WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – A pair of Monmouth University women's soccer players were honored as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) announced its end-of-the-year awards.
 
Freshman Liza Suydam was named the ECAC Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-ECAC. Senior Lauren Bruno took home First Team All-ECAC platitudes.
 
Suydam becomes Monmouth's second ECAC Rookie of the Year and first since Madie Gibson in 2016. 
 
Suydam had a special rookie campaign as she led Monmouth to a spot in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Championship game. Along the way, she was named the CAA Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-CAA in the midfield.
 
She started all 19 games and led the team with seven goals this year. Suydam's seven goals were the most by a freshman in the CAA during the fall. She had a brace in the win over FDU and tallied the game-winner against Stony Brook. Suydam finished with a goal and an assist in the first round of the CAA Tournament against Stony Brook and her second half tally against Hofstra in the semifinals sent the game to overtime where the Hawks eventually secured the win. Suydam finished with three assists on the year.
 
Bruno's first team selection marks the second straight year that the Hawks have had an ECAC First Team honoree and the fifth time in program history that the Hawks have had a first teamer.
 
The senior had a stellar fall for the Hawks as she was named Second Team All-Region by the United Soccer Coaches, the CAA Defensive Player of the Year and earned First Team All-CAA accolades. 
 
Bruno started 18 games while leading the Hawks to a spot in the CAA Championship match. Bruno keyed a defensive unit that posted 11 shutouts, including seven straight to start CAA play. She and the Monmouth defense held 14 opponents to one goal or less on the scoreboard. Bruno took a lot of the free keys for the Hawks and registered a career-high three assists this season.