KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Adding another record-breaking achievement to the 2024 Christopher Newport women's soccer season, the Captains continue to stockpile awards for their accomplishments this year as
Hanna Heaton was named a first team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches while
Ellie Cox captured third team and
Reanna Slater hauled in fourth team honors. It marks the first time in program history that CNU women's soccer was represented by three players on the All-American squads announced by the coaches' association.
After each made history in their own right in various ways, the three together join an elite list of former Captains to garner All-American accolades in program history. Slater collects her second career All-American designation after securing first team honors a year ago. Cox and Heaton each were selected for the first time, becoming just the 11th and 12th players to be selected as an All-American.
With her first team citation in 2024,
Hanna Heaton becomes just the fifth player in program lore to earn the top honors from the United Soccer Coaches as she joins Gabby Gillis (2017, 2018), Riley Cook (2018, 2021),
Sarah Smith (2022), and
Reanna Slater (2023).
In her second season as a member of the Captains' nationally-ranked squad, Heaton is a two-time first team All-Region selection and earned All-American plaudits for the first time. She has had an unforgettable season, picking up at least one point in all but seven games this year. Heaton has found the back of the net 14 times while also setting a program record with 17 assists this year. In seven games this year, Heaton registered at least four points in a single game including three braces.
For her efforts this season, Heaton was named the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a first team All-C2C selection. She carried the load for CNU offensively, playing a role in 31 of 68 total scores this year, including six scores in the NCAA Tournament so far. A dangerous asset offensively, she has contributed three game-winning goals and taken 58 corner kicks for the Captains.
Adding an All-American plaque to her resume for the first time in her career,
Ellie Cox was recognized as one of the nation's elite midfielders as a senior after earning first team All-Region laurels in each of her last three seasons. An incredibly consistent asset in the center of the pitch for head coach
Jamie Gunderson, Cox has started 72 straight games played heading into this weekend's national semifinals. She has played in 88 of a possible 89 career games with 18 points on six goals and six assists including a career-best eight points this season.
Beyond the offensive contributions, Cox has handled the job responsibility of being the field general throughout her career. A tenacious defender on 50-50 balls despite her diminutive stature, Cox repeatedly assists in breaking down opponents attacks before they have a chance to mount. And as the field flips, Cox is a hinge point in the attacking offense, helping develop the Captains' best chances down the field. This season, she ranks third on the team in minutes played, with 1,812 out of a possible 1,980, meaning she has been on the field in a demanding position for 91.5 percent of possible minutes this season.
One of the only two players to log more on field time for the Captains this season is the final All-American selection for Christopher Newport in 2024 as
Reanna Slater collects fourth team honors in her senior season. The two-time Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and 2023 first team All-American has been a constant presence on the back line for the duration of her career. A starter in 78 of her 80 career games, Slater has logged an impressive 6,800 minutes over the course of her tenure including 1,913 minutes this season. She has appeared in 96.6 percent of possible minutes while holding down opponents in record-breaking fashion.
The CNU defense has blanketed opponents, surrendering just 2.1 shots on goal per game this season while boasting a 0.45 goals-against average. Slater and the rest of the CNU back line have held opponents to just 108 total shots and 10 goals scored this year. This season, she has added a breakout campaign offensively, scoring two goals and contributing three assists for a career-high seven total points.
Slater and Cox have been four-year members of the Captains powerhouse program, helping lift CNU to a 79-1-9 overall record in their tenure. In that stretch, CNU has 65 shutouts in 89 games played for a shutout percentage of over 73 percent. Their contributions defensively have entered Christopher Newport into the discussion as one of the top defenses in Division III history, holding opponents to just a 0.322 goals-against average.
The Captains will return to action this Friday, December 6 at 5:30 p.m. (ET) in the NCAA Division III National Semifinals against top-ranked Washington University in St. Louis. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available at NCAA.com.
