Rookies Shine Across New England

Area Freshmen Recognized All Over

September 30, 2008

From various women’s soccer conferences throughout New England, three area freshmen came home with Rookie of the Week honors for their outstanding efforts last week.

Fairfield's Kelly Boudreau earned her third shutout of the season last week against Harvard.

Dartmouth’s Aly O'Dea was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week, Quinnipiac’s Furtuna Velaj earned the honor from the Northeast Conference and Fairfield’s Kelly Boudreau was named the best rookie in the MAAC conference.

Dartmouth’s O'Dea has been a big spark off the bench for the Big Green (4-3, 0-1 Ivy) in the past few games. In this week's 2-1 double overtime win at New Hampshire, O'Dea provided her second-straight game-winning goal. After leading Dartmouth with six shots, five on goal, she finally broke through in the 105th minute when she connected on a cross from Katie Davis for the win. In Dartmouth's previous game, an overtime win against Oregon State, O'Dea also netted the game-winner.

This is the second consecutive week that Velaj has received the award for Qunnipiac. In Sunday’s game against Canisius, Velaj broke the scoreless game in the 82nd minute on for her ninth goal of the season. Velaj ran behind the Griffins’ defense and headed the ball over the outstretched hands of Canisius goalkeeper Daniella Pettinari into the back left corner of the net. Sophomore Kyla Miles (Newton, Conn.) assisted on the goal.

Velaj leads the NEC in points (18), goals (9) and game-winning goals (4).

Boudreau earns the award for the second time this season after shutting out Harvard in Fairfield’s scoreless draw last week.

The Farmington, Conn. native posted her third shutout of the season in the 0-0 tie. Boudreau made four saves, including tipping away a pair of Harvard corner kicks in the second overtime period.

Through her first eight collegiate games, 780:22, Boudreau has a save percentage of .863, which is tops in the MAAC and 33rd in the nation. Her goals-against average of .807 is good for second in the league and 72nd in the nation. She ranks 60th in the nation, third in the MAAC, averaging 5.5 saves per game.

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