Soltys Named Big South Defensive Player Of The Year To Highlight Postseason Honors For Bears
5/1/2025 12:02:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Bears placed four on All-Conference Teams
Mercer had four players receive All-Conference recognition with Soltys, attacker Caroline Glus, and midfielder Ansley Walters being named First Team All-Conference. Defender Fiona Tanis was named Honorable Mention All-Conference. Soltys was also named the Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year and to the All-Academic Team.
Mercer went 10-7 overall and 7-1 in Big South play as the Bears captured a share of the Big South regular season title.
Soltys is the second Mercer Bear in three seasons to be voted Big South Defensive Player of the Year. The team captain started 16 of 17 contests during the regular-season, and is a lock down defender who draws the opponent's top attacker. Soltys totaled 30 ground balls and a team-high 23 caused turnovers in 2025, and also won six draw controls. She helped the Bears hold the opposition to a 11.07 goals against average which was second best in the conference. In Big South action, Soltys had 18 ground balls (2.25 per contest) and 13 caused turnovers (1.62), while part of a defense that permitted just 8.63 goals per game.
Glus was named All-Conference for the second time in her career. It is her first, First Team All-Conference honor after being named Second Team last season. She led the Bears with 56 goals and 62 points in the regular season. Her 56 goals were fourth most in the Big South and the second straight season with at least 50 goals. Glus led the Big South with 15 free position goals. After not scoring in the season opener, Glus went on to score in every game the rest of the way (16 games), including 10 games with at least four goals. She had a career high 24 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers.
Walters earned her second career All-Conference recognition after being named Second Team All-Conference last year as a freshman. She finished the regular season with 22 goals, three assists, 17 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers and 35 draw controls. Her 19 caused turnovers were second most on the team behind Soltys. Walters scored a career high four goals to go with two caused turnovers against Furman.
Tanis earned her first career All-Conference honor as the sophomore defender had a great season for the Bears. She finished with 27 ground balls, six caused turnovers and 27 draw controls. Her 27 ground balls were second most on the team behind Soltys. Tanis also scored her first career goal at Winthrop back on April 19.
2025 BIG SOUTH WOMEN'S LACROSSE ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
ATT – Anna Roser, Furman
ATT – Bria Foley, Wofford
ATT – Allie Connally, High Point
MF – Paige Harman, Furman
MF – Ansley Walters, Mercer
MF – Sofija Buzelis, Furman
D – Abby Soltys, Mercer
D – Barrett Rowe, Wofford
D – Julia Dustin, High Point
GK – Ava Welsh, High Point
AL – Bella Germani, MF, High Point
AL – Caroline Glus, ATT, Mercer
AL – Avery West, D, Presbyterian
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SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
ATT – Lily Toole, Furman
ATT – Scarlet Cifarelli, Winthrop
ATT – Esprit Cha, High Point
MF – Olivia Graebner, Wofford
MF – Willow Hammond, Presbyterian
MF – Emma Duchscherer, Gardner-Webb
D – Skylar Hilmer, Furman
D – Andrea Fisher, Furman
D – Haley Urban, High Point
GK – Emma Anderson, Gardner-Webb
AL – Shannon Smith, ATT, High Point
AL – Reese Dowgiallo, ATT, High Point
AL – Maddy Mayer, MF, Winthrop
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-CONFERENCE
Fiona Tanis, D, Mercer
Brooke Meltcher, D, Wofford
Mandy Brockamp, MF, High Point
Mady Cheney, MF, Radford
Lily Davis, D, Winthrop
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ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Paige Harman, Furman
Reese Jones, Gardner-Webb
Tatum Mehring, High Point
Elena Firestone, Longwood
Abby Soltys, Mercer
MacKenzie Partsch, Presbyterian
Evie Gee, Radford
Tori Iannotti, Winthrop
Bria Foley, Wofford
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CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Anna Roser, Furman
Bria Foley, Wofford
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
Paige Harman, Furman
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DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Abby Soltys, Mercer
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NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Bella Germani, High Point
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Lily Toole, Furman
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COACH OF THE YEAR
Gail Wallach, Furman
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SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Abby Soltys, Mercer
