Three other Musketeers, Natalie Bain, Maria Galley and Regan Dancer, also earned All-BIG EAST honors.

McLaughlin, originally from Granger, Ind., leads Xavier with 13 points on a team-high five goals and three assists. Among her five goals are a BIG EAST-leading three game-winners. Four of her goals came on penalty kicks, where she's a perfect 4-of-4 for the season and 7-for-7 for her Xavier career. Her four made PKs this season tie for second most in the NCAA DI.

On the defensive end, McLaughlin has started all 19 matches in midfield for the Musketeers, helping limit Xavier opponents to just 12 goals during the regular season, while picking up 11 shutouts. The Musketeers enter the postseason on 12-match unbeaten streak.

For her career, McLaughlin has 36 points on 16 goals and four assists, and has seven game-winning goals. Her 2022 totals in goals (5), assists (3), points (13) and game-winners (3) are all career-bests for the midfielder.

This is her first post-season award and her fourth nomination to the All-BIG EAST Team, picking up First Team Honors in 2021 and Second Team honors in 2020 and 2019. She also earned All-East Region First Team and Scholar All-America Second Team from United Soccer Coaches following the 2021 season.

Goalkeeper Maria Galley earned All-BIG EAST Second Team and All-Freshman honors. Galley, originally from South Windsor, Conn., has made all 19 starts this season and played every minute in goal. So far in her rookie season, she has collected 50 saves with just 12 goals against, earning a save percentage of 0.806 with a GAA of 0.63, a mark that ranks in the top five in Xavier's single season records. In BIG EAST play, Galley has a league best .903 save percentage, only allowing three goals against conference opponents for a GAA of 0.30.

Galley has a record of 12-2-5 on the season so far and has earned 11 clean sheets, a mark that leads the BIG EAST and is tied for second most in the NCAA DI. Her 11 shutouts tie the Xavier single season school record for a goalkeeper. Seven of her 11 shutouts have come in BIG EAST play.

She earned a spot on Top Drawer Soccer's Midseason Top 100 List, and was also named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week on Oct. 10.

Defender Natalie Bain earned a spot on both the All-BIG EAST Second Team and the the All-Freshman Team. Bain, who is originally from Alexandria, Ky., has made all 19 starts in her rookie season, and has seen 1,685 minutes of action so far in 2022. Anchoring the backline with Maddie Reed, Bain has played the full time in 15 matches this season and has played at leas 80 minutes in every game, to help limit opponents to just 12 goals during the regular season. The Musketeer defense has 11 shutouts on the season, which is tied for second most in a season in Xavier's record books.

Offensively, Bain has collected five points, scoring two goals off of set pieces and dishing out an assist, all coming in BIG EAST play. Among her two goals was the game-winner at Butler.

Bain earned a spot on Top Drawer Soccer's Midseason Top 100 List, and was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 26.

Forward Regan Dancer was named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. Dancer, who is originally from South Lyon, Mich., is fourth on the team with seven points, scoring three goals and dishing out an assist so far in her freshman campaign. All three of her tallies are game-winners, matching Molly McLaughlin for team high and the most in the BIG EAST.

Two of her goals came during BIG EAST regular season play, where she scored the game winner in Xavier's 2-0 win over Seton Hall and the Musketeers 1-0 win over UConn. Her two game-winners in conference action are tied for second most in league play.

Dancer was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week twice during the regular season, earning the honor for the weeks of October 3 and October 10.

BIG EAST AWARDS

BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Abigail Isger, Butler, R-Jr., F

BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Molly McLaughlin, Xavier, Gr., M

BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Julia Leas, Georgetown, Sr., D*

BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Allie Augur, Georgetown, Sr., GK

BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Talia Sommer, Butler, Fr., M

BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Georgetown

All-BIG EAST First Team
Abigail Isger, Butler, R-Jr., F
Katie Soderstrom, Butler, R-Sr., F
Jada Konte, UConn, Jr., F
Aida Kardovic, Creighton, Sr., M
Lara Kazandijan, Creighton, Jr., M
Katie Godden, DePaul, So., F
Allie Augur, Georgetown, Sr., GK
Julia Leas, Georgetown, Sr., D*
Eliza Turner, Georgetown, So., D
Gia Vicari, Georgetown, Sr., F
Brooke Boyd, St. John's, Gr., D
Molly McLaughlin, Xavier, Gr., M

All-BIG EAST Second Team
Aliya Diagne, Butler, Sr., D
Talia Sommer, Butler, Fr., M
Chioma Okafor, UConn, Fr., F
Jordy Rothwell, Creighton, Sr., D
Maya Fernandez-Powell, Georgetown, Gr., M
Natalie Means, Georgetown, Fr., F
Elsi Twombley, Marquette, Jr., F
Meg Hughes, Providence, Jr., F
Alexis Rothmann, Providence, Sr., M
Jessica Garziano, St. John's, Sr., M
Megan McClay, Villanova, Gr., GK
Natalie Bain, Xavier, Fr., D
Maria Galley, Xavier, Fr., GK

All-BIG EAST Freshman Team
Amelie Darey, Butler, Fr. , M
Talia Sommer, Butler, Fr., F
Chioma Okafor, UConn, Fr., F
Natalie Means, Georgetown, Fr., F
Henley Tippins, Georgetown, Fr., F
Ella McBride, Providence, Fr., F
Emily Riggins, St. John's, Fr., D
Izzy Newton, Villanova, Fr., F
Natalie Bain, Xavier, Fr., D
Regan Dancer, Xavier, Fr., F
Maria Galley, Xavier, Fr., GK

*denotes unanimous selection

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