2024 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Women's All-Americans
| First Team |
|
| Pos |
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| K |
Sidney Conner* |
GR-5 |
Washington University (Mo.) |
Valley Cottage, N.Y. |
| D |
Ava Curtis* |
Sr. |
The College of New Jersey |
Hillsborough, N.J. |
| D |
Ally Hackett* |
Sr. |
Washington University (Mo.) |
Charlotte, N.C. |
| D |
Lucy Iverson |
Jr. |
Calvin University |
Naperville, Ill. |
| M |
Ellie Arndt** |
GR-5 |
University of Wisconsin- La Crosse |
Appleton, Wis. |
| M |
Grace Ehlert |
Jr. |
Washington University (Mo.) |
Wilmette, Ill. |
| M |
Niamh Healy* |
GR-5 |
University of Scranton |
Orangeburg, N.Y. |
| M |
Sarah Zimmerman |
Jr. |
Washington and Lee University |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
| F |
Jaylah Cossin |
GR-5 |
College of Brockport |
Silver Creek, N.Y. |
| F |
Hanna Heaton |
Jr. |
Christopher Newport University |
Gloucester, Va. |
| F |
Hannah Hong |
Jr. |
Pomona-Pitzer Colleges |
Irvine, Calif. |
| F |
Katie Sullivan*** |
Sr. |
Johns Hopkins University |
Yardley, Pa. |
|
|
|
| Second Team |
| Pos |
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| K |
Molly Brumbach |
Jr. |
Wesleyan University |
Montclair, N.J. |
| D |
Lauren Davis |
Sr. |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Whitefish Bay, Wis. |
| D |
Annie Isphording** |
Jr. |
Johns Hopkins University |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
| D |
Alexis McMahon** |
GR-5 |
University of Wisconsin- La Crosse |
San Jose, Calif. |
| D |
Majorie Plants |
Sr. |
William Smith College |
Jamaica, Vt. |
| M |
Natalie Barnouw |
Sr. |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
| M |
Julia Beck* |
Sr. |
Misercordia University |
Langhorne, Pa. |
| M |
Victoria D'Imperio* |
Sr. |
The College of New Jersey |
Bordentown, N.J. |
| M |
Reagan Lindsay |
Sr. |
Loras College |
Waterloo, Iowa |
| F |
Elsi Aires* |
Jr |
Tufts University |
Westborough, Mass. |
| F |
Rachel Eisert |
Sr. |
SUNY New Paltz |
Bellmore, N.Y. |
| F |
Brianna Fee* |
Sr. |
Sewanee-University of the South |
Lee's Summit, Mo. |
|
|
Third Team
|
|
| Pos |
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| K |
Lauryn Lewis |
Sr. |
Trinity University (Texas) |
Carrollton, Texas |
| D |
Bryn Bissinger |
Sr. |
Washington and Lee University |
Greenville, S.C. |
| D |
Dakota Leonard |
Sr. |
St. Mary's University of Minnesota |
Lincolnshire, Ill. |
| D |
Avery West |
Sr. |
California Lutheran University |
Santa Rosa, Calif. |
| M |
Kristina Akselsen** |
Sr. |
Messiah University |
Wall, N.J. |
| M |
Ellie Cox |
Sr. |
Christopher Newport University |
Crozet, Va. |
| M |
Emma Herrmann |
Sr. |
Grove City College |
Hilton, N.Y. |
| M |
Caroline Kelly |
Jr. |
Tufts University |
Southborough, Mass. |
| F |
Imani Jenkins |
GR-5 |
University of Hartford |
Middletown, Conn. |
| F |
Savannah Johnson* |
GR-5 |
Loras College |
Wauconda, Ill. |
| F |
Kelli Keady* |
GR-5 |
New York University |
Los Gatos, Calif. |
| F |
Cassie Nash ** |
GR-5 |
Simpson College |
Lincoln, Neb. |
| F |
Elle Sutter* |
GR-5 |
North Central College |
Peoria, Ill. |
|
| Fourth Team |
|
| Pos |
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
| K |
Lauren Hoolahan |
Sr. |
McDaniel College |
East Northport, N.Y. |
| D |
Piper Dean* |
Sr. |
Carleton College |
Arlington, Va. |
| D |
Spencer Deutz* |
Sr. |
Pomona-Pitzer College |
Moraga, Calif. |
| D |
Emily DeRoehn* |
Sr. |
Johnson and Wales University (R.I) |
Old Lyme, Conn. |
| D |
Charlotte Huang* |
Sr. |
Amherst College |
Arlington, Mass. |
| D |
Reanna Slater* |
Sr. |
Christopher Newport University |
Keswick, Va. |
| M |
Ruth Hotaling |
Jr |
William Smith College |
Delmar, N.Y. |
| M |
Natalie Kocsis |
Sr. |
University of Rochester |
White Lake, Mich. |
| M |
Christina Stone |
GR-5 |
University of Hartford |
Glastonbury, Conn. |
| F |
Michaela Bosco |
Sr. |
Trinity University (Texas) |
Weatherford, Texas |
| F |
Hannah Cecil |
Sr. |
Pacific Lutheran University |
Bothell, Wash. |
| F |
Caitie Chismarich |
GR-5 |
Illinois Institute of Technology |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| F |
Sarah Dullaghan |
Jr. |
Emmanuel College (Mass.) |
Belmont, Mass. |
| F |
Kaitlyn Nimmer |
So. |
Emory University |
Ashburn, Va. |
|
* – Denotes previous selection
