LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for October 5, 2026.  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 28 through Sunday, October 4.  A total of eight student-athletes from five different member institutions were recognized for their performances.
  Offensive Player of the Week
Mallie McNatt / FR / Lancaster Bible College / Wrightsville, Pa. / Eastern York

Mallie McNatt scored a pair of game-winning goals to lead Lancaster Bible College to a perfect 2-0 week, including a victory in
the Chargers’ United East opener. McNatt scored the deciding goal in a 3-0 victory over King’s (Pa.) before finding the back of the cage again in a 3-1 conference win over Cedar Crest. She finished the week with two goals while putting all five of her shots on goal. The pair of victories marked Lancaster Bible’s first back-to-back wins since the 2023 season.

Defensive Player of the Week
Sara Yeselavage / JR / Penn State Harrisburg / Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin

Sara Yeselavage anchored Penn State Harrisburg’s back line in a 3-0 shutout victory over Immaculata in the Lions’ United East opener. The junior center back helped limit the Mighty Macs throughout the contest and keep all five of their shots on goal out of the cage as Penn State Harrisburg secured its third shutout of the season. The team captain also contributed offensively, scoring her first goal of the season early in the fourth quarter to cap the conference-opening victory.
  Offensive Player of the Week
Frankie Rafferty / JR / Penn State Abington / Philadelphia, Pa. / Council Rock South

Frankie Rafferty helped lead Penn State Abington to a perfect 2-0 week in conference play, scoring three goals and recording the game-winner in both victories. The junior opened the scoring in a 4-0 win over Cairn before finding the back of the net twice, including the opening goal, in a 6-0 victory over Penn State Brandywine for the first multi-goal game of his career. Rafferty finished the week with six points and is currently tied for the United East lead with seven goals this season.

Defensive Player of the Week
Hector Ortiz / FR / Penn State Abington / Philadelphia, Pa. / Roman Catholic

Hector Ortiz earned United East Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season after helping Penn State Abington to a perfect 2-0 week in conference play. The freshman goalkeeper logged 135 minutes without allowing a goal, including a six-save shutout in a 4-0 victory at Cairn that matched his season high for saves. Ortiz followed by keeping Penn State Brandywine off the scoreboard during the opening half of a 6-0 victory, contributing to the Nittany Lions’ second shutout of the week.
  Offensive Player of the Week
Megan Kurian / SO / Penn College / Limerick, Pa. / Spring Ford

Megan Kurian collected her second United East Offensive Player of the Week honor by scoring four goals and accounted for half of Penn College’s offense during a perfect 2-0 week in United East play. Kurian scored twice in a 4-2 victory at Penn State Berks, including the eventual game-winner in the 31st minute, to help the Wildcats earn their first victory over the Nittany Lions as NCAA opponents. She followed with two more goals in a 4-0 shutout victory over Wilson, finishing the week with eight points across the two conference wins.

Defensive Player of the Week
Abigail Frew / Fifth Year / Penn State Harrisburg / Pine Grove, Pa. / Pine Grove

Abigail Frew anchored Penn State Harrisburg’s back line to a pair of shutout victories during a perfect 2-0 week in United East play. The senior center back helped limit St. Mary’s College of Maryland to just one shot on goal in a 2-0 road victory before leading a defensive unit that surrendered only three shots on goal in a 5-0 win over Cairn. The two clean sheets extended the Lions’ streak of not allowing a goal in regular-season conference play to 13 consecutive matches.
  Offensive Player of the Week
Camryn Wettstone / SR / Penn State Harrisburg / Topsfield, Mass. / Masconomet

Camryn Wettstone put together a career week to help Penn State Harrisburg post a 2-1 record, including a pair of United East victories. The senior recorded a match-high 16 kills in a straight-set win at Penn College before delivering a career-high 21 kills, two blocks and a service ace in a five-set victory over Cairn. Her 24 points against the Highlanders matched Penn State Harrisburg’s single-match program record. Wettstone reached double-digit kills for the third time against Division II Point Park and finished the week with 47 kills, 51.5 points, 20 digs and six blocks.

Defensive Player of the Week
Stella Marrero / JR / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Pleasant Prairie, Wis. / Christian Life School

Stella Marrero helped lead St. Mary’s College of Maryland to a perfect 3-0 week, totaling 53 digs across 12 sets. Marrero opened the week with 18 digs in a straight-set victory over Regent before adding 16 digs and eight assists in a 3-1 conference win over Lancaster Bible. With the Seahawks short-staffed against McDaniel, Marrero stepped in at outside hitter and recorded 19 digs while adding career highs of nine kills and 11 points as St. Mary’s rallied for a five-set victory. She finished the week with 53 digs, 16 assists, nine kills, four service aces and two block assists.

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