Bruehwiler, Hathaway & Vitka Earn End of the Year Accolades
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (December 1, 2022) – Western New England women's soccer's Allison Bruehwiler, Summer Hathaway, and Samantha Vitka picked up end of the year awards by the United Soccer Coaches Association and New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA) as announced by the two respective organizations on Thursday afternoon.
Allison Bruehwiler was named to the 2022 United Soccer Coaches Association's Region II First Team after leading Western New England with eight goals and five assists on the year. Bruehwiler finished her decorated career with the Golden Bears with 21 points on the season, taking 61 shots (33 on goal) while scoring two game winning goals for Western New England. Over her four full seasons played with the Golden Bears, Bruehwiler scored 27 goals and added 22 assists, good for 76 total points which ranks ninth in the all-time record books. Bruehwiler's goal total also sits ninth in the record books while her assist totals puts her tied for sixth all-time. The Old Saybrook, Connecticut native logged 183 career shots placing 97 on goal while scoring six game winning goals for Western New England. Bruehwiler earns her second All Region Team selection after being named to the First Team in 2021.
Summer Hathaway picked up her first United Soccer Coaches Association Region II Team recognition after already earning Commonwealth Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Hathaway netted two goals for Western New England on the season, both in conference play. Hathaway's goal against Wentworth Institute in the CCC Quarterfinals proved to be the game winning goal. Over her career with the Golden Bears, Hathaway played in 60 games, making 58 starts scoring five total goals while adding three assists. The Colchester, Vermont native took 102 career shots, putting 49 on goal while scoring two game winning goals. Hathaway joins Bruehwiler on the Region II First Team list.
Samantha Vitka has been named to the New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association's senior bowl game which will be held on Saturday, December 10.
Vitka is among 29 of the region's top seniors to earn a spot in the senior bowl game which include three others from the CCC. A 2021 All-CCC Third Team section, Vitka scored six goals on the season while putting together two assists for a career best 14 points on the year. Vitka played in 62 games for Western New England over her career making 45 starts, scoring 15 goals, and adding three assists, good for 33 career points.
Western New England went 14-6-2 on the season, winning their first ever CCC championship. The Golden Bears went on the defeat York College of Pennsylvania in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer First Round game before bowing out to top ranked Misericordia University in the second round. The Golden Bears earned their first ever win in an NCAA Tournament game, while also scoring their first ever goal in the tournament in program history.
