NEC Player of the Week: Riley Powers, CCSU
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Trinitie Maloney, NHVN
NEC Rookie of the Week: Andrea Araujo, FDU

Previous NEC Releases: October 12 | October 5 | 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
Riley Powers, 4, MF/F, Central Connecticut
Newtown, CT/Newtown
Powers was a dangerous attacking threat in both of CCSU's wins last week. The fourth-year midfielder had the Blue Devils rolling early in an wild 3-2 win over New Haven on Thursday. Just six minutes into the match, Powers found the back of the net to put the Blue Devils up 1-0 in the intrastate derby. Against Delaware State on Sunday, Powers once again scored early, volleying home a Kayla Ward cross just 80 seconds after the opening kickoff. She then assisted CCSU's third goal just three minutes into the second half to cap off her excellent week. Powers has been the most potent member of a CCSU attack that has scored three goals per game in conference play. The Newtown, CT native has scored five goals and assisted three so far this season. Thanks to Powers, CCSU has now won three matches in a row and are unbeaten in its last five. The strong run of results now has the Blue Devils in the conversation for the regular season title, sitting just three points off of top spot with three matches to go. 

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 
Trinitie Maloney, Jr., GK, New Haven
Brick, NJ/Brick Township
Maloney had one of the league's most heroic performances of the season in New Haven's scoreless draw with FDU on Sunday. The Brick, NJ product kept a clean sheet against an FDU side that was averaging more than four goals per game entering the contest. Maloney made several key saves throughout the contest to frustrate the first-place Knights, but her most impactful save came in the 86th minute. After withstanding the relentless FDU attack all day, it seemed like there would finally be a breakthrough when the Chargers conceded a penalty. Maloney came to the rescue by guessing correctly on the spot kick and diving to keep New Haven level. Maloney and the Chargers would see out the draw, resulting in the junior's first clean sheet of the season.

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Andrea Araujo, Fr., MF, FDU
Madrid, Spain/Colegio El Valle II
Araujo scored a brace in an important 2-1 win over Wagner on Thursday night. The Spanish midfielder gave the Knights an early advantage with a goal in the 12th minute after an incredible buildup sequence on the counter attack by the Knights. She scored again just six minutes into the second half, giving FDU a crucial insurance goal. Araujo has scored four goals and assisted once in her rookie campaign. Thanks in part to Araujo, the Knights are unbeaten in their last 12 matches and are 6-0-1 in league play. 
 
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Mia Hageman, 1, MF, Central Connecticut
Hageman scored the winner in CCSU's 3-2 win over New Haven. The rookie's first career goal came at the end of an eight-minute flury in the late stages of the match that saw three goals between the two sides. Hageman's goal came in the 82nd minute, just three minutes after New Haven had drawn level again. Hageman joined a long list of goalscorers for the Blue Devils this season, becoming one of the 12 players to score for the NEC's third-best attack.

Riley Powers, 4, MF/F, Central Connecticut
NEC Player of the Week.

Andrea Araujo, Fr., MF, FDU
NEC Rookie of the Week.

Asia Mickens-Perez, Sr., MF, Howard
Mickens-Perez tallied three pointd from a goal and an assist in Howard's 3-3 draw with LIU on Sunday. After falling behind 2-0 in the opening half hour of the match, the senior kickstarted the Bison attack with a goal in the 32nd minute and helped her team get back into the match. In the 63rd minute, Mickens-Perez assisted Sinclaire Green's go-ahead goal and put Howard in the driver's seat. 

Emma Sousa, Fr., M, Le Moyne
Sousa maintained her standing in the NEC's golden boot race with a goal against Chicago State in a 3-1 win for the Dolphins. The four-time NEC Rookie of the Week is second in the NEC with eight goals on the season. She is also third in the league in points with 17. Sousa's importance to a much improved Le Moyne side cannot be understated. The East Longmeadow, MA native has contibuted to nine of Le Moyne's 17 goals on the season. The Dolphins are in fantastic form, going unbeaten in their last four matches and five of their last six. As a result, Le Moyne currently sits in the playoff field, ranking fourth on 13 points.

Isabel Kyprislidis, Fr., F, LIU
Kyprislidis netted a brace in LIU's end-to-end affair with Howard. The rookie from Queens, NY scored the opening goal for the Sharks in the 28th minute. She would strike again in the closing stages of the match. With the Sharks trailing 3-2 after conceding three goals unanswered, Kyprislidis scored an excellent goal off of a corner kick. Cloe Woodley sent a cross in that bounced to to the feet of Kyprislidis, who scored a fantastic goal by going bar down off the volley. Her brace salvaged a point from the match for the Sharks, keeping them alive in the postseason picture. 

Alyssa Alcorn, Fr., GK, Mercyhurst
Alcorn was excellent between the woodwork for Mercyhurst on Sunday. In a narrow 1-0 win over Stonehill, Alcorn made seven saves and kept a clean sheet against a Stonehill attack that was averaging 3.5 goals per game in conference play coming into the fixture. The Lakers were in their own defensive third for much of the match and Alcorn came through on every occasion. The clean sheet was the first of Alcorn's career.

Gabrielle Garcia, So., M, Mercyhurst
Garcia's first career goal was an impactful one for the Lakers. Her 27th minute strike was the lone goal in Mercyhurst's suprise win over Stonehill. Garcia now has three points on the season from a goal and an assist.

Trinitie Maloney, Jr., GK, New Haven
NEC Defensive Player of the Week.

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
Oct. 12: Ana Salas, FDU
Oct. 19: Riley Powers, 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
Oct. 12: Abigail Marcello, WAG
Oct. 19: Trinitie Maloney, NHVN

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
Oct. 12: Emma Sousa, LEM
Oct. 19: Andrea Araujo, FDU