Follette and Ivanicki earn postseason honors

SHANA FOLLETTE AND RACHAEL IVANICKI EACH EARN NEC POSTSEASON HONORS

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After helping lead the Bryant University women's soccer team to its best finish as a Division I program, junior Shana Follette (Plymouth, Mass.) and freshman Rachael Ivanicki (Colts Neck, N.J.) each received 2012 Northeast Conference Postseason Honors, announced Thursday.

Follette's team-high 17 points landed her on the All-NEC Second Team, while Ivanicki's impressive freshman campaign earned her a spot on the NEC All-Rookie squad.

Follette began the 2012 season with bang, notching her first goal less than seven minutes into the season opener at Maine, however, the junior struggled to find the back of the net for the remainder of non-conference play, netting only two more goals prior to Sept. 30. In the latter part of the season, Follette caught fire tallying five of her team-high eight goals in the final seven matches of the season, including two overtime game-winners.

Supplying the assists for both of Follette's game-winning goals down the stretch was Rachael Ivanicki, who enjoyed an eight-point season herself. In a freshman class that ran seven-deep, Ivanicki established herself as an immediate contributor, tallying her first career goal in game-winning fashion on Aug. 30 against Holy Cross. The freshman went on to notch a team-high six assists on the year, en route to a NEC All-Rookie selection.

The pair of forwards helped lead the Bulldogs to an 11-8 overall record, finishing 6-4 in the NEC, one point shy of a postseason berth. The Bulldogs will return over 65 percent of their offensive output next season in what is sure to be another competitive year.

For all the latest news on Bryant University women's soccer, visit BryantBulldogs.com.