NEC Player of the Week: Grace O'Hara, SHU
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Trinity Knox, HOW
NEC Rookie of the Week: Jess Maraia, WC
Previous NEC Releases: September 11 |
September 5 |
August 28 |
August 21 |
NEC Preseason Poll
NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Grace O'Hara, Sacred Heart
Jr., Forward/Midfielder, Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon
O'Hara tallied three goals and an assist in a 1-0-1 week for Sacred Heart. The junior scored two late goals in the Pios' 3-3 draw against local rival Fairfield on Wednesday. Trailing 2-1 in the 60th minute, O'Hara received a pass from Nichol Green on the right side of the pitch. She quickly created space and put the eqaulizer in the far-left corner of the net to equalize. After the Stags scored again to take the lead, O'Hara rebounded a Morgan Bovardi header off the post and slotted the ball into the net to tie the match at 3-3 in the 81st minute. O'Hara also scored the first goal (5') of SHU's decisive 7-0 victory at Delaware State in its NEC opener on Sunday. The Pittsford, NY native also registered an assist in the shutout win as she placed the ball within the six-yard box to set up Bovardi for her second goal of the match in the 25th minute. O'Hara has now registered a point in five consectutive matches this season. She currently ranks third in the NEC in points (14), points per game (1.56), goals (six) and goals per game (0.67).
NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Trinity Knox, Howard
Fr., GK, Atlanta, GA/Woodward Academy
Knox registered a solo shutout and a shared shutout last week in a 3-0 week for Howard. The freshman goalkeeper logged 47:15 minutes and did not concede a goal in the Bison's 2-0 win over Delaware State to kickoff league play on Thursday. The Atlanta, GA native registered a full 90 minutes between the pipes as Howard defeated Le Moyne, 1-0, on the road to start out the conference season 2-0. Knox produced a clean sheet as she made five saves on eight shots faced in the win on Sunday. Knox currently leads the league in goals against average (0.85) and save percentage (.857).
NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Jess Maraia, Wagner
Fr., Forward, New City, NY/Clarkstown South
Maraia scored two goals in Wagner's 2-0 league victory over LIU in the Seahawks' lone match of the week on Sunday. After a scoreless first half, Maraia headed the ball into the back of the net off a corner kick by Sara Wiedeman in the 52nd minute. Less than five minutes later, the freshman forward won a loose ball and fired off a shot from her left foot to beat the outstretched arms of the LIU keeper. This was Maraia's second multi-goal performance of the season. She also recorded a brace against Binghamton on September 3. The New City, NY native is currently tied for fourth in the NEC in goals (four), goals per game (0.50) and points per game (1.12), and ranks fifth in points (nine). She leads all first-year players in each of those categories. Maraia is also tied for eighth among all freshman nationally in goals this season and is ninth in goals per game.
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
Melea Earley, HOW (Jr., F)
- Recorded seven points on three goals and one assist in a 3-0 week for Howard.
- Scored twice in the Bison's 9-0 win at Virginia State.
- Netted one goal in Howard's 2-0 victory over conference foe Delaware State.
- Assisted on the Bison's game winning goal in a 1-0 win on the road against Le Moyne.
- Tied for first in the league in goals (eight) and goals per game (0.89).
- Selected as a NEC Prime Performer for the third time this season.
Trinity Knox, HOW (Fr., GK)
- Recorded a solo shutout and a shared shutout for the Bison last week.
- Made five saves in a 1-0 clean sheet against Le Moyne.
- Leads the conference in goals against average (0.85) and save percentage (.857).
- Ranks third among all freshman nationally in save percentage and ia seventh in GAA.
- Tabbed NEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Gina Proviano, LIU (Jr., M)
- Dished two assists in LIU's 2-1 conference victory over Stonehill on Thursday.
- Tied for third in the NEC in assists (three) and assists per game (0.38).
Ella Cormier, MC (Jr., F)
- Tallied five points last week off two goals and an assist as Merrimack went 2-0.
- Scored one goal on three shots in a 2-1 road victory over Hartford on Wednesday.
- Netted the opening goal and assisted on the game winning goal (72') in the Warriors 3-2 win over FDU on Sunday.
- Tied for fourth in the conference in goals (four), goals per game (0.50) and points per game (1.12), and is fifth in points (nine).
Sarah McConnon, SFU (Sr., GK)
- Made 10 saves on 20 shots faced on Saint Francis U's 2-1 setback against Central Connecticut on Sunday.
- Logged her first start of the season and finished with a .833 save percentage.
- Posted second-highest save total in a match for her career.
- Saved three shots in the first 17 minutes of the match.
- Denied multiple one-on-one opportunities for the Blue Devils throughout the match.
Grace O'Hara, SHU (Jr., F/M)
- Tallied seven points on three goals and an assist in a 1-0-1 week for SHU.
- Netted two late equalizing goals in the Pios 3-3 draw against Fairfield on Wednesday.
- Scored the opening goal and had an assist in SHU's 7-0 win against NEC opponent Delaware State.
- Has registered a point in five consectuive matches.
- Ranks third in the league in points (14), points per game (1.56), goals (six) and goals per game (0.67).
- Named NEC Player of the Week for the first time this season and third time in her career (9/21/21 & 10/2/22).
Jess Maraia, WC (Fr., F)
- Scored both goals in Wagner's 2-0 victory over conference rival LIU on Sunday.
- Second multi-goal performance of the season (netted two goals vs. Binghamton on 9/3/23).
- Tied for fourth in the conference in goals (four), goals per game (0.50) and points per game (1.12), and ranks fifth in points (nine).
- Leads all first year players in the league in goals, goals per game, points and points per game.
- Tied for eighth among all freshman nationally in goals and ninth in goals per game.
- Selected NEC Rookie of the Week for the second time this season (9/5/23).
2023 NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug 21: Ella Cormier, MC & Giavanna Inzerillo, CCSU
Aug. 28: Giavanna Inzerillo, CCSU
Sept. 5: Jess Maraia, WC
Sept. 11: Giavanna Inzerillo, CCSU
Sept.18: Grace O'Hara, SHU
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aug 21: Caroline Nuttall, LIU
Aug. 28: Sam Hughes, WC
Sept. 5: Sam Hughes, WC
Sept. 11: Roo Sawyer, MC
Sept. 18: Trinity Knox, HOW
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Aug 21: Keely Thomas, LIU
Aug. 28: Keely Thomas, LIU
Sept. 5: Jess Maraia, WC
Sept. 11: Noa Bartels van Bosbeek, LIU
Sept.18: Jess Maraia, WC