Delaney Parker Named MASCAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year
Parker becomes the 25th Owl to win the award since it was first presented in 1980.
After a dual sport athletics career in women's soccer and track and field plus an illustrious academic slate, Delaney Parker (Mahar/Orange, Mass.) of Westfield State was named the 2025 MASCAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year which is voted on by the Athletic Directors from around the league.
Parker finishes her collegiate career as one of the most decorated athletes in the history of Westfield State Athletics. She was named a CSC Academic All-American, just the 12th Owls athlete to receive such honor. She is a three-time MASCAC Offensive Player of the Year recipient, the 2021 MASCAC Rookie of the Year, and is the first Owls athlete (male or female) to reach the 200-career point mark. She set the program record for single-season and career goals, finishing her career with 87 goals.
In her rookie season with the Owls, Parker led the nation with 31 goals and was recognized as the MASCAC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. The 31-goal effort shattered the single-season scoring record and also broke the single-season points record with 70.
Parker would go on to win three MASCAC Championships in her four seasons, playing in the conference championship game in all four years. As a first-year forward, Parker was named the MASCAC Tournament MVP after scoring the lone goal in the Owls 1-0 title match victory over Worcester State.
In her sophomore season, Parker helped guide the Owls back to the NCAA Tournament, then propelled Westfield into the second round of the NCAA Tournament after netting a double overtime goal against Emerson to lock up a 2-1 victory. As a program, it was the first time since 2011 the Owls advanced into the second round.
As a junior, the Owls went back to the MASCAC Championship game with Parker scoring the game-winning goal midway through the second half to secure a third consecutive conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. Parker was named the MASCAC Offensive Player of the Year and was named to the Division III All-Region team.
Parker capped her senior year by setting program records in both career goals and points, finishing her career with 87 goals and 208 points, earning another conference player of the year honors in the process.
Not only has she been a standout on the soccer field, but also on the indoor and outdoor track team for the past three years, where she worked equally as hard at her craft, placing second in the conference in the 100 meters this past season, and helping the Owls win the last three MASCAC indoor and outdoor women's track and field championships.
Now that she has graduated, Parker aspires to obtain her Doctorate in Physical Therapy after earning her bachelors degree in Sports Medicine with an outstanding 3.96 GPA.
-- release courtesy of the MASCAC
EDITOR'S NOTE: Parker is the 25th Owl to win the MASCAC Scholar Athlete of the Year award. Former teammate Jenn Rennich was the last honoree in 2023. 14 women from Westfield State have won the award since it was first presented in 1980.