Women's Soccer Headlines All-NEC Awards
The 2021 Northeast Conference's Women's Soccer Awards feature plenty of CCSU Blue as the Blue Devils took home three individual awards, five All-NEC First Team selections and two players on the All-Rookie Team.
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR - ROMA MCLAUGHLIN
Roma McLaughlin was once again named Midfielder of the Year, marking the third season in a row that she's taken the award home. McLaughlin has seven goals this season in 13 appearances to lead the team. The total puts McLaughlin in a three-way tie for third in the conference.
McLaughlin's short absence from the CCSU Soccer Field was to represent her home country of Ireland, who's women's soccer team is currently competing in the qualifiers for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. While back home, the Republic of Ireland defeated Finland in a 2-1 victory.
McLaughlin has four game winners this year and plenty of top plays, including some thrilling overtime shots and others from nearly midfield.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - ERICA BARDES
The anchor of the NEC defensive juggernaut, Erica Bardes, was named Defensive Player of the Year Thursday, the first of her career. CCSU's defense speaks for itself with the numbers. Against other NEC opponents this season, the Blue Devils are shooting the ball at a rate four times that of their opponent. While CCSU averages 20.1 shots per game, opposing teams average 5.1 shots per game. Bardes has played a pivotal role this year defensively, seemingly involved in every play on the pitch.
Aside from the defense, Bardes has been essential to the Blue Devils' offense. The senior leads the team with five assists, constantly setting up her teammates for success, whether it be with the deep pass or short cross like we saw in CCSU's final regular season game.
COACH OF THE YEAR - MICK D'ARCY
Head coach Mick D'Arcy was awarded his eighth Coach of the Year award after leading the Blue Devils to an 8-2 record and 12th regular season title. This is the fourth year in a row that D'Arcy has won the award, emblematic of the historic three year Championship run from the Blue Devils.
D'Arcy has coached the Blue Devils to 223 wins in his 22 years as head coach.
FIVE BLUE DEVILS NAMED TO FIRST TEAM ALL-NEC
The Blue Devils were the most well represented team for the All-NEC selections. Two redshirt freshmen for CCSU, Kelly Brady and Kristina Kelly, were each honored at the forward and midfielder position, respectively, while three veteran Blue Devils rounded out CCSU's selections. Tess Atkinson joined Bardes on the defensive side while McLaughlin joined Kelly as the other midfielder selected.
Atkinson is getting her first First Team selection in her final season with the Blue Devils. Much like her classmate Bardes, Atkinson has been the heart of a defense thats signature is the shutout. This is Brady and Kelly's first selection as well.
TWO BLUE DEVILS NAMED TO ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Aoife Horgan and Erin Sutter, who each saw starts this season and played a significant role in the offense (including a six-point performance from Horgan) were named to the All-Rookie team for CCSU.
In all, eight Blue Devils were honored with either individual awards or team selections. The Blue Devils will be looking to build off the regular season awards with a strong performance in the postseason, starting tomorrow with a game against Bryant at home at 1 P.M.