WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- In the wake of the 2021 season which saw the Capital University women's soccer team battle through its lows and enjoy many highs, an astonishing eight players have been recognized with All-OAC postseason honors. 

Making up the contingent are Avery Hart, Cassidy Ryan, and Olivia Rotolo on the first team, Holly Barlage, Lexi Snider, and Lauren White on the second team, and Gabbi Viggiano and Grace Estes on the third team. 

The eight players selected mark the first time Capital has had that many honored by the conference in one postseason since the 2015 season. This also marks the second consecutive season in which Cap has had three first team selections and three second team honorees. Capital's eight all-conference selections ties both Otterbein and Ohio Northern with the most selections across the conference.

The third team is new to the conference accolades this season for women's soccer and replaces what had previously been awarded as All-OAC Honorable Mention. 

Hart had a stellar campaign leading the Comets in scoring with nine goals and three assists for a total of 21 points. Her nine goals placed her fifth in the conference. The junior out of Pickerington now has 20 career goals for the Purple and White. She adds this first team honor to her collection of OAC awards that includes 2019 Second Team and Freshman of the Year accolades. 

Ryan, a senior out of Westerville, was a force to be reckoned with on the defensive line this season, constantly disrupting the flow of the opponent offense. In addition to her defensive prowess, Ryan got forward to contribute to the offense, scoring her first collegiate goal at John Carroll and assisting on another vs. Mount Union. This marks Ryan's first career OAC award. 

Rotolo helped Capital clog the center of the midfield, serving as a disruptive force to the opponents game plans week after week, much like Ryan. Late in the season, Rotolo, who hails from Dublin, got more involved in the team's offense, scoring a goal vs. Heidelberg in the OAC Tournament and having an assist vs. Wilmington and at ONU. This is Rotolo's second OAC honor after she was a second team selection a season ago. 

Barlage, a senior native of Milford, came on strong early on. She played in all 18 games, making 15 starts in the center of defense. Her stout defensive play helped the team to a slew of shutouts during the middle of the season. Much like Ryan, this is Barlage's first OAC award. 

Snider, a sophomore from Canal Winchester, made her mark later in the season. Snider started the year strong but didn't score her first goal until OAC play against Baldwin Wallace. She then scored a goal vs. ONU and two vs. Wilmington later in the year. She had one assist that came in the OAC tournament. This is Snider's third postseason accolade after she had claimed first team and Freshman of the Year honors last season.
 
White, a junior from Dublin, was sharp all season long for the Comets in goal. She played every minute of the season and collected a career-best eight shutouts. She made 80 saves on the year for a 0.91 GAA, and an 81.6% save percentage. She was top-three in the conference in save percentage and goals-against-average. This is White's second straight postseason honor after she was named Honorable Mention last season. 

Viggiano began the season injured, but came back midway through the season to once again prove her presence in the center of midfield for Capital. A native of Hilliard, Viggiano played in 11 matches, making nine starts. In those games, she helped keep possession for Cap and limit the opponents' opportunities. Additionally, she scored her lone goal of the season at Muskingum. This is Viggiano's second OAC award as she was named to the second team as a sophomore. 

Estes, a freshman from West Liberty, burst onto the scene as a freshman scoring five goals and handing out three assists. She recorded points in five straight games, with an assist or a goal in each game. Estes had her first career multi-goal game at Muskingum as she netted twice. Estes' award is the third straight season in which a Cap freshman has earned postseason honors. 

These eight players helped Capital to a 9-8-2 record, which included a 7-1-1 OAC mark. The team went through one of the most rigorous non-conference schedules in recent memory where they struggled for results, but they hit conference action certainly ready to go as they rattled off seven straight wins, with six of those coming via the shutout. The team ended their season as OAC semifinalists.