Long Island Teen Falsely Reported Being Raped By College Football Players: Police

An 18-year-old Long Island woman is accused of falsely reporting that two Sacred Heart University football players raped her last October.

Nikki Yovino, of South Setauket, turned herself in to Bridgeport Police in Connecticut on Tuesday after she recanted her original story, which alleged that the football players raped her in a basement bathroom at a house party on Lakeside Drive in Bridgeport on Oct. 14.

"Initial statements from witnesses and evidence recovered from the scene suggested that a sexual assault had occurred," Bridgeport Police said a press release. "As the investigation continued, the case detective received more information that contradicted Yovino's statements to police. This information included new witness accounts, text messages and cell phone video. Yovino was confronted with this evidence, and admitted that she, in fact, did have consensual sex with both males."

Yovino, who graduated from Ward Melville High School in 2016, made up the allegations in hopes of gaining sympathy from another man who she considered a prospective boyfriend, the New York Post reported, citing information in an arrest warrant affidavit.

However, Yovino’s attorney told Tepfer that she denies the allegations and stands by her original story.

“The federal Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act prevents us from providing information about specific students,” Deb Noack, director of communications at Sacred Heart University, said in a statement. "However, I can say that some of the early information that was released is inaccurate. Sacred Heart never expelled the two students nor was any student stripped of scholarships because of any allegations."

Yovino is charged with falsely reporting an incident and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Yovino was a student at Sacred Heart University in October, but school officials have not said if she is still enrolled at the college.

Photo: Bridgeport Police Department