Nine Huskies Honored In Big Ten Postseason Awards
November 04, 2025 | Women's Soccer
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Washington women's soccer team was littered up and down the lineup as the Big Ten conference announced its 2025 postseason awards on Tuesday, with nine different Huskies being recognized by the league's coaches.
After guiding the Dawgs to their second-ever conference championship and first in 25 years, head coach Nicole Van Dyke was the unanimous choice for the Big Ten's Coach of the Year. It is Van Dyke's second career coach of the year nod, earning the award from the California Collegiate Athletic Association in 2005.
In her sixth season on Montlake, Van Dyke guided Washington on a run through the Big Ten schedule that was unforeseen by anyone outside of the Husky program. Picked to finish ninth in the conference, Washington ran a 10-match unbeaten streak to open league play to capture the conference crown with a match in hand, ultimately finishing 8-1-2 at the top of the table.
The linchpin behind UW's crusade to the Big Ten title, Washington's back line swept All-Big Ten accolades, headlined by senior centerback Kolo Suliafu being voted as the Big Ten Defender of the Year.
Also tapped for First Team All-Big Ten honors, Suliafu is UW's first conference defensive player of the year honoree since Andrea Morelli in 1999.
Suliafu was joined by all three of her back line running mates, with Maya Loudd earning a Second Team spot, Anna Menti reeling in Third Team laurels and Maylen Montoya landing on the Freshman All-Big Ten Team.
The spine of the Husky attack was also recognized by the league's head coaches. Sophomore striker Alex Buck earned First Team All-Big Ten distinction, while leading goal scorer Jadyn Holdenried and fourth-year starter and team captain Kelsey Branson were voted to the Second and Third Team, respectively.
Meanwhile, Washington's inspiration all season long and the epitome of courage and fight, senior goalkeeper Mia Hamant was selected as Washington's representative for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
A unit that has allowed just 11 goals all season long and helped the Huskies rack up 10 clean sheets on the campaign, the defensive quartet has given UW opponents fits all season long.
Washington's defensive unit has held its opponent to single-digit shot attempts in 15-of-19 matches, including six or less 11 times. Of UW's 10 shutouts in 2025, seven have come against Big Ten opposition. Washington's 10 clean sheets is one shy of the program record.
On the other end of the field, Buck has wreaked havoc on opposing back lines throughout, but especially in Big Ten action. All six of the sophomore's goals this season have come since the start of conference play, twice being named the league's offensive player of the week. The scorer of UW's title-clinching goal has also chipped in four assists to sit at 16 points for the season.
The second half of Washington's primary firepower, Holdenried paces the Huskies with seven goals in 2025, matching Buck's four assists to also own the team lead and rank seventh in the league with 17 points. The Windsor, California, native has done her scoring when its mattered most, leading the Big Ten and ranking 13th nationally with five game-winning goals.
The most experienced player in the Husky lineup, with 66 consecutive starts to her name, Branson has served as the connective tissue in the middle of the pitch for the Huskies. A true box-to-box midfielder, the senior from San Diego has scored five of her 16 career goals in 2025, while also adding three assists to sit on 13 points.
Fresh off a 2-0 win over nine-seed Illinois on Sunday, the top-seed Huskies continue their Big Ten Tournament run on Thursday at Energizer Park in St. Louis. Washington will be facing fifth-seeded Wisconsin at 1:00 p.m. PT, airing on the Big Ten Network.
For more information on Husky Women's Soccer, follow @UW_WSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.
After guiding the Dawgs to their second-ever conference championship and first in 25 years, head coach Nicole Van Dyke was the unanimous choice for the Big Ten's Coach of the Year. It is Van Dyke's second career coach of the year nod, earning the award from the California Collegiate Athletic Association in 2005.
In her sixth season on Montlake, Van Dyke guided Washington on a run through the Big Ten schedule that was unforeseen by anyone outside of the Husky program. Picked to finish ninth in the conference, Washington ran a 10-match unbeaten streak to open league play to capture the conference crown with a match in hand, ultimately finishing 8-1-2 at the top of the table.
The linchpin behind UW's crusade to the Big Ten title, Washington's back line swept All-Big Ten accolades, headlined by senior centerback Kolo Suliafu being voted as the Big Ten Defender of the Year.
Also tapped for First Team All-Big Ten honors, Suliafu is UW's first conference defensive player of the year honoree since Andrea Morelli in 1999.
Suliafu was joined by all three of her back line running mates, with Maya Loudd earning a Second Team spot, Anna Menti reeling in Third Team laurels and Maylen Montoya landing on the Freshman All-Big Ten Team.
The spine of the Husky attack was also recognized by the league's head coaches. Sophomore striker Alex Buck earned First Team All-Big Ten distinction, while leading goal scorer Jadyn Holdenried and fourth-year starter and team captain Kelsey Branson were voted to the Second and Third Team, respectively.
Meanwhile, Washington's inspiration all season long and the epitome of courage and fight, senior goalkeeper Mia Hamant was selected as Washington's representative for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
A unit that has allowed just 11 goals all season long and helped the Huskies rack up 10 clean sheets on the campaign, the defensive quartet has given UW opponents fits all season long.
Washington's defensive unit has held its opponent to single-digit shot attempts in 15-of-19 matches, including six or less 11 times. Of UW's 10 shutouts in 2025, seven have come against Big Ten opposition. Washington's 10 clean sheets is one shy of the program record.
On the other end of the field, Buck has wreaked havoc on opposing back lines throughout, but especially in Big Ten action. All six of the sophomore's goals this season have come since the start of conference play, twice being named the league's offensive player of the week. The scorer of UW's title-clinching goal has also chipped in four assists to sit at 16 points for the season.
The second half of Washington's primary firepower, Holdenried paces the Huskies with seven goals in 2025, matching Buck's four assists to also own the team lead and rank seventh in the league with 17 points. The Windsor, California, native has done her scoring when its mattered most, leading the Big Ten and ranking 13th nationally with five game-winning goals.
The most experienced player in the Husky lineup, with 66 consecutive starts to her name, Branson has served as the connective tissue in the middle of the pitch for the Huskies. A true box-to-box midfielder, the senior from San Diego has scored five of her 16 career goals in 2025, while also adding three assists to sit on 13 points.
Fresh off a 2-0 win over nine-seed Illinois on Sunday, the top-seed Huskies continue their Big Ten Tournament run on Thursday at Energizer Park in St. Louis. Washington will be facing fifth-seeded Wisconsin at 1:00 p.m. PT, airing on the Big Ten Network.
For more information on Husky Women's Soccer, follow @UW_WSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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