NEC Player of the Week: Sadie Passante, CCSU & Emma Sousa, LEM
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Allie Sougaris, STO & Abigail Marcello, WAG
NEC Rookie of the Week: Sadie Passante, CCSU & Emma Sousa, LEM

Previous NEC Releases: September 21 | September 14 | September 8 | August 31 | August 24 | August 17 | NEC Preseason Poll

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER CO-PLAYERS & ROOKIES OF THE WEEK
Sadie Passante, 1, MF, Central Connecticut
Clinton, CT/The Morgan School
Passante had the standout performance of her rookie season thus far in CCSU's 4-0 win over Chicago State on Sunday. The Clinton, CT native scored a brace in the win and helped the Blue Devils improve to 2-1 in league play. Passante kicked off an 18-minute flury of offense for CCSU with a goal in the sixth minute and capped off the four-goal outburst with a goal in the 24th. The pair of goals were the first of the midfielder's career and established her as a contributor in one of the NEC's more threatening attacks.

Emma Sousa, Fr., MF, Le Moyne
East Longmeadow, MA/East Longmeadow
Sousa continued to build a strong rookie resume with a brace in Le Moyne's 3-1 win over Delaware State on Sunday. Her first goal was an excellent hit, striking the ball from 28 yards out and tucking it in off the post to double the Dolphin lead. Sousa's second goal came from a long header in the 85th minute to seal the first conference win of the year for Le Moyne. The now two-time Rookie of the Week has asserted herself in the league's golden boot race, sitting tied for second with four goals. 

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 
Allie Sougaris, Jr., GK, Stonehill
Foxborough, MA/Foxborough
Sougaris was once again a reliable presence in goal for Stonehill this week. The Foxborough, MA product made three saves and kept a clean sheet in Stonehill's 3-0 win over New Haven on Thursday. Since her return earlier in the month, Sougaris has been outstanding. She has kept two clean sheets in four matches, maintained a .889 save percentage and a 0.52 goals against average. The Skyhawks have won two of their first three NEC fixtures and will look to utilize Sougaris' strong goalkeeping to keep stacking points.

Abigail Marcello, Jr., GK, Wagner
Havre De Grace, MD/Harford Technical
Marcello continued her strong junior campaign with a shutout against Howard in a 1-0 win for Wagner. She made three saves in the win and now sits second in the NEC in save percentage at .818. Marcello is also second in the league in goals against average (1.00) and clean sheets (3) as well. The junior has been a key reason why Wagner is 2-0 in conference play, putting forth strong performances in a pair of one-goal wins for the Seahawks.
 
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Valentina Mangles, 1, M, Central Connecticut
Mangles collected her first career goal and assist in CCSU's win on Sunday. The midfielder extended her team's lead in the 11th minute by slotting home a penalty in the 11th minute and assisted on Passante's second goal 13 minutes later.

Sadie Passante, 1, M, Central Connecticut
NEC Co-Player and Rookie of the Week.

Elena Cvetkovic, Jr., D, FDU
Cvetkovic bagged a goal and added an assist in FDU's 4-1 win over Mercyhurst on Thursday. Cvetkovic set up the match's first goal just 79 seconds after the opening kickoff. She would double the Knight lead just over a half hour later with a goal of her own. Cvetkovic has also been reliable defensively, contributing to an FDU back line that has allowed just eight goals in 10 matches.

Ana Salas, Sr., M/F, FDU
Salas earned her third Prime Performer nod of the season with a goal and an assist against Mercyhurst. Her goal came in the 41st minute and gave FDU a 3-0 lead heading into the intermission. She assisted the 72nd minute Allison Nase goal that capped off a four-goal outburst for the Knights. The 2025 All-NEC First Teamer now has nine points from three goals and three assists, putting her second on the league's scoring charts. Salas has spearheaded an FDU attack that has been the most potent in the NEC with 18 goals. The Knights are now unbeaten in their last eight matches at 5-0-3 and have not lost in over a month.

Kaitlyn Gilhooly, So., F, Le Moyne
Gilhooly played an important part in Le Moyne's win on Sunday, scoring the first goal of the match in the 10th minutes and assisting Sousa's 23rd minute banger.

Emma Sousa, Fr., M, Le Moyne
NEC Co-Player and Rookie of the Week.

Casey Beauregard, Sr., M., LIU
Beauregard proved to be the hero in a 3-2 LIU win over Delaware State on Thursday that was a wild affair. In a match that saw the Sharks fall behind just 19 seconds before halftime, score twice in 32 seconds to take the lead, and surrender that lead 15 minutes later, the senior midfielder netted the match winner in the 84th minute. LIU are now 2-1 in conference play and have won both of their matches late and in dramatic fashion.

Janayah Body, Sr., D, New Haven
Body came through with the game-winning goal in New Haven's 1-0 win over Mercyhurst on Sunday. In the 64th minute, Body dispossessed Mercyhurst in their own defensive third and surged down the right flank, tucking the ball into the near post to put the Chargers in front. The win was New Haven's first league triumph since joining the NEC. 

Dani Lomuscio, So., D/M, Stonehill
Lomuscio continued her strong sophomore season with a goal and an assist in Stonehill's win last week. The 2025 All-NEC Rookie Team member opened the scoring in the 14th minute and capped off the Skyhawk win by assisting the team's third goal in the 89th minute. Lomuscio now has seven points on three goals and an assist this season, proving to be an imposing threat in a dangerous Stonehill attack that is tied with FDU for the most goals in the NEC.

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

Alana Arjona, Jr., F, Wagner
Arjona scored the winning goal for Wagner on Sunday, finding the back of the net in the 77th minute. Arjona now has two goals on the season.

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
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

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

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