NEC Player of the Week: Riley Powers, CCSU
NEC Co-Defensive Players of the Week: Jenna Hamel, STO & Abigail Marcello, WAG
NEC Rookie of the Week: Emma Sousa, LEM

Previous NEC Releases: NEC Preseason Poll

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Riley Powers, Sr., M/F., Central Connecitcut
Newtown, CT/Newtown
Powers kicked off her senior campaign with three points in CCSU's first two matches of the 2026 season. The senior bagged her first goal of the campaign on Sunday against Lafayette in a 2-0 win. Powers set the tone for the match in the third minute when she buried a rebound off the post to put CCSU ahead early. She assisted the lone Blue Devil goal against Sacred Heart last Wednesday as well. After the first week of play, Powers currently paces the NEC scoring charts.

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK 
Jenna Hamel, So., GK, Stonehill
Simsbury, CT/The Ethel Walker School
Hamel was a steady presence between the woodwork for Stonehill in her first pair of matches. The Simsbury, CT native aided Stonehill to a 1-1 draw against New Hampshire and a scoreless affair against Bryant. Hamel made five saves and only conceded a penalty against New Hampshire. The sophomore notched her first career clean sheet and was a key contributor in two hard-fought results for the Skyhawks.

Abigail Marcello, Jr., GK, Wagner
Havre de Grace, MD/Harford Technical
Wagner picked up its first win of the season in due in large part to the heroics of Marcello. The junior was outstanding in a 2-1 win against perennial CAA power Monmouth on Sunday. Marcello made an astounding 12 saves in the match and stifled Monmouth in the second half, holding them scoreless and saving seven attempts in the period. Marcello made three saves in a 1-0 setback to Rider on Thursday as well.

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK 
Emma Sousa, Fr., F, Le Moyne
East Longmeadow, MA/East Longmeadow
Sousa did not wait long to make an impact in her first collegiate game, posting an early goal of the season contender on Sunday against Iona. The East Longmeadow, MA product hit a beauty of a free kick from 28 yards out, tucking the ball into the left corner to cut Le Moyne's deficit to one with three minutes left. Sousa's debut stunner earned her the first weekly award of her young career.
 
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Riley Powers, Sr., M/F., Central Connecticut
NEC Player of the Week.

Ana Salas, Sr., M/F, FDU
Salas started her 2026 campaign with a bang. In the 21st minute, the 2025 All-NEC First Team honoree was on the receiving end of a great ball by teammate Izarbe Grao, smashing home an equalizer on the volley to draw FDU level with Seton Hall.

Jenna Hamel, So., GK, Stonehill
NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week.

Megan Knapp, Jr., F, Wagner
Knapp joined Marcello in the heroics during Wagner's win over Monmouth, scoring the match-winner in the 51st minute. The junior managed to slip the ball past the rushing goalkeeper and into the left corner to reestablish the Seahawk lead for good. 

Abigail Marcello, Jr., GK, Wagner
NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week.

2026 NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug. 17: Riley Powers, CCSU

NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug. 17: Jenna Hamel, STO & Abigail Marcello, WAG

NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Aug. 17: Emma Sousa, LEM