Sophomore goalkeeper Ellie Palaian of the Case Western Reserve University women's soccer team was named the United Soccer Coaches Division III September Player of the Month as announced by the organization on Friday.

The Player of the Month Award was introduced by the United Soccer Coaches prior to the 2025 season and recognizes one student-athlete at each NCAA Division level for men's and women's soccer.

Palaian played all 990 minutes in goal for CWRU this season, helping the fourth-ranked Spartans to a 10-0-1 record in 2025. She has recorded nine shutouts and allowed just two goals for a goals against average of 0.18. Palaian has saved 20 shots in the team's 11 games, posting a save percentage of .909.

Her nine shutouts are one shy of the single-season program record set in 2011 by Anna Kennedy and matched in 2021 by Maggie Storti. Additionally, she leads all three NCAA Divisions in shutouts and ranks seventh in Division III in goals against average and 16th in save percentage.

Prior to this season, Palaian had played just 21 collegiate minutes in goal, saving one shot in her only appearance in 2024. She was named the University Athletic Association Player of the Week for Defense on September 22 after saving a season-high five shots in a 2-0 victory over Calvin.

The Spartans open UAA play today with a matchup against the 13th-ranked University of Rochester at 1:30 p.m.