NEC Offensive Player of the Week: Valeria Perales, RID
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Madison Walspurger, SFU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Kaelyn Fogelson, FFD
Previous NEC Releases: September 30 |
September 23 |
September 16 |
September 9 |
September 3 |
Preseason Poll Release
NEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Valeria Perales, Rider
Sr., F, Madrid, Spain/IES Mirasierra
Perales led the conference in points last week with eight off a quartet of goals. The senior forward scored twice in Rider’s 5-1 win at Mercyhurst on Friday on a pair of rebounds. Perales was also clutch for the Broncs as they survived a double overtime battle against La Salle. With just over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Spain native found the back of cage to set up the extra time showdown. Perales rifled the game-winning goal off a rebound after a pepper of shots by the Broncs just under 14 minutes into sudden-death. Her four-goal, eight-point week boosted her career point total to 108 and career goal total to 46, which are seventh and ninth in program history, respectively. Perales’ eight goals and 18 points this season both rank third in the conference. This marked her fifth career NEC Offensive Player of the Week award and first of the season. Rider currently sits at 3-1 in conference play and is riding a four-game winning streak.
NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Madison Waldspurger, Saint Francis U
Sr., D, Hatfield, PA/North Penn
The reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year led SFU to its fifth and sixth consecutive victories. Waldspurger anchored a defense that allowed defending NEC regular season champion Wagner to just five shots with three coming on target in the Red Flash’s 3-0 shutout of the Seahawks. The Hatfield, PA native also helped SFU to hold Lock Haven to just four total shots and two on goal. Waldspurger was able to limit opponents’ opportunities on goal by keeping them towards front of the shooting circle and away from the cage. SFU’s shutout against Wagner was its sixth of the year. During their six-game win streak, the Red Flash have conceded just three goals through the 360 minutes of play and are off to their second-best start in program history at 9-3. Additionally, SFU has allowed just two goals in conference play as the program is 4-0 against NEC opponents, which is its best league start since 2012. The Red Flash defense has been tenacious so far this season as they have now claimed three of 2025’s six NEC Defensive Player of the Week awards.
NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Kaelyn Fogelson, Fairfield
Fr., F, Norwalk, CT/Norwalk
In Fairfield’s 3-1 win over cross-town rival Sacred Heart, Fogelson found the back of the cage twice. The freshman forward started the scoring and capped off the victory with the Stags' final goal of the contest. It marked her first career multi-goal game for the reigning NEC champs as Fairfield has won five straight on its way to a 5-0 start in conference play. The Norwalk, CT native leads all NEC rookies in goals (five) and points (12). Fogelson becam the first Stag to claim NEC Rookie of the Week honors since Lucie Vincent won the award three times in 2023.
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
Kaelyn Fogelson, Fr., F, FFD
Tabbed NEC Rookie of the Week.
Konni Hofmann, Sr., F/M, FFD
Totaled seven points off three goals and an assist in Fairfield's 11-0 win against New Haven. The Stags' 11 goals set a single-game program scoring record. Fairfield has won five straight and is 5-0 to begin conference play.
Delaney Weiler, Fr., F/M, MC
Scored the game-winning goal with 39 seconds left on the clock in Merrimack's 2-1 victory over New Haven. Dished an assist on the Warriors' first score of the contest.
Valeria Perales, Sr., F, RID
Selcted as NEC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time this season and fifth time of her career.
Mia DiGenova, Jr., GK, SFU
Recorded her league-leading sixth shutout of the season while making three saves in a 3-0 win against Wagner. Added one save in SFU's 4-1 victory over Lock Haven.
Sofia Marciano, So., M, SFU
Tallied five points on two goals and an assist in SFU's 3-0 triumph against reigning NEC regular season champion Wagner. Leads the NEC with 11 goals.
Madison Waldspurger, Sr., D, SFU
Named NEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Makayla Strickulis, Sr., F, STO
Scored twice in Stonehill's 6-1 victory over LIU on Friday afternoon.
2025 NEC FIELD HOCKEY WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
NEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3: Semra Said, RID
Sept. 9: Natalie MvGivern, WAG
Sept. 16: Ines Braithwaite, SHU
Sept. 23: Alex Senior, FFD
Sept. 30: Sofia Marciano, SFU
Oct. 7: Valeria Perales, RID
NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3: Jade Regnart, RID
Sept. 9: Payton Rahn, FFD
Sept. 16: Mia DiGenova, SFU
Sept. 23: Mia DiGenova, SFU
Sept. 30: Jade Regnart, RID
Oct. 7: Madison Waldspurger, SFU
NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3: Morgan Smeltz, SFU
Sept. 9: Tess Termars, LIU
Sept. 16: Emma-Rose Phillips, SHU
Sept. 23: Havana De Roeck, STO
Sept. 30: Julie Povel, WAG
Oct. 7: Kaelyn Fogelson, FFD