BOSTON – Three teams posted wins in their America East openers on Sunday while one game resulted in a draw. Maine, NJIT and Vermont won their contests while Binghamton and UMass Lowell played deadlocked 1-1.
Every game matters with three points being awarded to the winning team, one point to each team in the event of a tie and zero points to the losing team. The top six teams in the standings at the end of the season will qualify for the 2026 America East Women’s Soccer Championship, set to take place Nov. 5-15.
Need to Know
- Maine got goals from Emma Nicholson (’28) and Isabella Meadows (’62) in a 2-0 shutout win over UAlbany. Elena Barenberg made five saves to earn the shutout and America East Defensive Player of the Week accolades.
- The Black Bears are unbeaten in their last four games (3-0-2).
- Vermont scored a season-best three goals in a 3-1 win over UMBC. Aubrey Bough had three points en route to earning America East Offensive Player of the Week honors.
- Alyssa Reiter tallied a goal and an assist to lead NJIT to a 3-2 win over UNH. The win was first in a league opener for the Highlanders since they joined the America East in 2020.
- NJIT beat LIU, 3-0, on Thursday behind a three-point effort from Paige Eckert. She had one goal and one assist en route to earning America East Rookie of the Week honors.
- Nina Hertz-Saebbö scored her league-leading fifth goal of the season to help UMass Lowell tie Binghamton, 1-1. Taylor Gabel scored in the 69th minute for Binghamton.
- Four more league tilts take place on Sunday with UAlbany hosting NJIT, Bryant playing its league opener at Binghamton, Maine welcoming UMass Lowell and UNH visiting UMBC.
- The #AEWSOC preseason poll and All-Conference teams were announced on July 30. Three-time defending league champion Maine was chosen the 2026 favorite while last year’s regular-season champion Binghamton was second - link.
Weekly Award Winners – Sept. 22
Offensive Player of the Week
Aubrey Bough, Vermont – Sr., Midfielder, Chenango Forks, N.Y.
- Had a goal and an assist in Vermont's conference opener, a 3-1 win over UMBC.
- This is Bough's first career #AEWSOC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Defensive Player of the Week
Olivia Grisdale, Maine – Sr., Defender, Calgary, Alb.
- Anchored Maine’s defense in a 2-0 shutout win over UAlbany in both teams’ league opener on Sunday.
- Played all 90 minutes and made a key block on a shot ticketed for the net early in the first half.
- This is Grisdale’s first career #AEWSOC Defensive Player of the Week honor.
Goalkeeper of the Week
Elena Barenberg – So., Goalkeeper, Cologne, Germany
- Stopped all five shots she faced to record a shutout Maine's league-opening win over UMBC.
- This is Barenberg's first career #AEWSOC Goalkeeper of the Week honor.
Rookie of the Week
Alyssa Reiter, NJIT – Fr., Forward, Swedesboro, N.J.
- Had a goal and an assist in NJIT’s league-opening win over New Hampshire on Sunday.
- Set up NJIT’s first goal in the 27th minute and found the back of the net less than two minutes later to give the Highlanders a 2-1 lead.
- This is Reiter’s first career #AEWSOC Rookie of the Week honor.
2026 #AEWSOC Weekly Award Winners
Aug. 17 - Offensive Player & Rookie of the Week: Brooke Clagett, UMBC; Defensive Player of the Week: Sophia Garofalo, Binghamton; Goalkeeper of the Week: Amara Codd, UMBC
Aug. 24 - Offensive Player: Paige Luke, Binghamton; Defensive Player of the Week: Ale Victoriano, Binghamton; Goalkeeper of the Week: Sonja Zeepvat, New Hampshire; Rookie of the Week: Taylor Stuart, NJIT
Aug. 31 - Offensive Player: Samantha Zaslaw, Bryant; Defensive Player of the Week: Sophia Garofalo, Binghamton; Goalkeeper of the Week: Rebecca Kessler, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Oluchi Njoku, UAlbany
Sep. 8 - Offensive Player: Aja Turner, Maine; Defensive Player of the Week: Olivia Nardone, UMBC; Goalkeeper of the Week: Amara Codd, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Eleni Stowell, Vermont
Sep. 14 - Offensive Player: Isabella Meadows, Maine; Defensive Player of the Week: Meghan Bernetti, Maine; Goalkeeper of the Week: Rachel Welch, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Paige Eckert, NJIT
Sep. 21 - Offensive Player: Aubrey Bough, Vermont; Defensive Player of the Week: Olivia Grisdale, Maine; Goalkeeper of the Week: Elena Barenberg, Maine; Rookie of the Week: Alyssa Reiter, NJIT
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 Instagram and X 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 -