University of Albany's Chelsea DeVerna Garners America East Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week Honors - UAlbany Sports 2009

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Chelsea DeVerna has been named the America East Conference Rookie of the Week in women's soccer, as announced today by the conference office on Monday, Sept. 14. The freshman forward becomes the second Great Dane to earn the honor this season after goalkeeper Breanna Maggio was chosen last week.

DeVerna, the 2008 Suffolk County Player of the Year at the high school level, went on a tear offensively in three road matches. She finished with two goals and two assists for six points and factored into both of the game-winning goals in the Great Danes' first-ever victories over Atlantic 10 Conference opponents.

DeVerna first scored the golden goal in the 104th minute by evading several defenders in her path in leading UAlbany to a 1-0 win over Massachusetts in double overtime. She followed that performance by notching the assist on the game-winning goal in the squad's 2-1 come-from-behind victory against La Salle on Sept. 11. The freshman closed out the week with a three-point effort in Sunday's narrow 4-3 double-overtime loss to Temple. She made her way through a pile of Owl defenders to net the team's first goal, and had the helper on the squad's third goal which gave the Great Danes a 3-2 lead at the time before the Owls rallied from behind. The forward has been involved in five of the Great Danes' nine goals this season.

DeVerna, who leads the Great Danes in scoring through three weeks of action, is currently tied for third in goals scored (2), tied for first in assists (3) and tied for third in points (7) among the America East leaders. In addition, she is one of only two players in the league to have a hand in more than one game-winning goal.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information