CLEVELAND, OH – Wooster junior forward Josie Bencic (West Chester, OH/Lakota East) and senior goalkeeper Lucy Carlin (Liberty Twp., OH/Lakota East), along with Denison sophomore midfielder Frances Shapiro (Arlington, VA/Washington Liberty), were named the 2026 Players of the Year to highlight the All-North Coast Athletic Conference women's soccer selections.
Bencic, the 2026 Offensive Player of the Year, collects her second-straight All-NCAC First Team honor. She earns Wooster its sixth overall Offensive Player of the Year award and first since Miura Wiley received the honor in 2021. In 14 matches, the junior led the league with 23 points, recording three assists and an NCAC-high 10 goals, including four game-winners, also the most in the conference. In conference play, Bencic topped the league in points (15), goals (7) and game-winning goals (3), while adding one assist. The forward helped lead Wooster to its first NCAC championship since 2010 and sixth overall.
Carlin, the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year, earns her first All-NCAC First Team selection after receiving third-team honors in 2024. She gives the Fighting Scots their eighth overall Defensive Player of the Year award and first since Emma Lawrence received the honor in 2018. In 1,604:39 minutes between the posts, the senior recorded nine shutouts, tied for the most in the conference, while ranking second in saves (77) and allowing just 17 goals for a 0.95 goals-against average. In seven conference games, Carlin led the league with 38 saves, tied for the second-most shutouts (4) and allowed just four goals for a 0.57 goals-against average.
Shapiro, the 2026 Midfielder of the Year, claims her first All-NCAC First Team selection in just her second collegiate season. The sophomore gives Denison its second-consecutive and fifth overall Midfielder of the Year award, following junior teammate Maryn Zavislak (Westerville, OH/Olentangy Orange), who received the honor last season. A driving force in the middle of the field, Shapiro played a key role in Denison's ability to control possession, disrupt opposing attacks and transition effectively on both sides of the ball. Her contributions helped anchor a defensive unit that surrendered a league-low two goals in seven conference contests while recording an NCAC-high six shutouts. The Big Red finished league play with a conference-best 0.29 goals-against average.
Denison first-year Neda Abedi (Los Altos, CA/Los Altos) and Wittenberg junior Sarah Deaton (Monroe, OH/Monroe) join Bencic on the All-NCAC First Team as forwards. Deaton is the only other repeat first-team selection alongside Bencic, while Abedi makes her all-conference debut on the top team during her rookie season.
Joining Shapiro as first-team midfielders are Denison sophomore Josie Russell (Oakwood, OH/Oakwood), DePauw first-year Joie Carpenter (Cedarburg, WI/Cedarburg) and Wooster senior Bella Crompton (Rocky River, OH/Rocky River). All three join Shapiro in making their first All-NCAC First Team appearances.
Three defenders also earn first-team recognition for the first time: Denison first-year Cassie Classen (Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel Area), John Carroll senior Julia Niehaus (Olmsted Falls, OH/Magnificat) and Kenyon sophomore Georgia Yatrakis (Greenwood Village, CO/Cherry Creek).
In addition to first-team honors, Classen was named the 2026 NCAC Newcomer of the Year as the league's top player in their first year of collegiate competition. The rookie earns the Big Red’s seventh conference Newcomer of the Year award. Making an immediate impact along the back line, Classen helped establish Denison as one of the toughest defensive teams. Through 17 games, the Big Red have allowed just nine goals, posting a 0.52 goals-against average while collecting 11 shutouts. Denison's defensive organization has also helped limit opposing scoring opportunities, with the Big Red recording 37 offsides. Following their NCAC Tournament championship, Denison will make its 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Wooster was tabbed the 2026 Coaching Staff of the Year, marking the program’s sixth overall coaching honor. Led by Head Coach David “Geordie” Brown, Assistant Coach Wes Davis and Volunteer Assistants Les Szabo, Jammi McClead and Kim Shaw, the Fighting Scots established themselves as one of the conference’s most balanced teams on both sides of the ball. In league play, Wooster posted an unbeaten 6-0-1 record, finishing second in the conference in goals (13) and points (30), while allowing just four goals and recording four shutouts in seven contests. The Scots’ 0.57 goals-against average tied for second in the NCAC, while their .905 save percentage led the conference. Across 18 games, Wooster’s offense led the league with 34 goals, while ranking second in points (84). Defensively, the Fighting Scots surrendered just 17 goals, recorded nine shutouts and posted a 0.94 goals-against average. Wooster captured the NCAC Championship, the program’s first conference title since 2010 and sixth overall.