Milton Headlines Women’s Soccer GNAC All-Conference Award Winners 

WINTHROP, Mass. – Five members of the Rivier women's soccer team were honored as Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) All-Conference award honorees, headlined by first year head coach Daniel Milton who claimed the title of Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, Jordan Butters was named to First Team, Jillian Arigo made the Second Team, Anna Gorman made the Third Team, and Shannon O'Toole earned a spot on All-Sportsmanship Team. 

Milton came to Rivier from Franklin Pierce, where he served as an assistant coach for four seasons. He led the Raiders to new heights in 2023, as the squad posted an overall record of 10-7-3 and a 8-5-2 league ledger after going winless in GNAC play the season prior. The 10 wins were the fourth most in program history, while the eight conference triumphs tied the most in the Raiders' history books. His three goalkeepers posted eight clean sheets, the most ever in a single season. 

Rivier was able to celebrate the historic season with a 4-0 victory over Albertus Magnus on home turf in the GNAC Play-In Game, the first postseason win for the Raiders in 23 seasons. The quarterfinal round contest against Emmanuel (Mass.) matched the team's furthest playoff run, which was last reached in 2015. 

Butters, a graduate transfer from Southern N.H., totaled 26 points, with 10 goals and six assists. Starting in all 20 games, she finished fifth in the GNAC for total points on the season, as well as seventh in goals. She had a massive impact on the team, claiming the top spot in all the squad's offensive categories. 

Arigo, a Franklin Pierce graduate transfer, tallied eight points on three goals and two assists, while starting in 19 out of 20 total games as a Raider. She earned the award as a back, but found her way all over the field, playing at nearly every position throughout the campaign. 

Gorman, a junior back, started in all 20 games this season, notching one point. Her presence, along with Arigo's, was felt on the back line on a consistent basis, helping with clears on many opponent scoring opportunities. 

The team allowed just 32 goals compared to 75 in 2022, due in huge part to these honorees. 

O'Toole, a senior back from Hamilton, Mass. played her first year at Becker before finishing out out her career at Riv, starting in 40 games over two seasons while performing as a key leader and a captain in 2023. 

The Raiders, under Milton's continued leadership, will look to build on its competitive culture and compete for another spot in the GNAC Tournament in 2024.