NEC Player of the Week: Ana Salas, FDU
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Abigail Marcello, WAG
NEC Rookie of the Week: Emma Sousa, LEM

Previous NEC Releases: 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, M/F, FDU
Madrid, Spain/Liceo Italiano
Salas had a career day in FDU's 8-0 win over Delaware State on Thursday. The 2025 All-NEC First Team selection was involved in half of the Knights' goals in Dover, netting her first career hat trick and adding an assist just 40 seconds into the match. Salas showed off the flair she possesses with a pair of jawdropping goals in the first half. The first of those stunners was a result of a fantastic chip finish to the far post after weaving her way down the left flank with some excellent dribbling. Her next goal was a flashy backheel flick into the left corner that made it 4-0 FDU. The senior has been productive in 2026, tallying 18 points from six goals and six assists. She sits second in the NEC in points and assists, and third in goals. Salas has set a career best in points and proven to be the engine of an FDU attack that is averaging nearly five goals per game in league play. That Knights have scored 24 goals in conference play and are scoring 4.8 goals per game, putting them on pace on pace to break the conference play goal-scoring record (35) and to finish second in league history in goals per game.

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 
Abigail Marcello, Jr., GK, Wagner
Havre de Grace, MD/Harford Technical
Marcello was once again a reliable presence between the woodwork for Wagner in its 4-0 win over LIU on Sunday. The Havre de Grace, MD native made a pair of saves and kept a clean sheet to improve her side's league record to 4-1 at the halfway point. Marcello has now kept five clean sheets, good for second in the conference. She also sits second in goals against average (0.923) and save percentage (.829). Thanks in large part to Marcello, the Seahawks have allowed just three goals in five league fixtures.

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Emma Sousa, Fr., MF, Le Moyne
East Longmeadow, MA/East Longmeadow
Sousa earned her third consecutive Rookie of the Week nod and fourth on the season with a pair of impactful goals in a 2-0 week for Le Moyne last week. Against LIU on Thursday, Sousa converted a penalty just four minutes into the match that went a long way towards a 2-1 win. Sousa scored again against Howard, capping off an incredible comeback. After falling into a 2-0 hole at the half, the Dolphins stormed back and Sousa completed the rally with a goal in the 77th minute. Sousa kept herself firmly in the NEC's golden boot race with her two goals, putting her at seven on the year. The East Longmeadow, MA product has been crucial to Le Moyne's rise up the league table, contributing to eight of Le Moyne's 14 goals on the year. With their two wins, the Dolphins have now gained a foothold in the playoff race with just four matches to go. They sit level on points with Central Connecticut with 10 each. Le Moyne is 3-1-1 in its last five matches.
 
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Melina Ford, 4, GK, Central Connecticut
Ford had another good week in goal for the Blue Devils. She kept her third clean sheet of the year in a 6-0 road win over Mercyhurst on Sunday, making a pair of saves in the process. Ford has maintined a .825 save percentage this season, sitting third in the league in the category.

Eve Girardi, 1, F, Central Connecticut
Girardi contributed to three of CCSU's six goals on Sunday, assisting the first two and scoring the third. Girardi's second assist was a fantastic ball that landed at Isabella Cambio's feet, allowing her to score on the volley. The Blue Devils are now 3-1-1 in league play and are averaging nearly three goals per game in league play.

Marina Burzaco, Jr., F, FDU
Burzaco scored twice and added an assist against Delaware State, maintaining her grip on the league's golden boot race. The junior has netted nine goals and assisted three more, putting her at the top of the NEC's scoring chart with 21 points. Burzaco's two goals set a new career high, surpassing the seven she scored last season.

Rosemarie Leblanc, Jr., GK, FDU
Leblanc kept her seventh clean sheet of the season against Delaware State and made a pair of saves. Leblanc has been outstanding in 2026, leading the league in clean sheets, goals against average (0.667) and save percentage (.869). With Leblanc as the first choice goalkeeper, the Knights have allowed just one goal through the first half of the conference schedule.

Ana Salas, Sr., M/F, FDU
NEC Player of the Week.

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

Janayah Body, Sr., D., New Haven
Body netted a pair of goals in New Haven's 4-1 win over Chicago State on Sunday. The senior set the tone for the day with two goals in three minutes, giving the Chargers a two-goal lead just 16 minutes into the match. Body paces a much improved New Haven side in goals (3) and points (6) on the year.

Leah Comeroski, Sr., F, New Haven
Comeroski tallied three points from a goal and an assist against Chicago State. The senior proved to be a sparkplug off the bench for the Chargers in the second half, assisting the third New Haven goal and bagging the fourth. Both the goal and the assist were Comeroski's first of the year.

Kayla Cassidy, Sr., F, Stonehill
Cassidy collected a goal and an assist in Stonehill's 7-1 win against Chicago State on Thursday. The senior got the goal fest started by scoring just nine minutes into the match. She assisted the second Skyhawk goal just two minutes later. Cassidy, who sits fourth in the league in goals (5) and is tied for fourth in assists (3), is tied for the Stonehill team lead in points.

Annie Renz, Sr., F, Stonehill
Renz is the other Skyhawk with 13 points this season and as been a key chance creator for the Stonehill attack this season. She scored a goal and assisted twice in the Stonehill win, putting her at three goals and seven assists on the season. Renz leads the NEC in assists and has helped Stonehill score 21 goals in just six league matches this season.

Anya Zub, Jr., D/M, Stonehill
Zub registered the first points of her 2026 campaign with a goal and an assist for Stonehill on Thursday. She made an impact for Stonehill off the bench in the second half, scoring in the 48th minute and assisting in the 54th.

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

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

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