St. John's University Athletics
Kajan Named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, Aviza Earns All-Freshman Spot
11/4/2019 2:02:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Kajan becomes just the second Johnnie in program history to garner the accolade
Following a standout season, the St. John's women's soccer team's lethal scorer Zsani Kajan has been named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, the league announced on Monday.
Additionally, Kajan earned a unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team for the second-consecutive campaign. Rookie forward Isabelle Aviza has also been recognized by the league's coaches, finding a place on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.
Kajan becomes just the second Johnnie in program history to be named the conference's top offensive player, joining Rachel Daly who was a two-time recipient (2013 and 2015).
Kajan's campaign as player of the year was bolstered by her impressive scoring pace, as she led the way for the Johnnies with 11 goals in 18 games. The redshirt junior's 11 scores tied her season-high total from last year. With 11 tallies over the 2019 season, Kajan became one of just three players in program history to record double-digit scoring in multiple seasons.
The Budapest, Hungary, native netted seven of her 11 goals against BIG EAST foes to close out the regular season in a tie for first with DePaul's Morgan Turner. Kajan also led the conference in points, recording 15 during league action.
Over 18 contests, the Budapest, Hungary, native put up three multi-goal performances on the year, including her second career hat trick at Villanova on Oct. 24. With a trio goals against the Wildcats, Kajan became the first player to record multiple three-goal outings since Daly notched three during her Red Storm tenure. Kajan also sent home a team-high three game-winners this year.
The 5-foot-7 forward's team-best 11 goals this season bumped her career total up to 24, moving her into fifth on the team's all-time scoring list. The redshirt junior also cracked the top-10 in points with 51 and shots taken with 140.
Aviza burst onto the stage for the Red Storm in 2019 and was one of just two Johnnies to earn starts in all 18 matches. The freshman forward notched her first career goal for the Red Storm early in the season, finding the back of the net in the team's 2-1 home victory over Yale on August 30.
With Aviza earning an all-freshman spot, she becomes the seventh Johnnie in just five seasons to be selected to the league's all-rookie squad, and the 11th in program history.
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Zsani Kajan, St. John's, R-Jr., F
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Meaghan Nally, Georgetown, Sr., D
BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Paula Germino-Watnick, Georgetown, Sr., M*
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Shelby Hogan, Providence, R-Jr., GK
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Skylar Heinrich, Creighton, Fr., F
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Xavier*
All-BIG EAST First Team^
Annika Schmidt, Butler, R-Sr., D
Katie Soderstrom, Butler, So., F
Taryn Jakubowski, Creighton, Sr., M
Morgan Turner, DePaul, Jr., F
Amanda Carolan, Georgetown, Grad., F*
Paula Germino-Watnick, Georgetown, Sr., M*
Meaghan Nally, Georgetown, Sr., D
Shelby Hogan, Providence, R-Jr., GK
Zsani Kajan, St. John's, R-Jr., F*
Brice McInroy, Villanova, So., F
Grace Bahr, Xavier, Sr., D
Samantha Dewey, Xavier, R-Sr., M*
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Anja Savich, Butler, So., F
Skylar Heinrich, Creighton, Fr., F
Kristin Boos, DePaul, Fr., F
Avery Hay, DePaul, R-Jr., D
Amanda Leat, Georgetown, Fr., GK
Jenna Royson, Georgetown, So., D
Alyssa Bombacino, Marquette, So., M
Hannah McNulty, Providence, Jr., F
Kristen Barbour, Villanova, Sr., D
Molly McLaughlin, Xavier, So., M
Brooke Sroka, Xavier, So., F
BIG EAST All-Freshman Team^
Aliya Diagne, Butler, Fr., M
Skylar Heinrich, Creighton, Fr., F*
Jordy Rothwell, Creighton, Fr., D
Kristin Boos, DePaul, Fr., F
Julia Leas, Georgetown, Fr., D*
Anna Leat, Georgetown, Fr., GK*
Josie Kelderman, Marquette, Fr., D
Lisa Verhoeven, Providence, Fr., D
Alexis Rothmann, Providence, Fr., M
Isabelle Aviza, St. John's, Fr., D/F
Jane Olcott, Villanova, Fr., M*
Maddie Thiss, Xavier, D
*unanimous selection
^extra player added due to a tie in voting
Additionally, Kajan earned a unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team for the second-consecutive campaign. Rookie forward Isabelle Aviza has also been recognized by the league's coaches, finding a place on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.
