Four Blue Devils Chosen to Play in NEWISA Senior Bowl

Four seniors from the Central Connecticut women's soccer team were chosen for the New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA) Senior Bowl. Seniors Ashley Cavanaugh, Shelbie Carr, Danielle Pearse and Charlotte Maurer were picked to represent the Blue Devils in the annual senior showcase game.

The NEWISA Senior Bowl is scheduled for December 1 at 12:00 p.m. on the campus of Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. The game features seniors from colleges and universities in New England across all three NCAA divisions.

Cavanaugh was the top vote-getter among goalkeepers for the game. She was named the Northeast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year for the second straight season and earned a spot on the All-NEC First Team. A three-time NEC Defensive Player of the Week, Cavanaugh backed a solid defensive line and ranked sixth in the nation posting 11 shutouts as a senior. Cavanaugh led the NEC with a 0.66 GAA and was second with a .854 save percentage. Cavanaugh was also named Goalkeeper of the Year by New England Soccer Journal. Cavanaugh finished her career with a 27-11-4 record with 23 shutouts and a 0.69 goals against average.

Carr played in all 20 games as a senior, making 19 starts on the CCSU backline. She helped the Blue Devils rank 21st nationally with a 0.636 goals against average and 22nd in shutout percentage (.550). Carr appeared in 61 career games, making 51 starts, and totaled two goals and two assists. 

Pearse earned All-NEC First Team honors as a senior after leading the team with 25 points and 11 goals. Pearse was named the Northeast Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player after scoring three goals in the tournament, including both goals in a 2-1 semifinal win over Fairleigh Dickinson. The forward also scored the game's opening goal in CCSU's NCAA Tournament game at top-seeded Georgetown. Pearse finished her career with 21 goals and six assists.

Maurer was the top vote-getter among midfielders for the Senior Bowl. The NEC Midfielder of the Year totaled 21 points on eight goals and five assists as a senior. Maurer scored three game-winning goals on the season. The Northampton, MA native, earned the NEC Player of the Week honor on Oct. 2 after scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson and adding a goal and assist in a 6-1 win against Wagner. Maurer tallied 10 career goals and seven assists in 64 games played.

The quartet helped the Blue Devils win the Northeast Conference championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament. Central posted a 16-2-2 record overall and went 8-0 in league play.