NEC Player of the Week: Ana Salas, FDU
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Allie Sougaris, STO
NEC Rookie of the Week: Mariana Pinheiro Alves, NHVN

Previous NEC Releases: October 19 | 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
Ana Salas, Sr., MF, FDU
Madrid, Spain/Liceo Italiano
Salas had a career night in the nation's captial on Thursday, earning her third NEC Player of the Week nod in the process. The Madrid native scored her second hat trick of the season in spectacular style, guiding FDU to a 4-0 win. After a scoreless opening period, Salas got the party started in the 53rd minute with a 25 yard chip shot off of a fantastic long through ball from Candela Espana. Her second goal was even more spectacular, scoring a backheel flick on the volley to make it 3-0 Knights. Salas completed her hat trick in the 85th minute thanks to some nifty dribbling that created space to tap the ball into the back of the net. Salas also added an assist to make it a seven-point night. Thanks to the senior's sensational performance, FDU punched its postseason ticket and now need just three points to claim back-to-back regular season titles. In addition to surging into the league's golden boot race, Salas also achieved a feat that no NEC player had accomplished since 2013. She became the first player to have multiple hat tricks in a season since Samantha Jensen did so for Wagner 13 years ago. 

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 
Allie Sougaris, Jr., GK, Stonehill
Foxborough, MA/Foxborough
Sougaris continued her exceptional form with her fourth clean sheet of the season in Stonehill's 2-0 win over Howard on Sunday. The junior made five saves for the Skyhawks, helping them get back in the win column and inch closer to a playoff return. Sougaris' play has been crucial to Stonehill's success this season and gives her a chance to have one of the best satistical seasons in NEC history. She has maintained a league-best 0.36 goals against average and a .914 save percentage, both of which would be the second-best single-season marks in league history. Stonehill now just needs a win to clinch its second-ever postseason berth.

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Mariana Pineheiro Alves, Fr., F, New Haven
Porto, Portugal/Escola Secundaria de Gondomar
Pinheiro Alves netted the first brace of her career and singlehandedly helped New Haven pick up a point in a 2-2 draw with LIU on Sunday. The Porto product scored the match's opener in the 10th minute to give the Chargers an early edge. New Haven would eventually fall behind 2-1, but Alves struck again in the 74th minute to draw them level once again. She has scored three goals on the year and has been a valuable member of a Chargers attack that has scored 14 goals this season, five more than they scored in all of 2025. Alves will look to continue to aid a New Haven side that has taken a significant step forward this season.
 
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Rebecca Devereux, 2, F, Central Connecticut
Devereux scored the match-winner in CCSU's 1-0 win over Le Moyne on Sunday. In the 75th minute, Devereux found herself in prime postion in front of goal, tapping home a pass from Leah Howe to give the Blue Devils the all-important 1-0 advantage. The win nearly locks Central Connecticut into a second consecutive postseason berth, needing just a single point from its final two matches to clinch a spot.

Candela Espana, Fr., MF, FDU
Espana showed her value as a defensive midfielder in FDU's win, tallying a goal and a highlight assist in the match. Her assist was arguably the league's best this season picking out Salas from over 40 yards away and placing the ball right to her. Espana and Salas have been valuable layers of an FDU attack that has scored 3.75 goals per game in league play.

Ana Salas, Sr., MF, FDU
NEC Player of the Week.

Alyssa Alcorn, Fr., GK, Mercyhurst
Alcorn recorded her second clean sheet in a row in Mercyhurst's 1-0 win over Delaware State on Sunday. The freshman made three saves and helped the Lakers win a second consecutive match. Alcorn has been crucial in both wins, seeing both matches end 1-0 in favor of the Lakers. In her last three matches, Alcorn has conceded just one goal and has helped Mercyhurst climb the league table to seventh. 

Avery Ruffus, Fr., D, Mercyhurst
Ruffus' first career goal was an important one, helping Mercyhurst win back-to-back road matches. After struggling to break through for much of the match in Dover, Ruffus finally found the opener in the 69th minute, putting the Lakers ahead for good. 

Mariana Pinheiro Alves, Fr., F, New Haven
NEC Rookie of the Week.

Annie Renz, Sr., F, Stonehill
Stonehill's two goals against Howard came in rapid fashion, and Renz spearheaded the attacking surge. The senior scored the opener in the 56th minute and helped double the Skyhawk lead with an assist just under three minutes later. Renz has had a productive 2026 campaign, sitting second in the league in assists (8) and fourth in points (16). Renz has been the most dangerous threat for a Skyhawk attack that has scored just under three goals per game in conference play.

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

Megan Knapp, Jr., F, Wagner
Knapp scored twice in Wagner's 4-0 win over Chicago State on Sunday. The junior set the tone for the strong offensive showing early, opening the scoring in the 6th minute. Her second goal came in the 70th minute, capping off the impressive outing by the Seahawks. Knapp has been the primary goal scorer for the Green and White, netting five goals this season. With the win, Wagner now sits in a playoff place and controls its own postseason destiny over the last three matches. 

Abigail Marcello, Jr., GK, Wagner
Marcello continued her strong 2026 season with her sixth clean sheet of the season. The junior made a pair of saves in Wagner's win, and now sits second in the NEC in shutouts. Marcello is also third in goals against average (0.93) and save percentage (.823). In a season where the NEC's top-end goalkeepers have been outstanding, Marcello has established herself as one of the league's premier number ones.

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
Oct. 26: Ana Salas, FDU

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
Oct. 26: 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
Oct. 12: Emma Sousa, LEM
Oct. 19: Andrea Araujo, FDU
Oct. 26: Mariana Pinheiro Alves, NHVN