DANBURY, Conn. – Mount Ida College freshman phenom Alyssa Kelly (Lee, Mass.) has added to a growing list of first year accolades, as she was tabbed as the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England women's lacrosse Rookie of the Year.
Kelly earned the same award and a First Team nod from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), and also took home Mount Ida College athletic awards night honors as team MVP and department Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.
In her first season in Mustang City, Kelly scored at least three goals in nine different games while helping the Mustangs qualify for the GNAC tournament for the second consecutive season. Kelly also had six games in which she scored five goals or more, including a stellar nine goal and one assist performance against Norwich University in April.
The freshman was the focal point of the Mount Ida attack in 2016, leading the Mustangs in goals (56), assists (23) and points (79) in 16 regular-season games and the tournament quarterfinals. The Massachusetts native operated with impressive consistency in her inaugural collegiate campaign, picking up at least one point in each of Mount Ida's contests and scoring a goal in all but one outing. Kelly also chipped in defensively, leading the team in draw controls (62), groundballs (59) and caused turnovers (28).
"Alyssa had a really good attitude and always worked hard in practice," said assistant coach Alison Koning about Kelly's mentality as a first year player. "She was our best player this year by far, and I'm excited to see what she will do in the future. I think she is only going to get better."
The Mustangs ended their season with a record of 4-13 (3-6 GNAC) and were eventually downed by Emmanuel College in the GNAC quarterfinals.