WINTHROP, Mass. – Suffolk women's soccer's record-setting season saw two Rams earn All-GNAC Third-Team honors in Caleigh O'Brien and Allison Rodrigues, while head coach Ashley Van Vechten garner GNAC Coach of the Year status, the league office announced Monday afternoon.
Van Vechten had her work cut out for herself in her second season after the Rams went just 4-10-1 overall and 3-8-1 against conference competition a year ago. The Rochester, New York native, brought in a healthy four-member recruiting class to a core group of returners. Van Vechten's game plans proved to work as she surpassed expectations - as the team was predicted to finish 10th amongst conference counterparts – and her peers took notice by voting her the conference's best coach after Suffolk not only secured a spot in the league's post-season, but the fourth-seed and hosting rights. The fourth-place finish marked the highest for the blue-and-gold since it won the 2010 regular-season crown, while the Rams hosted their second-ever post-season action in program history.
The recognition for the head coach is the first for a Rams leader in program history, while the pair of student-athletes all-league nods also mark a first in the Van Vechten era, and first since Jennifer Martin and Alexandra Nagri each took home all-conference honors in 2017.
O'Brien was the top contributor offensively. The forward from Wilbraham, Massachusetts, had a hand in 27 of Suffolk's 34-goal offense, scoring 10 herself and assisting on seven others. She lifted the Rams to victory with one game winner over 16 appearances.
Rodrigues, meanwhile, was the backbone to Suffolk's success. The only netminder on roster, the sophomore started all 16 games in between the posts and assembled a 10-6 record with eight shutouts, which rank second in the Rams' single-season record books. The North Andover, Massachusetts, native put together a .835 save percentage and a 1.29 GAA. She is the first set of blue-and-gold gloves to earn all-conference recognition in program history.
For the second straight season, Emerson Wildes represented the Rams on the league's all-sportsmanship team, which was established to honor one player from each team in the conference outstanding dedication to sportsmanship and for their portrayal of good sportsmanship, fair play and a positive attitude.
The awards are added to Suffolk's growing total since joining the GNAC in 2007. Overall the Rams own 30 all-league nods including two offensive player of the year, three rookie of the year, seven first-team selections, eight second-team nods and 10 third-team honors.
2019 GNAC WOMEN'S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE
FIRST TEAM
F – Natalie Dash, Emmanuel
F – Olivia Cairrao, Johnson & Wales
F – Jordan Restivo, Johnson & Wales
M – Sydney Jimmo, Colby Sawyer
M – Cat Nolan, Johnson & Wales
M – Jade Jordan, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
M – McKenzie Murphy, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
B – Kaylin Deschenes, Emmanuel
B – Olivia Pellegrino, Johnson & Wales
B – Korynne Provenzano, Lasell
GK – Adia Grogan, Saint Joseph's (Maien)
SECOND TEAM
F – Haley Andrews, Albertus Magnus
F – Karyssa Lachance, Norwich
F – Kayley Mattos, Saint Joseph's (Maien)
M – Sydney Allen, Emmanuel
M – Jaclyn Larsen, Johnson & Wales
M – Bobbi O'Guin, Lasell
M – Racehl Kelly, Regis
B – Chloe Henriksen, Johnson & Wales
B – Peggy Balboni, Saint Jospeh's (Maine)
B – Lauren Brandau, Simmons
GK – Colleen Lynch, Johnson & Wales
THIRD TEAM
F – Katherine Raposo, Albertus Magnus
F – Kaylee Francis, Regis
F – Caleigh O'Brien, Suffolk
M – Abba McKenelley, Emmanuel
M – Caitlin Rotonnelli, Lsell
M – Sydney Rocheville, Norwich
M – Izabella Warren, Simmons
B – Thea Alberti, Colby Sawyer
B – Rachel Prevost, Emmanuel
B – Jenna Banta, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
GK – Allison Rodrigues, Suffolk
GNAC Offensive Player of the Year– Olivia Gairrao, Johnson & Wales
GNAC Defensive Player of the Year– Kaylin Deschenes, Emmanuel
GNAC Goalkeeper of the Year– Adia Grogan, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
GNAC Rookie of the Year– Sydney JImmo, Colby Sawyer
GNAC Coach of the Year– Ashley Van Vechten, Suffolk
GNAC Institutional Sportsmanship Award– Saint Joseph (Conn.)
GNAC ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
Amanda McGeehan, Albertus Magnus
Karlyn Brown, Anna Maria
Raina Ceryak, Colby Sawyer
Taylor Rathbun, Emmanuel
Tiana Strachan, Johnson & Wales
Kyla Bragg, Lasell
Mary-Kait Mace, Norwich
Shelagh O'Neil, Regis
Ashley Glynn, Rivier
Olivia Belcourt, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Cori Balam, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Amber Nobbs, Simmons
Emerson Wildes, Suffolk