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United East Athletes of the Week - September 16, 2024

LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for September 16, 2024.  Today will include Athletes of the Week for Field Hockey, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, and Women’s Volleyball.

This week’s selections included contests from Monday, September 9 through Sunday, September 16.  A total of 8 student-athletes were recognized for their performances.
 

Field Hockey

Offensive Player of the Week
Emma Watkins / Jr / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Frederick, Md. / Linganore HS

In just her second game back from injury, Emma Watkins scored twice on two shots in helping St. Mary's College post a 4-3 overtime win over Randolph-Macon. This was the only game of the week for the Seahawks who moved to a 2-2 record with wins over Randolph-Macon and Sewanee and losses to Washington & Lee and No. 11 York (PA).  This is the first Player of the Week award for Watkins, who is a two-time NFHCA National Academic Squad honoree.
 
Defensive Player of the Week
Hannah Osbahr / 5th Yr / Keystone College / Old Bridge, N.J. / Old Bridge HS

Osbahr made 24 saves and allowed only three goals in three games this week as Keystone went 2-1 in that stretch. The fifth-year goalkeeper made 14 saves in a 2-0 loss to Scranton. She made four saves in a 2-0 win over Ramapo and followed that up with six saves in the double overtime victory versus Immaculata. This is Osbahr’s first United East Defensive Player of the Week award.
 

Men’s Soccer

Offensive Player of the Week
Kobe Harris / Sr / Penn State Harrisburg / Leonardtown, Md. / Wingate University / Leonardtown HS

Kobe Harris found the back of the net in each of Penn State Harrisburg's wins last week. The senior converted the game-winning penalty kick in a victory over Washington & Jefferson on Saturday afternoon before netting the equalizer with 17 minutes remaining in a 3-2 comeback win over previously unbeaten NYU on Sunday evening. This is the first Player of the Week award for Harris who is a two-time All United East performer (2nd Team, 2023; 1st Team, 2022) as well as a United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Region Second Team honoree in 2022.
 
Defensive Player of the Week
Chris Jackson / So / Lancaster Bible College / Pittsburgh, Pa. / Pittsburgh Christian Academy

Jackson earned his first two starts this week helping lead the Chargers to a 1-0-1 record including a 3-0 win over Gwynedd Mercy and a 1-1 tie with York (Pa.). Jackson had an impressive 11 saves at York (Pa.) in the tie while tallying 15 total saves for the week and only allowing one goal. This is the first Player of the Week award for Jackson.
 
 
Women’s Soccer

Offensive Player of the Week
Annie Smith / So / Wilson College / Hagerstown, Md. / North Hagerstown HS

Smith not only scored her first goal of the season, but scored three in total as she helped Wilson remain unbeaten with a pair of wins against Penn State Altoona and Cairn. The sophomore forward notched her first score against the Nittany Lions as the Phoenix downed Altoona 3-0. In a non-conference contest against Cairn, Smith added two more to pick up a road win and move to 5-0-1 on the season.

This is the second Player of the Week award for Smith, who previously won for the week of October 2, 2023.  Smith was the United East Skye Division Rookie of the Year in 2023 and a First Team honoree after tallying 41 points on 16 goals and 9 assists in her debut season.
 
Defensive Player of the Week
Kylie Yap / So / Penn State Harrisburg / Voorhees, N.J. / Eastern Regional HS

Kylie Yap's efforts on the back line helped lead Penn State Harrisburg to a 1-0-1 week. The sophomore anchored a back line that allowed just one shot on goal in a 2-0 win at Bryn Mawr on Wednesday and secured a second shutout against Franklin & Marshall on Sunday night. The outside back also scored her first goal of the young season in the victory on Wednesday afternoon.  This is the first Player of the Week award for Yap, who is also a member of the Philippines National Team.
 

Women’s Volleyball

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

Worley had a monster week for Gallaudet at the net as the sophomore transfer slammed down 83 kills in five matches (21 sets) as the Bison went 3-2 on the week. Worley surpassed 20 kills for the third time this season on Wednesday with 21 kills in a home-opening win over Marymount, the first for the Bison against the Saints since 2012.

GU headed north to Smith College in Northampton, Mass., to play several northern teams they have never faced before. Worley greeted them with kill totals of 16, 14, 14, 18 as the Bison defeated Smith in five sets and Salem St. in four. GU had tough four-set losses to Middlebury College and No. 18 Wesleyan (Conn.) University, in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament First Round contest. Worley added 45 digs, four blocks and three aces for the week. Worley had her second double-double of the season with 14 kills and 12 digs in the win over Salem St.

This is the second Player of the Week award for Worley, who previously won for the week of September 9, 2024.
 
Defensive Player of the Week
Ella Gamble / Jr / Gallaudet University / Cullowhee, N.C. / Smoky Mountain HS / Carson-Newman University

Gamble had a busy week for the Bison as she passed out 184 assists, served up 18 aces and was among the leaders for digs (49) and blocks (seven) in five matches (21 sets) as Gallaudet went 3-2. Gamble had 33 or more assists in every match and tallied double-doubles in three of the four matches at the Bonnie May Invitational hosted by Smith College. Gamble now has five double doubles this season. Gamble served up two or more aces in every match including four against the Saints last Wednesday as GU defeated Marymount for the first time since 2012.

GU went 2-2 at the Bonnie May Invitational, with wins over host Smith College and Salem State and defeats to Middlebury and No. 18 Wesleyan (Conn.) University in a rematch of last year's NCAA tournament first round. Gamble has recorded 33 or more assists in 11 of the 12 matches Gallaudet has played so far this season. Gamble added one block in every match, including a season-high three against Smith where GU won in five, 3-2. Gamble had a career-high nine service aces against Salem St. as GU won in four, 3-1.

This is the sixth Athlete of the Week award for Gamble who previously won for the weeks of November 6, 2023, October 30, 2023, October 16, 2023, October 9, 2023, and September 18, 2023.  In the 2023 season, Gamble earned the United East Volt Division Offensive Player of the Year, a First Team All-Conference honoree, All-ECAC First Team, and an AVCA All-Region honorable mention award.
 
 
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The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.