GAGNON, CONANT HIGHLIGHT NECC ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS
Fresh off its run to the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship game, several members of the Regis College women’s soccer team have been recognized with 2012 NECC All-Conference selections, which were released by the conference earlier this afternoon.
WESTON, Mass. – Fresh off its run to the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship game, several members of the Regis College women's soccer team have been recognized with 2012 NECC All-Conference selections, which were released by the conference earlier this afternoon. Seniors Michelle Sirois (Easton, Mass.) and Kara Donovan (Woburn, Mass.), as well as sophomore Kristen Abreu (Woburn, Mass.) and freshman Rachel Gagnon (Ashford, Conn.) were named to the All-Conference First Team. Additionally, Gagnon was named the NECC Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach Liz Conant was named NECC Coach of the Year.
Gagnon wasted no time in making her mark for the Pride, as her performance in goal this year is helping her to re-write the Regis record book. Gagnon started and played every minute in net for the Pride, collecting 86 saves and nine shutouts along the way, which gives her the most shutouts in a season in Regis women's soccer history. Her .50 goals against average (GAA) also move her into first place for best GAA in a single season. Gagnon, a three-time NECC Rookie of the Week honoree this season, ranks first in the conference with a .905 save percentage.
Coach Liz Conant entered her third year at the helm of the women's team. She guided the Crimson & Gold to a program best 11-3-3 record, which was capped off by a trip to the program's first-ever NECC Championship. The 11 wins set a new single season record for wins in a season. Additionally, Conant is now tied for second for all time wins with 22, and her .423 winning percentage currently ranks first among all-time coaches in Regis history.
Sirois, a senior midfielder, started and played in all 17 contests for the Pride this year. The captain registered seven goals, including four game-winners, and seven assists for a team-leading 21 points on the year. A three-year member of the women's soccer team, Sirois' 53 total points rank second all time for career points. The 21 goals she has amassed over the past three seasons also rank second for career goals scored in program history.
Donovan, a 2011 NECC Honorable Mention honoree, staunchly defended the Pride backline in all 17 contests this year. The senior captain helped limit opponents to just nine total goals all year and led the defense to a program best nine shutouts along the way. Donovan also chipped in offensively, tallying four points on the season off of a goal and two assists.
Abreu, a 2011 NECC Second Team All-Conference selection, joins Gagnon, Sirois, and Donovan on the First Team this year. The sophomore forward was stellar all season, starting and playing in 15 contests for the Pride. Abreu, who was honored by the conference earlier this season as a Player of the Week, finished with 18 points on eight goals and two assists. Her eight goals ranked first on the team. After just two seasons playing for the Pride, Abreu already ranks fifth all time in career points scored with 34.
The Pride, who sit at 11-3-3 this season, will await to hear of a possible postseason bid this week.
To view the entire All-NECC Women's Soccer release, please click here.