For Immediate Release
9 July 2025                                       

Winthrop, MA – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) has announced Dean College women's soccer goalkeeper Haley Gaunt (Johnston, RI) as the recipient of the GNAC Female Athlete of the Year Award. In addition, Gaunt has been nominated by the conference as a candidate for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

Throughout her four-year career, Gaunt made a lasting impact on both the women's soccer and lacrosse programs at Dean. On the pitch, she leaves behind a remarkable legacy as the all-time program leader in career saves (606) and save percentage (.813). Her standout performances earned her numerous accolades, including GNAC Rookie of the Week, the team's Most Valuable Player Award, and the 2024-25 Michelle Porter '90 Female Athlete of the Year Award, which honors the top female student-athlete at Dean College.

Gaunt's excellence earned her a selection to the prestigious New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA) Senior Bowl, which features top players across all three NCAA divisions in the New England region—a rare and well-earned distinction.

In addition to her soccer achievements, Gaunt starred on the women's lacrosse team. After a promising freshman season, she exploded for 49 goals in 2023, the third-highest single-season total in program history. She followed that with 40 goals in 2024 and 46 goals in 2025, bringing her career total to a program-record 151 goals. Gaunt finished her career with 166 points, placing her second all-time in program history, just behind Maire Brown (172).

Off the field, Gaunt has been an active and engaged member of the Dean community. She participated in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Chi Alpha Sigma, the national college athlete honor society. She also completed a senior-year internship with the athletic department, further demonstrating her commitment to excellence beyond athletics.

To learn more about Gaunt and view the full list of GNAC Female Athlete of the Year nominees, visit here. 

For Media Inquiries:
Brett Chaves
Sports Information Director, Dean College Athletics
(508) 541-1826
BChaves@dean.edu