Brockport’s Jaylah Cossin was named Empire 8 women’s soccer Offensive Player of The Week for the second time this season for her six-point performance last week in victories over Geneseo and Elmira. Against Geneseo, Cossin scored a goal and had two assists in the 3-1 win, and against Elmira in the Empire 8 quarterfinals she scored the game-winning goal to clinch a 1-0 win.
“I’m really grateful for this recognition, but I think it speaks more to the strength and support of our entire team,” Cossin said. “Every player contributes to our success, and it’s our chemistry on the field that makes moments like this possible. Being named Player of the Week again feels like a reflection of everyone’s hard work, not just mine. I’m proud to represent our team, and it’s exciting to see how far we’ve come together this season.”
Last season, the team finished with a 12-3-5 overall record and a 4-1-4 conference record and advanced to the SUNYAC championship game. This season, the team has a 15-1-1 overall record and a 10-1 conference record. Cossin loves the new energy and experiences this year’s team has.
“Every year, teams evolve as players leave and new ones join, bringing new energy and perspectives,” Cossin said. “It’s been exciting to find our rhythm together this season, and with each game, we learn more about how we work best as a team. Last year’s team had a strong run to the SUNYAC final, and we’ve carried that experience forward. We’ve stayed consistent in our execution and developed a mindset focused on taking it one game at a time.
The team has been extremely successful on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the team has only allowed four goals which ranks third in the nation and leads the Empire 8. Offensively, Brockport leads the Empire 8 in total points with 134 and goals scored with 51. Cossin credits success on both sides to trust and intensity.
“Our success on both ends of the field comes down to communication, trust and everyone understanding their roles,” Cossin said. “Defensively, we stay disciplined and work together as a unit, which makes us hard to break down. Offensively, we bring intensity and stay adaptable, allowing us to adjust our game depending on what’s needed. I’d say this combination has helped us stay consistent and perform well as a team.”
Cossin and the rest of the Golden Eagles fell Wednesday to Nazareth in the Empire 8 semifinals.
In the game, Cossin played 106 minutes and registered one shot. Though their season is over, Cossin dominated from start to finish. This season, she played in 19 games, scoring a team-high 12 goals and adding nine assists.
