Lincoln pair sign NLIs Riendeau, Soares excited to play at next level
LINCOLN — A lot has changed in Lincoln senior Riley Riendeau’s life since she verbally committed to play softball at Monmouth University nearly a year ago. One thing that hasn’t changed is the third baseman’s love of the New Jersey school’s campus and softball program.
Riendeau, who will likely miss her senior softball season because of a torn ACL suffered in a Sept. 17 volleyball victory over East Greenwich, signed her National Letter of Intent to compete for Monmouth Wednesday afternoon in Lincoln’s makeshift library. Riendeau shared the ceremony with senior soccer standout Riley Soares, who signed her National Letter of Intent to play at Division II powerhouse Bridgeport University in Connecticut.
“I had surgery recently,” Riendeau said. “I was crushed when it happened because I knew it was the end of my volleyball season and it probably was the end of my softball season. I’m working really hard to get back and the volleyball team has done such a great job supporting me. They are the best friends to have in this process.
“When I first called [Monmouth coach Shannon Salsburg] she said ‘Take a deep breath, things like this happen. I know you’re going to recover and we’re going to deal with it together.’”
Riendeau spent her first three years at Lincoln playing shortstop and hitting in the middle of the lineup for a Division I team, but she said she will likely move to third base when she starts playing for the Hawks, who compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
“I like playing third base because it gives you little time to react and no time to think,” Riendeau said.
“I’m so excited for the challenge of playing in Division I. I’ve talked to some of the girls on the Monmouth team and they say it is a big jump, but it’s going to make me into such a better person and player because you have to work so hard. I love the campus and the school.”
Soares, who burst on to the high school scene as a sophomore when she scored the game-winning goal in the 80th minute against Smithfield, battled through ankle and knee in- juries to lead the Lions to their third straight Division I playoff appearance.
The talented midfielder will move up to forward in college where she will compete against former teammate Cam Thompson, who was recently named the Northeast-10 Rookie of the Year after starring for Stonehill in the fall.
“I was talking to them for a year or so. I went to the campus a couple of times and I really liked it,” Soares said. “I really enjoyed the coaches and the program. For me, get my fitness up is the key going forward. The end of this season was really tough because of my ankle injury. I wanted to play so bad, so I battled through it. I’m extremely proud of myself to get here.”
Soares is joining one of the top D-II teams in the northeast. Bridgeport is in the NCAA East regional final Friday against LIU Post at 11 a.m. The Purple Knights are currently 16-4-1 after winning the East Coast Conference title.
Soares was joined at the ceremony by a number of her teammates, including younger sister Morgan, along with coach Chris Allen.
Follow Branden Mello on Twitter @Branden_Mello