EASTON, Pa. – Senior Nadia Zaffanella of the Lafayette women's soccer team was selected as the Patriot League Preseason Midfielder of the Year, the league office announced on Thursday morning. 

Zaffanella, a 2025 First-Team All-Patriot League selection, netted nine goals a year ago and one assist for 19 points in her junior season. The Ellington, Conn. native scored game-winning goals against Navy and Lehigh in 2025.  Zaffanella ranks in eighth place for single season all-time goals, tied with Michele Pomarico, Melissa Lynskey and Jill Dozier, and the midfielder is also in sixth place all-time, with 17 career goals. Zaffanella was previously a Second-Team All-Patriot League selection, along with being the 2023 Patriot League Rookie of the Year.

Following a 5-8-7 overall record a year ago and a 3-3-3 mark in conference play, the Leopards advanced to the Patriot League Semifinal for the first time since 2016. Lafayette was picked to finish seventh in the Patriot League Preseason Poll. The Leopards were picked behind league-favorite Army, followed by Boston U., Colgate, Loyola, Holy Cross and Navy in the preseason poll. Rounding out the poll behind Lafayette were Bucknell, Lehigh, and American.

The Leopards open action on Aug. 16, traveling to CCSU for a match at 2 p.m.