McNeese State freshman and 2017 Nederland alumna Emma Roccaforte was named Louisiana freshman of the year for women’s soccer by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association on Sunday.

The honor was part of the All-Louisiana Collegiate Women’s Soccer Teams awards. Roccaforte, who was also named first-team All-Louisiana goalkeeper with LSU junior Caroline Brockmeier, adds her honors with her first-team All-Southland Conference award.

Roccaforte allowed only 0.75 goal per game and posted eight shutouts. She totaled 63 saves, including a season high of eight each at Air Force and at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

She led Nederland to the 5A Region III semifinal round last spring and was a starting goalkeeper all four years of her high school varsity career.

Two other McNeese athletes from Texas were placed on the All-Louisiana first team, giving the Cowgirls three such selections for the first time in program history. Senior Savannah LaRicci of Sugar Land was tabbed the state’s player of the year after totaling 12 goals and eight assists. Senior defender and midfielder Gabi D’Alesandro of Flower Mound also was chosen.

McNeese went 12-5-2 and 8-3 in the Southland Conference.

Sports information directors from across Louisiana selected the All-Louisiana teams, but were not permitted to vote for their own school’s student-athletes.

— I.C. Murrell