NEC Player of the Week: Rachel Wygant, CCSU
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Allie Sougaris, STO
NEC Rookie of the Week: Emma Sousa, LEM

Previous NEC Releases: September 28 | September 21 | September 14 | September 8 | August 31 | August 24 | August 17 | NEC Preseason Poll

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rachel Wygant, 4, F, Central Connecticut
Bristol, CT/Bristol Central
Wygant was the sole supplier of offense for Central Connecticut in its 2-2 draw with Howard on Thursday. The Blue Devils fell behind 2-0 in the 58th minute, but just four minutes and two Wygant goals later, they were level. In the 60th minute, Wygant emerged from a scramble for the ball and drove the ball into the net and gave CCSU life. Two minutes after that, she hit a sensational strike to make it a brace, finding the top corner of the near post from 26 yards out and equalizing for the Blue Devils. Central Connecticut continues to accumilate points and keep themselves in the thick of the playoff race as the season's halfway mark approaches, sitting at 2-1-1 in league play.

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 
Allie Sougaris, Jr., GK, Stonehill
Foxborough, MA/Foxborough
Sougaris continued her outstanding run of form with two more clean sheets in a 2-0 week for the Skyhawks. The senior from Foxborough, MA handled business with a one-save shutout against Le Moyne in a 1-0 win on Thursday, but she was even better on Sunday against Wagner. In a match that will likely have major postseason implications at season's end, Sougaris stopped five shots and kept Wagner off the scoreboard. Sougaris has not allowed a goal in her last 270 minutes between the woodwork, helping the Skyhawks soar to a 4-1 record in NEC play. She has maintained an astonishing 0.44 goals against average and .912 save percantage in the six matches since returning. Sougaris has spearheaded a Stonehill defense that has conceded just once in its first five conference fixtures.

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Emma Sousa, Fr., MF, Le Moyne
East Longmeadow, MA/East Longmeadow
Sousa made it three Rookie of the Week awards for the year with two goal involvements in a 2-2 draw against Mercyhurst on Sunday. After falling behind just two minutes after the opening kickoff, Sousa kickstarted the build up play that led to Le Moyne' equalizer in the 61st minute, assisting Grace Gironda's goal. Sousa would bag a goal for herself just four minutes later, placing the ball just inside the far right post to flip the game on its head and give the Dolphins the lead. Sousa has made an instant impact in her debut campaign, sitting second the the league's golden boot race with five goals and third in points with 11. With the help of Sousa, the Le Moyne attack has substantially improved. They have scored nine goals in the 2026 season, matching their tally from the entire 2025 campaign. Sousa has contributed to six of those nine goals, underscoring her importance to Le Moyne.
 
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Rachel Wygant, 4, F, Central Connecticut
NEC Player of the Week.

Andrea Araujo, Fr., M, FDU
Araujo tallied three points from a goal and an assist in FDU's 6-0 win over Chicago State on Thursday. The goal contributions were the first two of her young career. Araujo established herself as part of a FDU attack that has been the NEC's best. The Knights have scored 24 goals throughout the 2026 campaign and have only conceded once since their league schedule began three weeks ago.

Marina Burzaco, Jr., F, FDU
Burzaco also compiled a goal and an assist against Chicago State, extending her lead atop both the goal-scoring and overall scoring charts. Burzaco leads the league with seven goals and 16 points. The 2025 All-NEC First Team selection has spearheaded a potent FDU offense that is averaging a stunning four goals per game in conference play.

Trinity Knox, Sr., GK, Howard
Knox's performance in goal last week helped Howard pick up four points and establish a foothold in the postseason picture. The former NEC Goalkeeper of the Year played all but four minutes in Howard's two matches, making six saves and allowing just a single goal. Knox played just under 86 minutes against Central Connecticut and made four saves, but she was even better against Delaware State. The senior made two saves and kept a clean sheet in Dover on Sunday. Howard has compiled seven points from a 2-1-1 start to their league slate.

Emma Sousa, Fr., M, Le Moyne
NEC Rookie of the Week.

Casey Beauregard, Sr., M., LIU
Beauregard once again provided the heroics for LIU in a stretch that has seen the Sharks win three straight matches in such fashion. The senior scored the game winner with just 21 minutes left to play in LIU's 1-0 win over Chicago State on Sunday. It marked the second consecutive match in which Beauregard has won the match for the Sharks and the third in which they have pulled ahead in the 69th minute or later. LIU is off to a 3-1 start in conference play and are poised to be in the postseason conversation down the stretch.

Jenna Popowski, Fr., F, Mercyhurst
Popowski netted the late equalizer for Mercyhurst against Le Moyne on Sunday, earning a point for the Lakers in the 79th minute. The Erie local leveled the match in style, hitting a great strike from into the top shelf from just inside the 18-yard box. Popowski has been a hometown hero for Mercyhurst, leading the team with four goals in her rookie campaign.

Lindsey Brown, Sr., D, Stonehill
Brown played a key role in an important win for Stonehill over Wagner. The senior headed home a goal from a cross to put the Skyhawks in front just before halftime. Brown has been a reliable member of Stonehill's first eleven, starting all 13 of their matches.

Lily Roslonek, Sr., D, Stonehill
Roslonek's first goal of the season was an important one, proving to be the winner in a narrow 1-0 win over Le Moyne. Roslonek is one of many contributors to a dangerous Skyhawk attack. Stonehill has scored 21 goals in 2026, sitting second in the league. The Skyhawks are one of the league's most evenly distributed offenses, having 12 different players score this season. Only FDU has had as many different goal scorers.

Allie Sougaris, Jr., GK, Stonehill
NEC Defensive Player of the Week.

Abigail Marcello, Jr., GK, Wagner
Marcello had another strong week in goal, making 11 saves and keeping a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over New Haven. Marcello has been one of the league's best keepers this season, maintaining a 1.00 goals against average, .824 save percentage and four clean sheets. 

2026 NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug. 17: Riley Powers, CCSU
Aug. 24: Rebecca Devereux, CCSU
Aug. 31: Marina Burzaco, FDU
Sept. 8: Candela Espana, FDU
Sept. 14: Grace Simpson, NHVN
Sept. 21: Ana Salas, FDU
Sept. 28: Sadie Passante, CCSU & Emma Sousa, LEM
Oct. 5: Rachel Wygant, CCSU

NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug. 17: Jenna Hamel, STO & Abigail Marcello, WAG
Aug. 24: Rosemarie Leblanc, FDU & Trinity Knox, HU
Aug. 31: Mikayla McPheron, LEM
Sept. 8: Rosemarie Leblanc, FDU
Sept. 14: Abigail Marcello, WAG
Sept. 21: Rosemarie Leblanc, FDU
Sept. 28: Allie Sougaris, STO & Abigail Marcello, WAG
Oct. 5: Allie Sougaris, STO

NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Aug. 17: Emma Sousa, LEM
Aug. 24: Ellie Westcott, CCSU
Aug. 31: Jenna Popowski, MU
Sept. 8: Candela Espana, FDU
Sept. 14: Candela Espana, FDU
Sept. 21: Isabel Kyprislidis, LIU
Sept. 28: Sadie Passante, CCSU & Emma Sousa, LEM
Oct. 5: Emma Sousa, LEM