Central Connecticut senior forward Giavanna Inzerillo became the first Blue Devil to win the ECAC Offensive Player of the Year award in program history. Aoife Horgan was also named All ECAC second team.
The Blue Devils have won two major ECAC awards in recent years, but never offensive player of the year. Giavanna Inzerillo became the first to do it in CCSU soccer program history.
GIAVANNA INZERILLO - OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR | FIRST TEAM ALL-ECAC
Inzerillo capped her career in 2023, earning All-ECAC and All-Region honors for the first time. The Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Year had a tremendous final season. Inzerillo started hot with eight goals in the Blue Devils' first six matches. She finished the season with 15 goals and led the charge for CCSU's offensive attack, topping the NEC in goals and points. Inzerillo is tied for second all-time in single-season goals scored (Kelly Shimmin 15, 2002). She was the sparkplug in the CCSU attack this season and stands alone as the third all-time with the single-season points record (36). She scored the go-ahead goal in the NEC Championship match that helped the Blue Devils capture their 13th NEC title. The All-NEC First Team select, finished her career with 21 goals and 14 assists for 56 points in 69 career games.
AOIFE HORGAN - ALL-ECAC SECOND TEAM
Horgan's outstanding performance this season contributed to the team's success, ranking third in the NEC in points (21), goals (eight), and goals per game (1.31). The Northeast Conference Midfielder of the Year helped CCSU's defense rank second in the circuit in goals against average (1.18) and goals allowed (20) on its way to a second consecutive unbeaten conference regular season. The Kerry, Ireland native was voted to the All-NEC first team, which marked the second time in her career she has received All-NEC honors. This is Horgan's first time earning All-ECAC honors.
The Blue Devils finished the 2023 campaign with a 10-5-5 record. CCSU won its 13th NEC title and went undefeated in the regular season crown in back-to-back seasons.
ABOUT THE ECAC
The ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) is an eighty-five-year-old organization with well over 200 member schools across all three NCAA Divisions - I, II, and III. The ECAC exists to enhance the experience of student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics and provides great value for universities and colleges by sponsoring championships, leagues, bowl games, tournaments, and other competitions throughout the Northeast. The ECAC also hosts a comprehensive esports program that presently involves 160 schools fielding 1100 teams across 14 different esports games, streamed live four nights a week. The ECAC's esports platform has and continues to expand the geographic footprint of the Conference nationally.
