Lycoming News

A record number of four Penn College Women's Soccer players have been named to the 2024 United Soccer Coaches Division III All-Region IV Team, as announced by the organization. Freshman forward Megan Kurian was selected for the second team, while senior goalkeeper Nicole Lichtinger, senior midfielder Cassie Johnson, and freshman defender Ashley Gordon were chosen for the third team.

Megan Kurian concluded her first season with 26 goals, 15 assists, and 67 points—setting new single-season records for the program. She tied for leading in both goals and assists within the conference and led the United East in points. The Royersford, Pennsylvania native ranked third in NCAA Division III and led Region IV in points. She was fifth in goals and ninth in assists nationally. Kurian scored multiple goals in nine games, including three hat tricks. Her standout performance included nine points against Keystone College with three goals and three assists. Notably, she became the first athlete in United East Conference history to be named both Player and Rookie of the Year simultaneously.

Cassie Johnson earned her first career first-team selection after being named to the all-conference second team as a freshman. Hailing from Richland, Pennsylvania, she ended her season with 43 points from 14 goals and 15 assists. She shared a single-season record with Kurian for most assists within the program and was ranked ninth nationally in this category. Johnson achieved multiple goals in four matches and provided multiple assists in five games.

Ashley Gordon received an all-conference first-team defender selection due to her significant contributions on set pieces with four assists during her freshman year. She played a crucial role in a defense that allowed only nine goals last season—ranking second within United East—and was tied for nineteenth nationally. The defense conceded just 6.4 shots per game while achieving a conference-high of thirteen shutouts which placed them twenty-first nationally.

Nicole Lichtinger benefited from strong defensive support resulting in eleven individual shutouts ranking tenth nationally. The Erie, Pennsylvania native recorded a save percentage of .860—the second-best within the conference—and had a goal-against average of .375 over more than fourteen hundred minutes played.