Kajan becomes just the second Johnnie in program history to be named the conference's top offensive player, joining Rachel Daly who was a two-time recipient (2013 and 2015).
Kajan's campaign as player of the year was bolstered by her impressive scoring pace, as she led the way for the Johnnies with 11 goals in 18 games. The redshirt junior's 11 scores tied her season-high total from last year. With 11 tallies over the 2019 season, Kajan became one of just three players in program history to record double-digit scoring in multiple seasons.
The Budapest, Hungary, native netted seven of her 11 goals against BIG EAST foes to close out the regular season in a tie for first with DePaul's Morgan Turner. Kajan also led the conference in points, recording 15 during league action.
Over 18 contests, the Budapest, Hungary, native put up three multi-goal performances on the year, including her second career hat trick at Villanova on Oct. 24. With a trio goals against the Wildcats, Kajan became the first player to record multiple three-goal outings since Daly notched three during her Red Storm tenure. Kajan also sent home a team-high three game-winners this year.
The 5-foot-7 forward's team-best 11 goals this season bumped her career total up to 24, moving her into fifth on the team's all-time scoring list. The redshirt junior also cracked the top-10 in points with 51 and shots taken with 140.
Aviza burst onto the stage for the Red Storm in 2019 and was one of just two Johnnies to earn starts in all 18 matches. The freshman forward notched her first career goal for the Red Storm early in the season, finding the back of the net in the team's 2-1 home victory over Yale on August 30.
With Aviza earning an all-freshman spot, she becomes the seventh Johnnie in just five seasons to be selected to the league's all-rookie squad, and the 11th in program history.
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Zsani Kajan, St. John's, R-Jr., F
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Meaghan Nally, Georgetown, Sr., D
BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Paula Germino-Watnick, Georgetown, Sr., M*
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Shelby Hogan, Providence, R-Jr., GK
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Skylar Heinrich, Creighton, Fr., F
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Xavier*
All-BIG EAST First Team^
Annika Schmidt, Butler, R-Sr., D
Katie Soderstrom, Butler, So., F
Taryn Jakubowski, Creighton, Sr., M
Morgan Turner, DePaul, Jr., F
Amanda Carolan, Georgetown, Grad., F*
Paula Germino-Watnick, Georgetown, Sr., M*
Meaghan Nally, Georgetown, Sr., D
Shelby Hogan, Providence, R-Jr., GK
Zsani Kajan, St. John's, R-Jr., F*
Brice McInroy, Villanova, So., F
Grace Bahr, Xavier, Sr., D
Samantha Dewey, Xavier, R-Sr., M*
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Anja Savich, Butler, So., F
Skylar Heinrich, Creighton, Fr., F
Kristin Boos, DePaul, Fr., F
Avery Hay, DePaul, R-Jr., D
Amanda Leat, Georgetown, Fr., GK
Jenna Royson, Georgetown, So., D
Alyssa Bombacino, Marquette, So., M
Hannah McNulty, Providence, Jr., F
Kristen Barbour, Villanova, Sr., D
Molly McLaughlin, Xavier, So., M
Brooke Sroka, Xavier, So., F
BIG EAST All-Freshman Team^
Aliya Diagne, Butler, Fr., M
Skylar Heinrich, Creighton, Fr., F*
Jordy Rothwell, Creighton, Fr., D
Kristin Boos, DePaul, Fr., F
Julia Leas, Georgetown, Fr., D*
Anna Leat, Georgetown, Fr., GK*
Josie Kelderman, Marquette, Fr., D
Lisa Verhoeven, Providence, Fr., D
Alexis Rothmann, Providence, Fr., M
Isabelle Aviza, St. John's, Fr., D/F
Jane Olcott, Villanova, Fr., M*
Maddie Thiss, Xavier, D
*unanimous selection
^extra player added due to a tie in voting
Players Mentioned
Forward
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