NEC Player of the Week: Candela Espana, FDU
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Rosemarie Leblanc, FDU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Candela Espana, FDU

Previous NEC Releases: August 31 | August 24 | August 17 | NEC Preseason Poll

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER & ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Candela Espana, Fr., M., FDU
Madrid, Spain/IES Cardinel Cisneros
Espana was a sensation in FDU's 2-0 win over Fairfield on Wednesday. The Madrid native hit a beauty of a free kick to open the scoring in the 72nd minute, bending the ball off the left post and in to give the Knights a late lead. 14 minutes later, Espana found Marina Burzaco with a fantastic cruving through ball, giving Burzaco the space to strike an outstanding goal from outside the box to slam the door shut on the Stags. The rookie is now tied atop the NEC assist charts with two so far this season. 

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK 
Rosemarie Leblanc, Jr., GK, FDU
Repentigny, Quebec, Canada/École Saint-Gabriel
Leblanc's presence between the woodwork last week helped FDU go unbeaten with a win over Fairfield and a scoreless draw with Loyola Maryland. For the second time in her career, the junior kept two clean sheets in a row. Leblanc made 13 saves in total, stopping seven shots against Fairfield and five against Loyola Maryland. Leblanc has now kept three clean sheets in her last four games, helping the Knights go unbeaten in that span. The Quebec product has been the NEC's top goalkeeper so far in 2026, leading the conference in goals against average (1.00), save percentage (.854) and clean sheets (3). 
 
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Melina Ford, 4th, GK., CCSU
Ford did all she could to help Central Connecticut get a result in their match against Holy Cross on Thursday. The reigning NEC Goalkeeper of the Year saved 10 of 11 shots in a narrow 1-0 defeat to the Crusaders. Ford ranks second in the NEC in save percentage with a .854 save percentage thus far and has spearheaded the league's second best defense.

Candela Espana, Fr., M., FDU
NEC Player & Rookie of the Week

Rosemarie Leblanc, Jr., GK, FDU
NEC Defensive Player of the Week.

Nadia Bolden, Jr., D/M, Howard
Bolden bagged a brace in a wild 7-4 defeat to La Salle on Sunday. With Howard down 5-1 over an hour into the match, Howard scored three goals in 11 minutes to make the contest interesting. Bolden scored two of those goals, nearly helping the Bison make an unfathomable comeback. 

Asia Mickens-Perez, Sr., M, Howard
Mickens-Perez also scored twice against La Salle, getting things started with an early goal in the 14th minute. The senior from Upper Marlboro, MD secured her brace with a goal in the 70th minute, cutting the Bison deficit to two. With their performances, both Mickens-Perez and Bolden are now tied for second in the NEC in goals this season and are a big reason that Howard are amongst the conference's most potent attacks.

Maddi Cowburn, Jr., F, Mercyhurst
Cowburn had a goal contribution in each of Mercyhurst's two matches last week. She assisted the lone Laker goal against Morehead State on Thursday and scored against a quality Louisville side on Sunday.

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

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

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