Women's Soccer Trio Earn All Region Recognition
Three members of the Central Connecticut women's soccer team earned the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region honors it was announced on Tuesday. Junior midfielder Roma McLaughlin was named to the First Team, while seniors Erica Bardes and Jenna Rae Covello were named to the Second Team. The teams are selected through voting by member coaches.
This is the third consecutive year the women's soccer team has had three all-region selections. McLaughlin is a two-time First Team choice, while Bardes is a two-time pick on the Second Team. Having earned First Team recognition, McLaughlin is again eligible for All-America honors.
UNITED SOCCER COACHES ALL REGION TEAMS
McLaughlin has built an impressive resume in her first three seasons in New Britain. Along with a pair of NEC Midfielder of the Year accolades, the Donegal, Ireland native was the 2018 NEC Rookie of the Year. McLaughlin is also a three-time first team All-NEC selection and earned All-America status in 2019. McLaughlin had 10 points on four goals and two assists in eight games this season after leading CCSU to its third straight Northeast Conference title and earning Most Valuable Player honors.
Bardes has started 29 games for Blue Devils over the past two seasons, anchoring the NEC's top defense. The Montvale, NJ native posted a goal and three assists this season en route to earning All-NEC First Team for the second time. She scored the game-winning goal against Rutgers at the NCAA Tournament in 2019. In 2019 was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Second Team, United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-East Region Second Team and NEWISA All-New England Second Team.
Covello, a two-time All-NEC First Team choice, became the first Blue Devil to collect NEC Offensive Player of the Year honors after tallying three goals and three assists on the year. The senior forward led the Blue Devil attack that ranked first amongst NEC teams in goals per game over the course of the regular season. The Plymouth, CT native was previously and NEC All-Rookie selection in 2017 and an All-Tournament selection in 2018.
CCSU finished the season 7-1 overall and a perfect 6-0 against NEC opponents. CCSU won its third straight conference title and the 11th in program history. The team ranked among the nation's leaders, allowing just one goal in the regular season. CCSU advanced to its third straight NCAA Tournament and faced South Florida.
All-America teams for Division I will be announced on Thursday, May 13.