ERIE, Pa. – Penn State Behrend women's soccer senior defender Kristi Buckenheimer (Beaver, PA/Beaver Area) has been named the 2023 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Defender of the Year and joins freshman midfielder Rachel Sickeri (DuBois, PA/DuBois) on the All-ECAC First Team.

Buckenheimer is earning her second Player of the Year honor after being named the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Co-Defensive Player of the Year. She was also an All-Region Third Team choice and an All-AMCC First Team selection this season. Buckenheimer anchored the defense that posted a league-best .95 goals-against average. The Lions only allowed 18 goals and recorded 10 shutouts in 20 contests.

Sickeri, the 2023 AMCC Newcomer of the Year, landed on the All-ECAC First Team. She was an All-AMCC Second Team honoree for scoring eight goals and handing out 10 assists for 26 points. Sickeri tallied all her points in the nine conference games. She led the AMCC with 10 assists and was third in points.

Buckenheimer and Sickeri helped the Lions capture their 16th AMCC Championship and berth into the NCAA Tournament, finishing with a 13-5-2 overall record.