Notre Dame High girls soccer coach Lauren Diaz has penciled the same name into her starting lineup for 80 consecutive games. But when the Irish line up for their season opener next fall it will be the first time since 2021 that Isabella Daley won’t start at center back. That’s because she will b e playing down the street at The College of New Jersey next season. She’ll show up there as the 2025 Colonial Valley Conference Player of the Year. “Bella is an exceptional player, leader, and person,” Diaz said. “She exemplifies everything that represents CVC Player of the Year because she leaves everything she has out on the field for every practice and game.” Notre Dame’s Isabella Daley moves with the ball against Lawrence during a CVC Colonial Division girls soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 at Mike Perone Field in Lawrence Twp. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) The Player of the Year honor, the first for a Notre Dame player since Julia Panko in 2015, comes after a terrific four-year career in which Daley’s steady presence helped the Irish improve their win total in each of her four seasons. This fall they went 15-8 — their most wins since the 2016 squad won 18 games — and reached the semifinals of the Non-Public A South section before bowing out to Trinity Hall on a second-half wonder goal. “I hope I’ve rubbed off on the team how much I want to win,” Daley said. “That’s my personality. I’m proud that people were able to kind of bounce off of me, and if I wanted it they wanted it, too.” Overall, Notre Dame went 49-27-4 for a .612 winning percentage over the course of Daley’s career. It went form seven wins her freshman year to 13 as a sophomore, 14 as a junior and then the 15 as a senior. “She is someone that players have gravitated towards throughout the course of her career because she demands not only the best from herself but those around her as well,” Diaz said. “Defenders are the backbone of any successful team and she has been that for us.” What makes Daley a great defender? “She has demonstrated an incredible ability to read the game, consistently stepping in to break up dangerous plays, and excellent 1v.1 defending,” Diaz said. “In addition to those attributes, she has excellent positioning, communication with the rest of the defense, and she is relentless on attackers.” And, of course, confidence. Daley exudes that on the field. Her defining moment in a season in which the Irish kept 13 cleansheets was marshaling the defensive effort against Immaculata in the sectional quarterfinal. The Irish went on the road and held the Somerset County-side scoreless for 100 minutes before advancing in a penalty kick shootout. “Now I’m able to lead the whole field,” Daley said. “That’s something I could not do my freshman year.” Notre Dame’s Isabella Daley, left, tackles the ball away from Allentown’s Julia Ciodyk, right, during a CVC Tournament semifinal girls soccer game on Wednesday Oct. 29, 2025 night in Princeton Jct. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) It’s why Diaz believes she’ll make a seamless transition to the college level where everything moves two steps faster. “She is someone who truly loves the game and it shows when she plays,” Diaz said. “This motivates her to always grow and learn, which only leads to success at the next level. She is a student of the game who is always willing to do what is best for the team and will buy in one-hundred percent. They are lucky to have her and she will be greatly missed within our program for years to come.” But not before leaving a legacy of consistently excellent performances. “From what we started at the beginning of the season to now, it’s so much growth,” Daley said. “I just have more pride in this team than sadness that I’m leaving. I can’t wait to see what they do next year.” ...read more read less