Full Release

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 25, 2025) – Five members of the Western New England women's soccer team and two from the WNE men's soccer team have earned College Sport Communicators Academic All-District Honors this season, as nominated by the Athletic Communications Office and released by the organization this afternoon. Ainsley Napolitano, Liza Pinette, Victoria Wilson, Tess Chevalier, and Abigail Alicandro from women's soccer and Jack Leland and Jayden Montagna from men's soccer have been honored. 

The 2024-25 Academic All-District Men's and Women's Soccer Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.

In order to be recognized, an undergraduate student-athlete must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, be at least a sophomore standing athletically and academically, and meet the athletic eligibility requirements put forth by the organization that is sport-specific. For men's and women's soccer, a student-athlete must have competed in 90 percent of the institution's matches played or must have started in at least 66 percent of all matches played by the team during the season. 

Ainsley Napolitano, a junior transfer student, played in all 18 games for the Golden Bears this season, making starts in all 18 games between the pipes. Napolitano collected a 1.02 GAA for the season, made 91 saves, and picked up a 0.835 save percentage for the year. Napolitano played in all but 29 minutes and 23 seconds in goal for the Golden Bears on the year and recorded six shutouts. Napolitano is an elementary education and psychology major at Western New England.

Liza Pinette led WNE women's soccer with six goals and 15 points on the season, adding to an outstanding career so far in blue and gold. The WNE junior took 39 shots on the season, placing 20 on goal and had the game-winning goal twice during the year, both coming in Conference of New England play, wins over the University of Hartford (1-0) and Suffolk University (3-2). Pinette has 17 goals and four assists, good for 38 points in her career, which spans over 55 games and 37 starts, including all 18 games played and started in this past season. Pinette is a pharmacy major at Western New England.

Victoria Wilson led the WNE women's soccer defensive unit this season, seeing action in all 18 games, making 18 starts. Wilson played in all 1,620 minutes on the pitch, holding opponents to one goal or less in 13 of the 18 games on the year. Wilson, a native of Merrimac, Massachusetts, is a Civil Engineering major at Western New England. 

Sophomore Tess Chevalier contributed both offensively and defensively this season for the Golden Bears, playing in 17 games, making all 17 starts. The Brimfield, Massachusetts, native tallied her first career goal in a non-conference victory over Springfield College, a goal that ended up being the game-winner in the contest. Chevalier also scored the opening goal in a win over Gordon College in Conference of New England play to help lift the Golden Bears to victory. Chevalier added one assist, good for five total points overall. Chevalier is a biomedical engineering major at Western New England. 

Abigail Alicandro saw action in all 18 games on the season for the blue and gold, playing in 1,529 minutes during the season, locking down the back line throughout the season. Alicandro picked up one goal on the season, the eventual game-winning goal in a 2-0 non-conference victory over Keene State College. Alicandro is studying law at Western New England. 

Men's Soccer's Jack Leland helped the Golden Bears to a winning record this season, including a 6-3-1 mark in Conference of New England play, playing in all 20 games, making 20 starts. Leland contributed on offense and defense during the season, scoring a career-high three goals and adding an assist, good for seven points on the year. Leland scored all three goals in CNE play, coming in wins the University of New England and Curry College while also scoring against the University of Hartford. The WNE defense gave up just over a goal a game this season, while Leland played in 1,712 minutes on the pitch. The Brimfield, Massachusetts, native is studying history at Western New England. 

Jayden Montagna saw action in 18 games this season, making 17 starts overall. Montagna contributed to the success of the team with a pair of goals and added an assist during the season. Montagna scored goals in wins over Thomas College and Nichols College while adding an assist against U.S. Coast Guard Academy. The Western New England senior and a team captain locked down the midfield position during the season. The Agawam, Massachusetts, native is studying mechanical engineering at Western New England. 

This is the second time Pinette, Leland, and Montagna have been recognized by the College Sports Communicators organization over the last two seasons. 

The Western New England women's soccer team played to a 7-6-5 record during the season and a 4-4-2 record in CNE play. WNE men's soccer went 9-8-3 on the season and 6-3-1 in CNE play. The blue and gold made it to the CNE semifinals before bowing out in penalty kicks to eventual champion Roger Williams University.