The College of Staten Island women’s soccer team was the most accomplished team from this past fall, and this week the laurels continue as freshman forward Krystina Rodriguez was highlighted as a third-team all-region selection from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Rodriguez was the only selection to come from the CUNYAC, and she joins former Dolphin Demi-Jean Martorano (2013) as the only CSI women’s soccer player to ever be awarded the honor.
“This honor means a great deal to me,” said Rodriguez. “I’ve never received recognition like this until I came to CSI. To know that all of the region’s coaches voted and thought of me makes me very proud, but I never would have been able to have the season I had without my teammates showcasing me the way they did.”
Rodriguez finished in a tie for the team lead in total points with 29 as a first year player, She finished with 13 assists on the season, a team-high, and second on the team with eight goals. Her 47 shots on goal also led the team, as did her four game-winners. Rodriguez saved one of her finest games for the end, netting two goals and an assist in a 4-2 win over Lehman College in the CUNYAC Semifinal round.
Rodriguez also added four multiple-assist games, all against CUNYAC competition.
“I know that there will be a lot of pressure on me next year and in the years coming up, so I am doing my best to get better, faster, and stronger,” the freshman noted. “We want to be able to out-perform what we did this season and earn the high expectations placed on us.”
In all, the Dolphins finished 12-5-2 this season, winning back-to-back CUNYAC titles and advancing into the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament for the second year in a row. The team has won eight conference titles since 2014, and are a combined 25-10-3 the past two seasons.
