Eight Bulldogs earn All-NEC honors

SOMERSET, N.J. – Eight members of the Bryant University women's lacrosse team earned a spot on the All-NEC list as announced by the conference on Thursday afternoon.

Senior Megan McCarthy was the lone Bulldog to receive a First Team nod after a stellar season on defense. McCarthy led the Bulldogs in draw controls with 42 on the year and ranked sixth in NEC averaging 3.50 a game. The Massachusetts native tied her career-best in draw controls in her first game of the season at Central Connecticut with 10. She concludes the season with four goals, two assists, 13 ground balls, and six caused turnovers.

The Second Team list included five Bulldogs in Caitlin Bolen, Cassidy Burns, Devon Bolen, Skylar Simmonds, and Gabriella Henry. The Bolen twins and Simmonds were Bryant's leading scorers this season led by Caitlin with 38. Caitlin Bolen also finished second in the NEC averaging 3.17 goals per game. Devon Bolen erupted for a career-best six goals against Central Connecticut on Senior Day to go along with a career-best seven draw controls to highlight her senior season. Simmonds tallied 23 goals in 2021 including a career-best of five goals and three assists to help Bryant down Sacred Heart, 15-10.

Despite only netting 11 goals this season, Burns was the team leader in points with 41 as she led the Bulldogs with 30 assists. Burns even tied Bryant's Division I single-game assist record with eight against Central Connecticut and was among the top 20 in the country with 2.50 assists per game. On the defensive end, Henry was one of Bryant's strongest defenders as she led the team with 13 caused turnovers and 24 ground balls.

Two freshmen represented the Bulldogs on the All-Rookie list. Chamberlaine Bell and Kenna Kaut were two of six total freshmen from the conference to be recognized. In a five-game stretch in the middle of the season, Bell tallied six goals including her first career hattrick at Sacred Heart and a career-high of six assists against Merrimack. Kaut also emerged as a strong offensive force for the Bulldogs scoring two goals in each of the last four games for the Black and Gold. Kaut's rookie campaign was highlighted by her game-winner against LIU to help catapult Bryant into postseason play.