The NESCAC has released its Players of the Week for the week ending October 25. The conference recognizes student-athletes for each sport based on their contributions to their team each week, based on information provided by the athletic communications offices on each campus. During the fall season, football, field hockey, men's soccer, women's soccer, and volleyball will be announced on Mondays, while cross country runners of the week and golfers of the week will be announced on Tuesdays when selected.

NESCAC Field Hockey Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Eleanor Luft – Tufts – Jr. – M – Ridgefield, Conn.
Luft figured in all three Tufts goals, scoring once and assisting two others for four points in the Jumbos' 3-2 victory at Williams on Saturday, which clinched the No. 1 seed in the conference. Tufts came from behind twice against the Ephs to win. Luft assisted on a penalty corner to tie the score 1-1 late in the first quarter. After the Ephs regained the lead, the junior scored on a penalty corner to tie the game at 2-2 with 2:35 to go until halftime. Luft then assisted the game-winner with 2:17 remaining in regulation. It was the first four-point game of her career.

NESCAC Football Offensive Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Luke Kurzum – Hamilton – Sr. – QB – Caldwell, N.J.
Kurzum was 26-of-32 for 224 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-14 win against Colby. Kurzum threw two TD passes in the second quarter as the Continentals built a 21-0 lead by halftime. The senior added 43 yards rushing on nine carries.

NESCAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Jackson Duncan – Amherst – Sr. – DL – Wilton, Conn.
Duncan had nine tackles (5 solo) in a 15-9 win over previously unbeaten Wesleyan. The senior had two tackles for a loss of 23 yards, three sacks for 18 yards, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry.

NESCAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Caden Lawlor – Tufts – Sr. – K – Seattle, Wash.
Lawlor's 37-yard field goal with 32 seconds remaining was the difference in a 24-21 win over Williams. It was the first game-winning kick of his career. Lawlor was also 3-for-3 in PATs against the Ephs.

NESCAC Men's Soccer Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Will Sawin – Middlebury – Sr. – F – Stonington, Conn.
Sawin broke a 0-0 tie in the 71st minute with his conference-leading 10th goal of the season to seal a 1-0 victory at Bates and clinch the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NESCAC Men's Soccer Tournament for the Panthers. The golden tally was his sixth of the campaign, tying him for the most in Division III.

NESCAC Women's Soccer Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Caroline Kelleher – Trinity – So. – F – Shrewsbury, Mass.
Kelleher was an offensive catalyst for the Bantams in a 2-1 NESCAC victory over Conn. College. In the 17th minute of a scoreless game, the Bantams capitalized on a short goal kick. Kelleher found Taylor Troskey for the Bantams' opening goal, and the sophomore knifed through the Camels' defense in the 83rd minute for the game-winning tally.

NESCAC Volleyball Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Claire Castor – Tufts – Sr. –  OH – Carmel, Ind.
Castor was named the 2026 New England Challenge MVP as the Jumbos earned the tournament title for the first time since 2018. The senior hit .284 for the weekend, totaling 40 kills in over three matches while averaging 3.08 kills per set. Castor also posted six total aces and 30 total digs in the three wins over Springfield (RV), No. 25 Babson, and No. 7 MIT. Against Springfield, the outside hitter had 15 kills, 10 digs, and two aces. She followed that up with 15 kills on 31 swings against Babson, totaling 11 digs and two aces. Castor finished the weekend with 10 kills, two aces, and nine digs against No. 7 MIT in the tournament title match.