LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for September 9, 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 2 through Sunday, September 8. A total of 8 student-athletes were recognized for their performances.
Field Hockey
Offensive Player of the Week
Paige Ney / Jr / Wilson College / Biglerville, Pa. / Biglerville HS
Ney had another busy week as she scored half of Wilson's goals in a 2-0 week for the Phoenix. The Blue and White were in Indiana for a two-game tournament and Ney opened up the weekend with two goals in a 4-0 win against Oberlin on Saturday. She added a goal in a 2-0 win against host Earlham on Sunday and set up the other goal with a nice insert on a penalty corner. She is currently tied for fifth overall in NCAA Division III with five goals this season.
This is the fifth Player of the Week for Ney who previously won the award on September 2, 2024, October 17, 2023, September 12, 2023, and September 12, 2022. Ney is a two-time All-Conference award winner with a First Team nod in 2023 as well as a Second Team honor for the 2022 season.
Defensive Player of the Week
Shelby Heater / So / Cedar Crest College / Lehighton, Pa. / Lehighton Area HS
Heater went 2-0 in goal on the week as the Falcons picked up wins over King’s (Pa.) College and Eastern Mennonite. Heater converted a career-high 12 saves in a 3-1 triumph over King's College and then picked up a shutout in a 3-0 victory over Eastern Mennonite, not facing a shot in the contest. This is the first Player of the Week award for Heater.
Men’s Soccer
Offensive Player of the Week
Jesse Brittain / Sr / Cairn University / Chester, PA / The Christian Academy
Brittain was the leading scorer for the Cairn Highlanders this week, netting two goals in as many games. His first came Wednesday against Arcadia in the 87th minute to the Highlanders’ 2-0 shutout victory. On Saturday evening, Brittain‘s goal tied the game with Ramapo before Cairn dropped the match 2-1. Brittain has recorded 3 goals in the young season, tied for the most in the United East.
This is the fourth Player of the Week honor for Brittain who previously won for the weeks of October 16, 2023, September 7, 2021, and September 27, 2021. Brittain is a three-year First Team All-Conference award winner as well as the CSAC Rookie of the Year for 2021.
Defensive Player of the Week
Brendan Werner / Jr / Penn State Abington / Philadelphia, Pa. / Philadelphia Academy Charter / Lycoming College
In a 0-1-1 week for the Nittany Lions, Werner made eight saves and recorded his first shutout of the season. Over the weekend at Shenandoah, Werner made six stops and effectively dealt with 11 corner kicks in a 0-0 draw with the host Hornets. Earlier in the week, he added two saves in a 1-0 defeat against Rutgers-Camden. The lone goal allowed this week came off a penalty kick midway through the second half against Rutgers-Camden. This is the first Player of the Week award for Werner.
Women’s Soccer
Offensive Player of the Week
Laila Kendle / Sr / Saint Elizabeth University / Neptune, NJ / Neptune HS
It was a busy week for Laila Kendle as she was able to score the lone goal for the Eagles in a 1-1 tie game on Tuesday, 9/3 vs. Brooklyn College. To follow that performance, Kendle would score 4 goals in an 8-1 victory over York (NY) on Saturday, 9/7, giving her 5 combined goals on the week. This is the first Player of the Week award for Kendle who has previously earned Second Team All-Conference awards for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Defensive Player of the Week
Ashlyn Bonner / Jr / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Ellicott City, Md. / Wilde Lake HS
Ashlyn Bonner was part of a defensive unit which recorded two shutouts and held a nationally ranked opponent to just one goal. Bonner helped hold Hood to just five shots (one on goal) and three corner kicks in a 1-0 Seahawk victory. She then contributed to limiting No. 25 McDaniel to only 17 shots (five on goal) and seven corner kicks as the two teams played to a 1-1 draw. Bonner scored the second goal while containing Methodist to six shots (two on goal) and three corner kicks in a 2-0 SMCM win. This is the first Player of the Week award for Bonner who was Second Team All-Conference in 2022.
Women’s Volleyball
Offensive Player of the Week
Brielle Worley / So / Gallaudet University / Amarillo, Tx. / Amarillo HS / UT-Tyler / University of North Texas
Worley tallied 65 kills in three matches last weekend for the Bison who posted a 2-1 record at the Stevenson University Quad. Worley made a career-high 24 kills in a 3-1 win over Stevenson as GU celebrated its first win over the Mustangs since 2009. Worley backed that up with 19 kills against Salisbury and 22 kills against Arcadia. Worley added 25 digs, five aces and two block assists in 12 sets played. This is the first Player of the Week award for Worley.
Defensive Player of the Week
Julia Bobrowski / Jr / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / California, Md. / Leonardtown HS
Julia Bobrowski helped St. Mary's College to a 2-2 week by notching 49 digs, 42 points, 31 kills, and 7 total blocks (1 BS, 6 BA) and earning All-Tournament Team honors as well. Bobrowski started the week with 13 digs, 6.5 points, 3 kills, a season-best 3 service aces, and 1 block assist in the team's home-opening sweep of Mary Baldwin. She contributed 10 points, 9 kills, 7 digs, and 1 ace in a 3-0 loss to Southern Virginia. Bobrowski added a season-high 16 digs, eight kills, and 1 block assist in a 3-0 loss to Washington & Lee. She ended the weekend with her first triple-double of the season with a career-best 17.0 points, 13 digs, and a season-best 11 kills plus a career-high 5 total blocks (1 block solo, 4 block assists) and a season-best three service aces in a five-set triumph over Averett.
This is the third Player of the Week award for Bobrowski who previously won for the weeks of October 23, 2023, and October 16, 2023.
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