Ohio Wesleyan University junior Natalie Ryan (Beavercreek/Dayton Carroll) received a special award as part of the All-North Coast Athletic Conference women's soccer teams, it was announced today by the NCAC.

Ryan, a goalkeeper, was named Defensive Player of the Year and was a first-team All-NCAC selection.

Ryan was joined on the All-NCAC teams by junior defender Halle Dacek (Middleburg Heights/Berea-Midpark), senior defender Kaylee DeShong (Canal Winchester), and senior midfielder Ryan O'Neill (Maineville/Little Miami), who were second-team All-NCAC picks.

Ryan leads the NCAC in shutouts (8), shares the league lead in saves percentage (.857) and ranks second in the conference in goals-against average (0.68).  Ryan, along with Dacek, DeShong, and O'Neill, a defensive midfielder, were starters in a defensive unit that shared the league lead in shutouts (10) and ranked second in goals-against average (0.65).  On the offensive end, Dacek tied for second on the team with 3 assists, DeShong ranked third on the team in scoring with 3 goals and 1 assist, and O'Neill scored 2 goals and set up 2 others.  Ryan was a first-team All-NCAC choice in 2023 and was the NCAC Newcomer of the Year and a second-team all-conference selection in 2022.  Dacek was a third-team all-conference pick in 2023.  O'Neill was a second-team All-NCAC choice in 2023, a third team all-conference selection in 2022 and an honorable mention All-NCAC pick in 2021.

Ohio Wesleyan finished the season with a 9-5-3 record, including a 2-2-3 mark in NCAC competition.  The Battling Bishops finished in sixth place in the final NCAC standings.