Conrad and DeBenedictis named to NEC All-Tournament Team

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Following the 2015 Northeast Conference Tournament, senior Allison DeBenedictis (Norwell, Mass.) and junior Kaylan Conrad (Avon, Conn.) of the Bryant University women's soccer team were named to the NEC All-Tournament Team.

DeBenedictis scored the Bulldogs' equalizer in their first-ever Division I appearance, before the Black and Gold fell to Robert Morris, 2-1, in the conference semifinals on Friday, Nov. 6. Following a Colonials' penalty, the Bulldogs were rewarded a free kick from 40-yards out, where DeBenedictis serviced a bending shot into the six-yard box. The ball took a single hop, before finding its' into the far side of the net to tie the game at ones.

The senior was vital off the bench for the Bulldogs, logging two shot attempts from the backfield, as well as providing the service on numerous Bryant attacking attempts, including a corner kick late in the game. DeBenedictis bent the corner kick into the box, over the outstretched hands of the opposing keeper, before it hit off the crossbar and was cleared by the defense.

Conrad also posted an impressive showing for the Bulldogs, keeping them in the game with numerous diving saves, throughout her 90 minutes of play. In the first half, Conrad drove low and to her right, making a one-handed save on a Colonials' shot inside the box.

Another key save in the first period came off a Robert Morris cross, where Conrad came off her line to grab the ball out of the air and took a hit from a Colonial forward that sent her to the ground, but she still managed to hold on to the ball. The junior tallied nine saves in the match and 92 on the year, while posting six shutouts in 14 appearances.