Women's Soccer Quartet Named NEWISA All-New England
The Blue Devils won their ninth Northeast Conference championship in 2018.
The Central Connecticut women's soccer team had four named to the NEWISA All-New England teams it was announced. Seniors Charlotte Maurer and Danielle Pearse, along with junior Shauny Alterisio earned First Team recognition, while senior Ashley Cavanaugh was named to the Second Team.
COMPLETE ALL-NEW ENGLAND TEAMS
Pearse was the leading vote-getter among forwards. The Seaford, NY native, was also selected for the NEWISA Senior Bowl and named All-NEC First Team. Pearse was also named to the All-ECAC Team and United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Second Team after pacing CCSU with 25 points and 11 goals. Pearse also earned 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, and helping CCSU to its ninth conference title. The forward also scored the game's opening goal in CCSU's NCAA Tournament game at top-seeded Georgetown. Aan All-Scholar East Region selection, Pearse finished her career with 21 goals and six assists.
The honor is the latest for Maurer who was named Scholar All-America Second Team and All-ECAC earlier this week. She was named the 2018 Northeast Conference Midfielder of the Year, totaling 21 points on eight goals and five assists as a senior. The Northampton, MA native was an All-NEC First Team selection and the top vote-getter among midfielders for the NEWISA Senior Bowl. Maurer has also been named to the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region First Team and 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.
Alterisio was the leading vote-getter among backs and added to her season honors with a spot on the All-New England Team. She was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Second Team after earning the 2018 Northeast Conference Defender of the Year and All-NEC First Team honors. She started all 20 games in the Central defense. She scored the game-winning goal in a win over Mount St. Mary's during the season, while helping anchor a Blue Devils defense that ranked 21st nationally with a 0.636 goals against average and 22nd in shutout percentage (.550).
Cavanaugh was named the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year this season and the Northeast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. The Belchertown, MA native, started all 20 games for the Blue Devils on her way to logging over 1800 minutes in goal. Amongst NCAA leaders she ranked sixth in shutouts with 11, 21st in save percentage at .854 and 23rd in goals against average at .646. Her accolades this season include being named Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week three times, Northeast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year for the second time and Goalkeeper of the Year by New England Soccer Journal. Cavanaugh was named to the NEWISA Senior Bowl and finished her career with a 27-11-4 record with 23 shutouts and a 0.69 goals against average.
CCSU finished the season with a 16-2-2 record went a perfect 8-0 in league play. Central's .850 win percentage ranked 4th nationally in the NCAA. The Blue Devils won their ninth Northeast Conference championship in program history to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time under head coach Mick D'Arcy.
