North STL News

The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's soccer team received major recognition in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) postseason awards announced on Tuesday. Junior Taylor Martin was named GLVC Defensive Player of the Year, and head coach Stephen Cavallo earned GLVC Coach of the Year honors.

This marks the first time that UMSL has won major individual awards in GLVC women’s soccer. Along with Martin, seven Tritons players were named to the All-GLVC team. Martin and Julie Steiger made the first team, while Rylee Griffith, Karley Kinzinger, Josie Maddox, and Gwen Maggard were selected for the second team. Rachel Skyberg was included on the third team.

Martin started all 18 games this season for UMSL, logging over 1,500 minutes and helping limit opponents to just 10 goals across those matches. She contributed one goal and four assists while playing a key role in recording 10 shutouts. In conference play, UMSL’s defense allowed only six goals in 14 contests and kept nine clean sheets. Her efforts helped secure a share of the GLVC regular season title and earn UMSL the top seed in the conference tournament.

Cavallo led UMSL to a 12-4-2 overall record with an 11-1-2 mark in conference play during his first year as head coach. Under his leadership, seven players received All-GLVC honors—including first-team selections Martin and Steiger—and UMSL captured its first regular season conference title in program history.

Steiger played alongside Martin as part of a strong center back pairing. She started every game this season, totaling more than 1,500 minutes on defense while also scoring once and providing two assists.

Goalkeeper Griffith appeared in 17 games—starting all but one—amassing eight shutouts and making 48 saves with a save percentage above .820. Her eight shutouts tie for sixth most in a single season at UMSL.

Kinzinger earned her first All-GLVC honor this year as part of a defensive unit that limited opponents to an average of just over half a goal per game; she also contributed one goal and two assists offensively.

Maddox led UMSL with six goals—all scored during conference play—and added two assists. She was named GLVC Offensive Player of the Week on October 21.

Maggard topped the Tritons’ points tally with five goals (including two game-winners) and six assists this season; she converted all four penalty kicks she attempted.

Skyberg started every match as a midfielder, scoring twice with two assists over more than 1,000 minutes played.

The league also recognized student-athletes for sportsmanship through its James R. Spalding Sportsmanship award program. These honorees are selected based on their conduct both on and off the field as well as academic standing; Steiger was nominated from UMSL for this award.

Other major GLVC awards went to Anna Lantz (Rockhurst) as Offensive Player of the Year, Katy Fitzler (Drury) as Goalkeeper of the Year, Sophia Carter (Maryville) as Freshman of the Year, and Stephen Cavallo (Missouri-St. Louis) as Coach of the Year.