Bridgewater, NJ -- With the women's soccer regular season reaching its conclusion, the announcement of the 2025 NEC women's soccer major awards and All-Conference teams featured multiple winners from both regular season champion FDU and longtime power Central Connecticut.

The Knights took home two of the major honors, while the Blue Devils won three.

Stonehill senior forward Hannah Anselmo (Fall River, MA/Bishop Connolly) broke up the major awards duopoly by winning her second consecutive NEC Offensive Player of the year award. Anselmo’s repeat selection marks just the third time in league history that a player has earned multiple Offensive Player of the Year awards, joining SFU’s Alyssa McGhee (2017 & 2019) and FDU’s Aitana Martinez-Montoya (2021-22). Anselmo followed up her breakout campaign with an even better one, proving to be one of the top goal scorers in the country. The Fall River, MA product scored 14 times, currently tied for ninth nationally. She finished her senior season leading the NEC in goals and points (29) heading into the postseason. Anselmo had five games in which she scored two or more goals this fall, including a hat trick against Saint Francis on September 21.

NEC Defensive Player of the Year honors were awarded to CCSU's Emma Radoncic (Ridgefield, NJ/Ridgefield Memorial). The junior helped the Blue Devil back line keep five clean sheets throughout the season and allow just 10 goals in conference play. Radoncic, who earned herself an NEC Co-Player of the Week honor on October 13, proved to be a versatile weapon for the playoff-bound Blue Devils, coupling her defensive prowess with significant offensive production. Radoncic led the Blue Devils in goals (4) and points (10) and had a memorable moment against Mercyhurst on October 9. Level at 1-1 in the 80th minute, Radoncic fired a screamer into the back of the net to give Central Connecticut a 2-1 victory. The goal made the SportsCenter Top 10 that night. The Ridgefield, NJ native became the 11th Blue Devil to win NEC Defensive Player of the Year and the first since 2021. Radoncic was an All-Rookie Team selection in 2023. 

FDU's Laura Martinez (Palma de Mallorca, Spain, VA/Colegio Santa Teresa) had yet another terrific season and was named the NEC Midfielder of the Year in recognition of her efforts. Martinez started all 19 matches for the Knights and produced three goals and an assist for seven points. Martinez collected her first major award and her second All-NEC selection in as many years, having been named to the All-NEC First Team in 2024 following an All-Rookie Team campaign as a freshman. The junior's three goals and seven points are both career-highs. Martinez made history as FDU’s first-ever NEC Midfielder of the Year, and will now lead the Knights into the postseason as the top seed.

Spearheading the CCSU defensive unit along with Radoncic was Melina Ford (Portland, CT/Mercy), who earned NEC Goalkeeper of the Year honors thanks to a brilliant year between the woodwork. The junior keeper registered five shutouts, all of which came during conference play. During the 11-match conference campaign, Ford allowed just 10 goals, maintaining a goals against average of .956 and a .811 save percentage. She became the eighth Blue Devil goalkeeper to win NEC Goalkeeper of the Year and the first since 2021.

CCSU's third major award went to freshman defender Gabrielle Smith (Manchester, CT/Manchester), who was named NEC Rookie of the Year and is expected to be a cornerstone of the Blue Devil backline moving forward. The rookie played a crucial role alongside Radoncic and Ford for the stingy Blue Devil defense, starting every single match on a CCSU team that dropped just one conference game all season. Smith flashed some offensive prowess as well, tallying a goal and an assist on the year. The Manchester, CT native earned distinction as the ninth Central Connecticut player to win the NEC Rookie of the Year award, a list that includes an assortment of all-time NEC greats, including Roma McLaughlin, Jennifer Cafferky and Jane McFarlane.

For the second time in his 12-year tenure, FDU head coach Eric Teepe was named NEC Coach of the Year. The well-seasoned coach led the Knights to the NEC regular season title for the fourth time during his spell as coach and the fifth overall. Teepe's squad went unbeaten in conference play at 9-0-2, marking the 15th time an NEC team has gone through the conference campaign without a setback. Teepe's Knights were a dominant force in NEC play this season, scoring 30 goals and conceding just eight.  With their outright conference title, FDU has made the NEC postseason in all but one of Teepe’s seasons and is set for its fifth consecutive tournament appearance. The Knights will pursue a third NEC Tournament crown under Teepe, following titles in 2015 and 2022.

AWARD WINNER HIGHLIGHTS

Now in its 45th season, the NEC is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of ten institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#9). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#88). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, New Haven, Saint Francis U, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.necsports.com) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.