Herd Named NEC Scholar-Athlete, Blue Devils Place 46 on Fall Academic Honor Roll

Central Connecticut senior goalkeeper Erin Herd earned Northeast Conference Scholar-Athlete accolades in women's soccer, as announced by the league this morning. She was also one of 46 Blue Devils on the Fall Academic Honor Roll. Herd anchored a defense that allowed just six goals in nine league games before posting back-to-back clean sheets in postseason wins over Monmouth and Long Island. The shutouts led the Blue Devils back to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in seven seasons. A Biomolecular Sciences major, Herd posts a 3.41 grade point average.

Herd, who was voted NEC Tournament Most Valuable Player, went 8-3-4 in goal for CCSU and posted a 0.72 goals against average to rank second in the league. She led the conference with an .857 save percentage and eight shutouts, earning first team all-conference honors. Herd, who hails from Coffs Harbour, Australia and has played for Australia's U-20 National Team, was also selected to participate in the NEWISA Senior Bowl at the conclusion of the season. CCSU's season ended with a 3-0 first round loss in the NCAA Tournament at Boston College.

Off the pitch, Herd collected ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors this season.

Herd concluded her career with an 18-10-4 record and 13 shutouts.

Members from the Central Connecticut women's soccer program have now won the award five times in the last six seasons. Jessica McCavanagh earned the honor in 2006. Ashley Ferra won the award in 2005, and Sabrina Mariani was the recipient in 2003 and 2004. Both Ferra and Mariani were goalkeepers, too.

"Central Connecticut is fortunate to claim Erin as both a student and an athlete," Director of Athletics C.J. Jones said. "Like the winners before her, Erin has proven herself successful in the classroom and on the field. The consistent successes of the program's goalkeepers as student-athletes is truly incredible."