Alyssa Ruggeri Named CACC Women’s Soccer Rookie of the Year and First Team All-League; Melayna Immediato Picked First Team with Noel Talbot and Kelly Mejia Tabbed Second Team

11/9/2021 12:00:00 AM

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Goldey-Beacom's incredible run this season saw a bevy of deserved awards head its way with forward Alyssa Ruggeri (Hockessin, DE) picked the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Rookie of the Year in addition to being tabbed first team all-league.

Other awards included junior forward Melayna Immediato (Hockessin, DE) named first team all-conference with sophomore goalkeeper Noel Talbot (Westminster, MD) and senior defender Kelly Mejia (State College, PA) picked second team all-league.

Ruggeri immediately cracked the starting lineup and was a dominant force with her exceptional scoring ability, tremendous passing skills and overall knowledge of the collegiate game. Even with the extra attention she received as the year progressed, she still is eighth in the country with 2.20 points per game, ninth with 0.60 assists per contest, 13th with nine assists, 16th with 33 points, 22nd with 0.80 goals per game and 23rd with 12 goals.

Among those figures, Ruggeri leads the conference in goals, assists and points. Her 33 points are tied for fifth on the school's single-season list, her nine assists are tied for sixth and her 12 goals are tied for ninth.

A sampling of Ruggeri's standout performances include her getting two goals and two assists October 12 vs. Georgian Court, in addition to scoring twice October 6 at Staten Island and October 30 at Bloomfield.

Immediato this season again was on her game, providing a deft scoring touch and aggressiveness that makes her one of the area's premier goal scorers and passers. This honor comes on top of her being named first team all-league in 2019 and second team in 2018. Immediato was picked second team CCA All-East Region each year.

Starting all 15 games she played this year, Immediato is 26th in the country with 0.47 assists per game, 31st with seven assists (third in the league), 57th with 1.40 points per contest, fourth in the CACC with 21 points and fifth with seven goals.

Immediato this season scored twice against Georgian Court, one of three games in which she notched at least three points. She is third in team history with 21 assists, seventh with 65 points and tied for eighth with 22 goals.

Talbot, the only player for the Lightning to start all 16 contests, asserted herself into the number one role at goalkeeper last year and has not relinquished. Displaying great control of the defense inside the 18, she is seventh in the conference with a 1.39 goals against average and ninth with 51 saves.

Among her elite games this season included nine saves October 9 at Nyack and at least four on six other occasions. She is fourth in team history with six shutouts and fifth with 128 career saves.

Mejia returned from injury to reassert her role at center back, a role that helped her be named CACC Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-East Region in 2018 in addition to being tabbed second team all-league in 2019.

This season, she has helped the squad amass six shutouts and notch 12 games without being breached for more than one goal. GBC has not allowed more than one goal in its last nine matches.

Goldey-Beacom (10-6, 7-4 CACC) is in the CACC Tournament a school-record seventh straight year, has notched a school-record five straight seasons with double-digit victories and is on a six-game winning streak to tie the school record.

GBC is the fifth seed for the CACC Tournament and visits fourth-seeded Wilmington in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at 1:00 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children, senior citizens and student with a valid ID.

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