Currently riding an NCAA-era program record six-match unbeaten streak that includes five USA South Conference wins while also having clinched a spot in the Spring 2021 USA South Women’s Soccer West Division Tournament, the Brevard College women’s soccer team ranks near or at the top of several national individual and team statistical categories in the Spring 2021 season.
Senior goalkeeper Rebeccah Rojas, a native of Murrieta, California, is tied for the national lead with six shutouts as of March 25, as Rojas has anchored the best statistical defense in Brevard’s NCAA era. The veteran shot-stopper helps anchor a back-line that features Lena Hatter, Emma White, Abbie Worsencroft, and Autumn Wright as its primary starters.
Rojas has tallied a single-season record six shutouts in just eight matches played, tying the national lead with the University of Puget Sound’s Chaylea Tom.
Rojas, who holds career NCAA-records at Brevard for wins, save percentage, goals-against-average, and shutouts, has earned a pair of USA South Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honors for her work in goal this season. Playing in all 720 minutes of competition this season for the Tornados, Rojas places herself top-10 in the country in minutes played.
As a team, the Tornados are near the top of the country with a .329 goals-against average, while also limiting opposing team’s shot totals throughout the Spring 2021 season. To date, BC has allowed just 58 shots through eight games, with 33 being on target and just three opposing shot attempts finding the back of the net. Over the course of their record unbeaten streak, Brevard’s defense has only allowed 29 total shot attempts, with only 19 of those attempts being on-target.
“I am extremely proud of Rebeccah (Rojas),” said Head Coach Juan Mascaro. “This is the culmination of all her years of hard work and dedication to the sport she loves. It is important to note that this is a team effort, and every single player plays an important role in our defensive and offensive accomplishments.”
Brevard is outscoring its opponents 15-3 as a team through eight contests while outpacing its competition offensively 14-1 over the course of their six-match unbeaten streak. Individually, Brevard’s offensive attack has been kickstarted multiple times by junior midfielder Abbie Petrosky, who ranks top-10 nationally in total assists with four. 11 of BC’s 15 goals this season have come off an assist by a fellow Tornado player.
As a team, Petrosky leads all Tornados with eight total points and four assists, while Ashley Royster and Taylor Richardson each have logged three goals apiece. Richardson and Royster have both earned weekly honors from the conference, with Richardson garnering a USA South Women’s Soccer Rookie of the Week honor and Royster securing a USA South Women’s Soccer Player of the Week nod, bringing BC women’s soccer’s weekly award count to four in the season.
“This team is just fun to watch,” added Coach Mascaro. “Our chemistry on the field this season has just been off the charts”
Brevard secured its first conference postseason trip as a fully-eligible member of the USA South Conference following a crucial 1-0 victory over Huntingdon College at home on Sunday, March 14. The berth marks the first conference-level postseason appearance since the 2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament. BC’s last overall postseason appearance in women’s soccer came in 2018 when the Tornados were selected to the ECAC DIII Women’s Soccer Championship.
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