Radoncic, Ford, Smith Earn NEC Women's Soccer Major Awards
The Blue Devils took home defensive, goalkeeper and rookie of the year, with seven named to All-Conference teams
The Central Connecticut State women's soccer team had three student-athletes join the storied tradition of Blue Devils taking home NEC major awards on Wednesday. \ Emma Radoncic was named the Defensive Player of the Year, Melina Ford was named the Goalkeeper of the Year and Gabby Smith was tabbed as the league's Rookie of the Year.
Radoncic and Ford were the Blue Devils representatives on the All-NEC First Team, while Smith was joined by Kiley Yepes on the All-NEC Second Team. Smith was also named to the NEC All-Rookie Team, along with Isabella Cambio and Emeliana Christy.
Radoncic becomes the 11th Blue Devil to earn the honor as top defensive player in the conference, and the ninth honoree in the past dozen seasons. She helped anchor a back line that allowed just 1.00 goals per game in NEC play and won or tied 10 of 11 league games played. She also provided the Blue Devils with offense, leading the team with four goals and a league-best three game-winning tallies. Her two assists made her the top point scorer on the team, with 10 points. Radoncic was an NEC All-Rookie selection in 2024.
Ford is the final line of defense for Central and takes home the program's seventh (in 17 years) Goalkeeper of the Year award. She finished the NEC slate with a .956 GAA, with a league-leading five clean sheets in those contests. She posted a .811 save percentage in league play, with 43 saves and just 10 goals allowed. On the year, Ford posted a 1.26 GAA and finished with 61 saves on the season. Ford was named the 2023 NEC Tournament MVP as a rookie.
Smith becomes the ninth NEC Rookie of the Year in program history. She started all 16 games this season as part of the back line, coming off the field for just 16 minutes of one contest. On the offensive side of the field she tallied three points, including the game-winning goal in the regular season finale and an assist on the game-winner in a key regular season win over LIU. She was also named to the All-Rookie Team.
Yepes earns her third consecutive All-NEC Second Team nod from the league's head coaches. She started every game this season and averaged 87.5 minutes a game on the field. She scored the first goal of the season for the Blue Devils, to earn a draw and then had an assist on the game-winning goal in the league win at Chicago State.
Cambio started 10 of the Blue Devils contests this season and appeared in all 16 of them. She averaged more than 55 minutes of action per game in her midfield position.
Christy was part of the defensive unit, starting 12 of the 14 games in which she appeared during her rookie campaign. She was on the field for nearly 67 minutes per game during the campaign.
The Blue Devils finished the regular season at 6-5-5 overall and 6-1-4 in conference action. They are the number four seed in the upcoming NEC Tournament and will take on top-seeded FDU in the semifinal on Thursday at 4:00 pm in Teaneck, NJ. The game can be viewed on NECFrontRow.com
