NEC Player of the Week: Mimi Richards, HOW
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Emma Sawich, SFU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Anouk Landgraff, SFU
Previous NEC Releases: NEC Preseason Poll

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mimi Richards, So., F., Howard
Silver Spring, MD/Albert Einstein
Richards netted two goals in Howard’s season-opening victory over Saint Peter’s. The sophomore forward got the scoring going in the 19th minute and struck again in the 69th off a penalty kick to help secure the 4-1 Thursday night win. She had five shots in the Bison’s 1-0-1 week with four coming against the Peacocks, while she landed one shot on goal in a 0-0 draw at Hampton on Sunday.

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Emma Sawich, Sr., GK, Saint Francis U
McMurray, PA/Peters Township
Making a combined eight saves on opening weekend, Sawich was key in the Red Flash’s win and draw. The senior goalie stopped five shots in SFU’s 2-1 win at Niagara, which was its first season-opening win since 2012. She also posted a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against Iona in SFU’s home opener on Sunday. Sawich stopped three shots by the Gaels, including a point-blank chance that preserved the stalemate in the 49th minute.

NEC WOMEN'S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Anouk Landgraff, Fr., F, Saint Francis U
Washington Boro, PA/Penn Manor
Landgraff impressed in her collegiate debut, finding the back of the net for the game-winner on Thursday night against Niagara. The Red Flash were down early and found themselves in a 1-1 draw until the 68th minute where the first-year player settled a cross in front of the goal and put it between the posts for the lead. Additionally, Landgraff provided a quality 28 minutes off the bench in SFU’s 0-0 draw against Iona.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Melina Ford, So., GK, CCSU
In a 1-0 setback against Fairfield, Ford made 10 saves in the Blue Devils' season opener. 

Rosemarie Leblanc, Fr., GK, FDU
In her first collegiate start, Leblanc posted a clean sheet while making five saves in a 0-0 draw against Seton Hall.

Mona Schlegl, Jr., D, FDU
Schlegl anchored the FDU back line as they held off Seton Hall's high-powered offense in the season opener. 

Hailey Ayers, Fr., F/GK, HOW
Ayers spent 135 minutes in goal, while making three saves against Saint Peter's and posting a clean sheet at Hampton.

Mimi Richards, So., F, HOW
NEC Player of the Week.

Anouk Landgraff, So., F, SFU
NEC Rookie of the Week.

Mercedez Paino, So., F, SFU
Paino chipped in the equalizing goal against Niagara in the 15th minute, while totaling four shots in two matches over the weekend.

Emma Sawich, Sr., GK, SFU
NEC Defensive Player of the Week.