LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for September 21, 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 14 through Sunday, September 20.  A total of eight student-athletes from four different member institutions were recognized for their performances. Offensive Player of the Week
Julie Presgraves / SO / St. Mary's College of Maryland / Frederick, Md. / Frederick

Julie Presgraves delivered the deciding goal for St. Mary's College of Maryland in a 2-1 victory over Randolph-Macon. Presgraves found the back of the cage for her second goal of the season, with both of her goals this fall standing as game-winners. Her timely score helped the Seahawks secure the one-goal victory over the Yellow Jackets.

Defensive Player of the Week
Sophia Kent / JR / St. Mary's College of Maryland / Chesterville, Md. / The Gunston School

Sophia Kent turned in a season-best performance in goal to help St. Mary's College of Maryland earn a 2-1 victory over Randolph-Macon. Kent recorded a season-high six saves while allowing just one goal, helping the Seahawks hold off the Yellow Jackets and secure the one-goal victory. Offensive Player of the Week
John Covert / FR / Keystone College / Union Beach, NJ / Keyport

John Covert scored in both contests to help Keystone College post a perfect 2-0 week. Covert delivered the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute against Penn State Schuylkill, completing the Giants' comeback in a 2-1 victory. He followed with another goal in a 3-0 win over SUNY Cobleskill, finding the back of the net in the 73rd minute to cap Keystone's three-goal second half. Covert finished the week with two goals on five shots, including four on goal.

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

Freshman Hector Ortiz helped Penn State Abington to an unbeaten 1-0-1 week, highlighted by the first shutout of his collegiate career. Ortiz turned away all four shots he faced in a scoreless draw against Washington College to earn the clean sheet. He followed by making two saves in the opening half of the Nittany Lions' victory at Mount Aloysius, finishing the week with six saves without allowing a goal. Offensive Player of the Week
Josey Smith / JR / Cairn University / Levittown, Pa. / Pennsbury

Josey Smith powered Cairn University's attack with four goals and three assists across two contests. Smith scored the Highlanders' lone goal against Alvernia to help Cairn earn a draw before turning in an eight-point performance at Lehman. She recorded a hat trick and added three assists in just 55 minutes of action against the Lightning. Smith finished the week with 11 points while finding the back of the net in both contests.

Defensive Player of the Week
Rhian Erspamer / SR / Cairn University / Valparaiso, IN / Victory Christian Academy

Rhian Erspamer allowed just one goal across two contests while anchoring the Cairn University defense during an unbeaten week. Erspamer recorded 10 saves and posted a .909 save percentage, with her lone goal allowed coming in a draw against Alvernia. She followed by contributing to a clean sheet against Lehman, keeping the Lightning off the scoreboard to close out the week.
  Offensive Player of the Week
Marah Lehman / SO / Cairn University / Chambersburg, PA / Chambersburg

Marah Lehman powered Cairn University to a perfect 4-0 week, totaling 65 kills across 13 sets while the Highlanders dropped just one set over four matches. Lehman averaged 5.00 kills per set while hitting .342, highlighted by a 20-kill performance in Cairn's 3-1 victory over John Jay. She also contributed five assists and three service aces during the Highlanders' undefeated week.

Defensive Player of the Week
Fabiola Medina / JR / Penn State Abington / Caguas, Puerto Rico / Academia del Perpetuo Socorro

Fabiola Medina anchored Penn State Abington's back row during a perfect 3-0 week, averaging 6.25 digs per set and recording at least 20 digs in all three victories. The junior opened the week with 25 digs in a 3-1 win at Albright before posting a season-high 27 digs in a straight-set victory over Goucher. Medina closed the week with 23 digs in a five-set win over Eastern Mennonite, finishing the three-match stretch with 75 total digs. She also committed just one reception error across the entire week.

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