New York, NY - On the eve of defending their CUNYAC title, the John Jay women's soccer team took two of three major awards, the league announced on Friday afternoon.
Junior
Natalie Mack was named Player of the Year while head coach
Ajani Clunie earned his fourth Coach of the Year honor. York's Stephanie Gonzalez was tabbed Rookie of the Year, while Brooklyn's Sage Bernstein was voted the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award.
Mack becomes John Jay's fourth straight Bloodhound to earn Player of the Year honors, joining Katie Healy (2022), Nora O'Connor (2023), and
Olivia Boucher (2024). Mack, who earned CUNYAC Player of the Week honors three times this season, has totaled five goals and a league-high seven assists for 17 points thus far this season. Her 17 points rank third overall in the conference.
Clunie collects his fourth Coach of the Year honor and has now gone back-to-back in winning the award, joining his 2021 & 2022. Clunie has guided the Bloodhounds to a 10-2-3 overall record and a 4-0 mark in league play, clinching the team's fifth regular-season title in six seasons. The 2025 Bloodhounds didn't allow a conference opponent to score a goal against them for the first time since 2021.
In addition to Mack and Clunie's honors, the Bloodhounds garnered five All-Conference selections as freshman
Ava Lopez, Mack, junior tri-captain
Katy Shurson were named All-Conference selections, while newcomer
Amiyah Milona and tri-captain
Daniela Vazquez were at-Large choices.
Lopez earned Player and Rookie of the Week honors back on September 2 and October 14. Lopez finished with a team-leading nine goals on the season and paced the league with five game-winning goals.
Shurson helped anchor the back line that didn't allow a conference goal this season and added two goals and two assists, which were tied for eighth most in the league.
Milona was also pivotal for the Bloodhounds in her first season. She had two assists on the season,
tying her with Shurson for the eighth most in the conference.
Vazquez has been a constant staple in the Bloodhounds' midfield. She fired off 12 shots on goal this year, good for eighth in the league, while adding a goal and an assist.
The Bloodhounds will take on CCNY for a chance to go to the NCAA Division III tournament.
