BOSTON – The 2025-26 academic year is officially underway as women’s soccer regular-season play kicked off over the weekend. All nine #AEWSOC teams were in action, four of which posted unbeaten weekends.
Need to Know
- Binghamton, Bryant, UMBC and UMass Lowell all posted wins last week.
- UMBC and Vermont each went unbeaten in two matches with the Retrievers tying Wagner and beating Mercyhurst, 1-0, while the Catamounts earned draws vs. Merrimack and Sacred Heart.
- UAlbany earned a 3-1 win over LIU in its opener while Binghamton beat George Washington on the road to earn its first victory.
- UMass Lowell beat CAA North preseason favorite Stony Brook 4-2 on Thursday behind a career-best three assists from America East Offensive Player of Week Maddie Guthrie. The four goals set a new Division I program record for goals scored in a season opener for the River Hawks.
- Fourteen more games take place this week, including nine on America East campuses.
- The #AEWSOC preseason poll and All-Conference teams were announced on July 29. Binghamton and New Hampshire were tabbed the co-favorites - link.
Weekly Award Winners – Aug. 18
Offensive Player of the Week
Maddie Guthrie – Sr., Midfielder/Defender, Stow, Mass.
- Tallied three assists in UMass Lowell’s 4-2 win over Stony Brook, the preseason favorite in the CAA North, on Thursday.
- The three assists are the most by an America East player since Sept. 22, 2024.
- This is Guthrie’s first career #AEWSOC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Defensive Player of the Week
Colleen Ardolino, Bryant – Jr., Defender, Milford, Conn.
- Led a defense that held Stonehill to just eight shots, including three on net, and two corners in a shutout win.
- Played all 90 minutes.
- This is Ardolino’s first career #AEWSOC Defensive Player of the Week honor.
Rookie of the Week
Grayson Edwards, Bryant – Fr., Forward, Stow, Mass.
- Scored the lone goal in Bryant’s season-opening win over Stonehill on Sunday.
- She is the first Bulldog freshman to score in a season opener since 2016.
- This is Edwards’ first career #AEWSOC Rookie of the Week honor.
2025 #AEWSOC Weekly Award Winners
Aug. 19– Offensive Player of the Week: Maddie Guthrie, UMass Lowell; Defensive Player of the Week: Anna Phillips, Maine; Rookie of the Week: Grayson Edwards, Bryant
Links
Info
Fans will once again be able to watch nearly every #AEWSOC contest this season with the majority of games airing on ESPN+ and the ESPN app while others will air on AmericaEast.TV. Those games will be available on computers, OTT devices and the America East app, which is available on all IOS and Android devices and can be found by searching ‘America East Conference’ in app stores.
Follow the @AmericaEast channels on X and Instagram t to stay up-to-date on America East women’s soccer news all season long and use #AEWSOC to join the conversation.
ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -