JANKINS NAMED NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK FOR SECOND TIME THIS SEASON

November 1, 2010

JANKINS NAMED NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK FOR SECOND TIME THIS SEASON

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The late-season surge of freshman Olivia Jankins (West Brookfield, Mass.) hasn't gone unnoticed by those outside the Bryant field hockey program, and that point was made clear by the Northeast Conference Monday afternoon, as Jankins earned her second-career rookie of the week selection for leading the Bulldogs on a 2-0 week.

Jankins collected five points to lead the Bulldogs (8-11, 5-2 NEC), who clinched their first-ever Northeast Conference playoff berth with Friday's 4-2 win over Quinnipiac at home. The freshman midfielder had a hand in four of Bryant's seven goals on the two-win week, helping the program secure its first postseason appearance since transitioning to the Division I level. The Bulldogs will be the No. 3 seed in this weekend's NEC Tournament.

Collecting her second NEC Rookie of the Week award in the last three weeks, Jankins served up a pair of assists in the playoff-clinching win Friday, twice helping the Bulldogs battle back from a one-goal deficit.

Jankins then delivered a goal and a key assist in Bryant's 3-2 double-overtime triumph over Sacred Heart Sunday afternoon on the road in the regular-season finale. The rookie scored off a penalty corner in 61st minute to put the Bulldogs up, 2-1, and delivered again in double-overtime, dishing out the game-winning assist with a cross to teammate Elise Boissoneau in the 99th minute to break a 2-2 deadlock with just 1:48 to play before the game went to a shootout.

The rookie has three goals and three assists on the year heading into weekend postseason action. The Bulldogs will play in their first NEC Tournament game Friday morning, when they face off against second-seeded Monmouth at 11 a.m. in Lawrenceville, N.J.