NEC Player of the Week: Marina Burzaco, FDU
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Abigail Marcello, WAG
NEC Rookie of the Week: Dominique Desert, HU

Previous NEC Releases: October 26 | 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
Marina Burzaco, Jr., MF, FDU
Madrid, Spain/San Ignacio de Loyola
Burzaco achieved a career milestone in FDU's 7-0 victory over LIU on Sunday afternoon. The Madrid native netted her first career hat trick and added an assist for a seven point outing, playing a key role in the Knights clinching at least a share of the regular season title for the second straight season. Burzaco got the scoring started in the 33rd edition of the FDU-LIU derby, putting the Knights ahead in the 17th minute. After intermission, the FDU attack erupted for five goals in 24 minutes, with Burzaco scoring twice more to complete her hat trick. Burzaco is the front runner to claim the NEC Golden Boot this season, sitting on 12 goals as the regular season nears its end. The junior has tallied 28 points from her 12 goals and four assists, sitting second in the league behind her teammate, Ana Salas. The pair have combined for 61 points this season, spearheading an the Knights to a +35 goal difference in conference play. Burzaco's hat trick put this season's FDU attack in rare company as well. With Burzaco's hat trick, the 2026 FDU squad becomes just the second team in league history to ever have multiple players score a hat trick in the same season, with the only other instance coming from Merrimack in 2023. The Knights also became the first team in league history to ever record three hat tricks. Burzaco will look to finish the regular season strong in a Decision Day clash with Central Connecticut that will decide the No. 1 seed in the NEC Tournament. With a win or draw, the Knights clinch the top seed and an outright conference title.

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 
Abigail Marcello, Jr., GK, Wagner
Havre de Grace, MD/Harford Technical
Marcello put forth another strong week in what has been a fantastic season for the junior goalkeeper. Marcello made seven saves in a 2-1 loss against Mercyhurst on Thursday, but the her more notable performance came in Wagner's crucial fixture against Le Moyne on Sunday. With her side needing a win to clinch the fourth and final NEC postseason berth or a draw to remain in the driver's seat, Marcello kept the Dolphins off the scoreboard when the Green and White needed it most. Marcello would need to make just a single save, but that save proved crucial in a narrow 1-0 win for Wagner. The playoff-clinching clean sheet was the seventh of the year for Marcello, putting her second in the league in that category. She also sits third in the league in goals against average (0.94) and fourth in save percentage (.820). Marcello and Wagner will look close out the regular season strong next Sunday when they meet Delaware State. In order to move up to the No. 3 seed, the Seahawks need to best Stonehill's result.

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Dominique Desert, Fr., F, Howard
Park Ridge, NJ/Saddle River Day School
Desert scored her second career goal in Howard's 5-1 win over Chicago State on Sunday. The rookie put the tie to bed with her score in the 57th minute to make it 4-1 Bison, piggybacking off of Adora Nwosu's goal just 11 seconds prior. Howard scored five unanswered goals after falling behind just 16 seconds into the match, securing its third win of the conference campaign.
 
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Riley Powers, 4, F, Central Connecticut
Powers scored the most important goal of Central Connecticut's season on Sunday, and did it in style. The Blue Devils entered the match just one point ahead of Stonehill in the league table and three behind FDU in first. A win would see CCSU playing for a share of the NEC regular season title and the top seed in the NEC tournament when they meet FDU on Decision Day, any other result would have them fighting for a home semifinal. After a scoreless opening hour, the Blue Devils and Skyhawks each buried a penalty within a three minute span. With the match level at one, Powers created space for herself without the ball by charging towards the back post. Leah Howe sent a fantastic ball right where it needed to be, and Powers elevated above a pair of Stonehill defenders and headed home the go-ahead goal in the 68th minute. The Blue Devils would see out the 2-1 win, setting up a monumental contest with FDU next Sunday. Powers has been the taliswoman for the CCSU attack this season, leading the team with six goals.

Marina Burzaco, Fr., F, FDU
NEC Player of the Week.

Ana Salas, Sr., MF, FDU
Salas built off her sensational performance last week with a six-point performance against LIU. The senior scored twice and assisted twice, keeping her in the golden boot race and putting her atop the league's total scoring chart with 33 points. Salas is the league-leader in assists as well, registering 11 alongside her 11 goals.

Emily Villanueva, Sr., MF, FDU
Villanueva made her opportunities on Senior Day count by netting the first brace of her career. The New York native converted a penalty in the first half to double FDU's lead and capped off the Knights' scoring outburst with a goal in the 78th minute.

Ameila Horton, Jr., F, Howard
Horton scored the first brace of her career against Chicago State. She scored the Bison's first and second goals to flip the match on its head and put them up 2-1 after 29 minutes. Horton kickstarted the Howard goal-scoring outburst and now has three goals on the year.

Julia Bullock, R-Jr., MF, Mercyhurst
Bullock played an important role in Mercyhurst's 2-1 win over Wagner on Thursday. The junior assisted Jenna Popowski's opener in the seventh minute, giving the Lakers an early edge. Bullock's next contribution came in form of the match-winning goal in the 84th minute. Bullock's heroics exemplified the resilience of a Mercyhurst side that has climbed from ninth to fifth in the league table with three straight wins.

Kelly Gallagher, Jr., F, Wagner
Gallagher scored both Wagner goals this week and helped the Green and White lock down a postseason spot for the fourth consecutive season. The junior scored the lone Wagner goal against Mercyhurst, leveling the match in the 65th minute. Although Gallagher's goal against Mercyhurst would not punch Wagner's ticket to the NEC Tournament, her score against Le Moyne on Sunday would be enough. Gallagher showed up to Hameline Field ready to play, hitting a terrific volley into the back of the net just 82 seconds after the opening kickoff, giving the Seahawks a very early lead they would never surrender.  

Abigail Marcello, Jr., GK, Wagner
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
Oct. 26: Ana Salas, FDU
Nov. 2: Marina Burzaco, 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
Nov. 2: Abigail Marcello, WAG

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
Nov. 2: Dominique Desert, HU