Women's Soccer

Niagara’s Vaillancourt, Marist’s Kelchner, and Manhattan’s Nicholas Earn Bob McCloskey Insurance MAAC Women’s Soccer Weekly Awards

Offensive Player of the Week
Florence Vaillancourt, Niagara
Jr., Quebec City, Quebec, Séminaire des Pères Maristes High School
 
The MAAC's leading goal scorer recorded a hat trick in the Purple Eagles 4-1 win over Saint Peter's Sunday afternoon. The junior now leads the league with nine goals and has helped Niagara win seven straight games, its most since 2005.
 
Defensive Player of the Week
Natalie Kelchner, Marist
Sr., Fairfield, CT, Fairfield Ludlowe High School
 
Kelchner notched a season-high 11 saves for Marist in its 1-1 draw with Fairfield in the Red Foxes' MAAC opener. 10 of her saves came after halftime, and four in the overtime period. In her last three games against conference foes, dating back to 2019, she has racked up 32 saves. Kelchner has also increased her save total in each of Marist's five games this year, and has recorded 26 saves during the Red Foxes' three-game unbeaten streak.
 
Rookie of the Week
Julia Nicholas, Manhattan
Fr., Avon, CT, Northwest Catholic
 
Scored both Manhattan goals in leading the Jaspers to a MAAC-opening 2-1 victory at Canisius. After the Green & White fell behind 1-0, Nicholas netted the equalizer in the 36th minute. She then delivered the game-winner in the 90th minute off a long pass from Sydney Harwood on the counterattack. She found the back of the net after blasting the ball off a Canisius defender and into the back of the net with just 23 seconds remaining. She now has three goals, including two game-winners, for a Manhattan team that is now 5-1-0.

About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.