Offensive Player of the Week

Brenna Ziegler / Jr / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Newark, De. / Newark Charter School

In a 1-1 week for the Seahawks, Ziegler led the team offensively with two goals and an assist in a 6-0 road win at Cedar Crest. This was Ziegler’s third multiple-goal game of the season who is currently tied for the lead in Total Points with 27, 3rd in the United East with 10 goals, and leads the league with 7 assists.

This is the first Player of the Week award for Ziegler from the United East and fourth in her career.  Prior to this season, St. Mary’s (Md.) competed in the Atlantic East Conference where Ziegler earned three Player of the Week awards (October 23, 2023, October 16, 2023, and October 24, 2022).  While competing under the Atlantic East banner, Ziegler was the Player of the Year in 2023 and Rookie of the Year in 2022 to go along with two First Team All-Conference awards.  Additionally, Ziegler has earned two NFHCA All-Region honors with a First Team nod in 2023 to follow up on a Second Team award in 2022.

Defensive Player of the Week

Jena Vanskiver / Jr / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Fallston, Md. / Fallston HS

In a 1-1 week for the Seahawks, Jena dished out two assists and notched one defensive save. She tallied a defensive save against No. 6 Christopher Newport before having a hand in two of SMCM's six goals in a 6-0 road win at Cedar Crest. This was Vanskiver’s first career multiple-assist game.

This is the second Player of the Week award for Vanskiver (October 21, 2024), who is a two-time Second Team All-Conference honoree.

Offensive Player of the Week

Alex Ochman / Sr / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Rockville, Md. / T.S. Wootton HS

In a 2-0 week for SMCM, Ochman had a hand in four of the team's five goals. He started the week by assisting on all three goals in a 3-0 win over Rosemont before assisting on the game-winning goal in the come-from-behind 2-1 win over Saint Elizabeth to secure the outright regular season title. Ochman has now registered three assists in a game twice this season and is currently second in the United East with 11 total assists on the season, with all of those assists coming in league play.  

This is the second Player of the Week award for Ochman, who previously won for the week of September 26, 2022.  Ochman earned a Second Team All-Region award from the United Soccer Coaches in 2022 after a First Team All-Conference season and followed up in 2023 with Second Team All-Conference honors. 

Defensive Player of the Week

Ray Kelly / Sr / Penn State Brandywine / Middletown, De. / Middletown HS

Ray Kelly helped Brandywine clinch a home United East Tournament match with a 2-0 week. Kelly, one of the team’s starting center backs, played all 90 minutes and scored a goal in both matches. He scored Brandywine’s second goal in a 2-0 win at Berks and the defense did not allow a shot on goal. He scored the first goal of a 2-1 victory over Lancaster Bible on Friday. 

Prior to Penn State Brandywine joining the NCAA and the United East this season, Kelly earned three All-American designations from the USCAA with First Team honors in 2023 and 2022 and an honorable mention award in 2021.  Kelly was the PSUAC Defender of the Year in 2023 in addition to two First Team All-PSUAC and a Second Team All-PSUAC awards in his career.

Offensive Player of the Week

Adriana Lepera / Sr / Penn State Berks / Mohnton, Pa. / Governor Mifflin HS

Lepera had her best week of the season, helping the Lions go 2-0 and earn the #4 seed in the United East Championship Tournament. Lepera had an offensive eruption against Penn St. Brandywine, scoring three goals and dishing an assist in the Lions dominant victory. She then followed that up by scoring twice and posting an assist in the Lions 5-1 win over Cairn University. 

This is the second Player of the Week award for Lepera, who previously won for the week of October 10, 2022.  Lepera earned a Second Team All-Conference award for the 2022 season

Defensive Player of the Week

Kylie Wells / Sr / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Middletown, Pa. / Middletown HS

Kylie had an interesting Senior Day, helping the Seahawks to a 10-0 win over Saint Elizabeth. She started the game in goal and pitched a scoreless first half without having to make a save. Then Kylie switched jerseys and played in the field, collecting a goal and an assist (the first points of her career) during her 25 minutes of field play.

This is the third Player of the Week award for Wells, who previously won for the weeks of October 23, 2023 and September 12, 2023. Wells is a three-time All-Academic selection.

Offensive Player of the Week

Brielle Worley / So / Gallaudet University / Amarillo, Tx. / Amarillo HS / UT-Tyler / University of North Texas

Worley had another strong week for Gallaudet, who went 2-0 in conference play. The sophomore outside hitter finished the week with 35 kills on 72 swings and only five errors for an eye-popping .417 hitting percentage in six sets (two matches). Worley added 10 digs and finished the week with 35 points (5.83 points per set). She also tallied 5.83 kills per set. 

On the national level, Worley is 1st in NCAA Division III in Points (539.0), 1st in Total Kills (476), 2nd in Kills per Set (4.86), 2nd in Points per Set (5.50), and 6th in Total Attacks (1,046).  This is the fifth Player of the Week award for Worley, who previously won for the weeks of October 21, 2024, October 14, 2024, September 30, 2024 and September 9, 2024.

Defensive Player of the Week

Leah Helman / Sr / Lancaster Bible College / Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro HS

Despite a 1-2 week from the Chargers and their first conference loss at Gallaudet, Helman excelled, tallying 62 total digs over three matches. On Saturday Helman had 23 digs in a 3-0 win over Keystone and then 22 digs in a five-set thriller loss to RIT. She also added 15 assists and two kills to go along with her defensive performance. 

This is the sixth Player of the Week for Helman, who previously received the award for the week(s) of: September 23, 2024, October 9, 2023, October 2, 2023, September 24, 2023, and October 3, 2022.  Helman is a two-time United East Defensive Player of the Year, winning the award in both 2022 and 2023 in addition to All-Conference awards in those seasons.