Baltimore -- It was announced on Thursday afternoon that senior defender Emily Scorcia was named the Diane Geppi-Aikens Award Recipient for the 2025-26 season. 

"Emily embodies everything this award represents" said Head Coach Jen Adams. "She's always lifting up those around her with her energy and positivity. Like Diane, she's the type of teammate who makes everyone feel valued and supported. Emily doesn't just play the game—she makes the experience more joyful for everyone, and we're so proud to honor her with this recognition."

The Diane Geppi-Aikens Endowed Scholarship was established through donations from a group of women's lacrosse alumnae and is the first endowed scholarship for a female student-athlete at Loyola. Established in 2014, the scholarship will be presented annually to a senior on the women's lacrosse team who shares the values, characteristics and traits that Geppi-Aikens did for family, competitiveness, advocacy for sports and lacrosse, and toughness.

Geppi-Aikens was born in Baltimore and attended Parkville High School before attending Loyola College on a volleyball and lacrosse scholarship. An All-America goalkeeper, Geppi-Aikens went on to become Loyola's women's volleyball head coach and five years later, the women's lacrosse coach, a position she held until her death in June of 2003.

A courageous, enthusiastic, compassionate, approachable inspiration to all who knew her, Geppi-Aikens led the women's lacrosse team to 10 NCAA Tournaments in her 15 seasons as head coach, including seven national semifinals and one NCAA title game. She was named the National Coach of the Year on three occasions and was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in October 2015.

In 1995 though, she started getting seizures and was diagnosed with brain cancer. She went on to have three brain surgeries, but in December 2002, her cancer became terminal. Even though she was partially paralyzed, she continued to Diane Geppi-Aikens Award Winner 1 coach, including coaching her last year from a wheelchair while leading her team to a No. 1 ranking in the country.

This years award was presented to Emily Scorcia, a senior defender from Brightwaters, New York.  Much like Geppi-Aikens, who was the heart and soul of our team in the late 90's early 2000's, Scorcia is the heart and soul of our locker room and culture today. She is someone who provides the little moments that mean so much and that allow for the big moments to happen.

"I am overwhelmed with gratitude to receive this award" said Scorcia. "To be associated with such a special person, and now group of amazing individuals is the greatest honor. This group of women are those I have looked up to, and aspired to be like for the past 4 plus years. To be welcomed into this group gives me such a special feeling I cannot describe. I love Loyola and I feel blessed and lucky every day to be a part of the hound family for life." 

Diane Geppi-Aikens Endowed Scholarship Recipients

2014-15: Hannah Schmitt

2015-16: Molly Wolf

2016-17: Bailey Mathis

2017-18: Margaret Filippelli

2018-19: Kristen Yanchoris

2019-20: Holly Lloyd

2020-21: Liz Scott

2021-22: Shay Clevenger

2022-23: Anna Ruby

2023-24: Sydni Black

2024-25: Ellie Wiechert

2025-26: Emily Scorcia