The NESCAC has released its Players of the Week for the week ending November 8. 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
Eleanor Helm – Tufts – So. – F – Loudonville, N.Y.
Helm continued her standout sophomore season by scoring three goals in two Tufts victories during NESCAC Championship weekend. The forward tallied the game-winning goal with 2:53 left in the first overtime to push Tufts past No. 4-seeded Williams, 3-2, and into the semifinals. In the final versus No. 2-seeded Middlebury, Helm scored twice in the third quarter to lead the Jumbos to a 2-0 victory that earned Tufts its fourth conference title. With three goals in the two games, Helm has 20 for the season.
NESCAC Football Offensive Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Connor McClellan – Middlebury – Jr. – RB – Columbus, Ohio
McClellan churned out a season-high 34 carries for 185 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers outscored Hamilton 10-3 in the second half to seal a 20-17 win. The junior had three rushes of 10 yards or more, headlined by a 31-yard scamper. McClellan also became the fourth running back in school history to surpass 2,000 yards on the ground and ranks third (2,110) entering the final weekend of the season. He also broke the Middlebury all-time career rushing TD mark with 30, a record that was set in 1973, last week versus Trinity and added to his record with the two touchdowns against Hamilton. McClellan is tied for the lead in the NESCAC in rushing yards (721) and has a conference-high 12 touchdowns.
NESCAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Shane Mosia – Trinity – Sr. – LB – Plainedge, N.Y.
Mosia anchored the Bantams defense in a 16-13 victory over unbeaten Amherst. The senior generated a game-high 10 tackles, an interception, a blocked kick, and a pass breakup. Leading 3-0 to begin the second quarter, Mosia picked off Amherst's Marek Hill in the end zone to prevent any Mammoth points, then, in the final minutes of the quarter, blocked a 30-yard field goal attempt to maintain a 16-0 lead for Trinity at the half.
NESCAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Yaseen Mousa – Middlebury – So. – K – Millstone, N.J.
Mousa contributed eight points in the Panthers' 20-17 win over Hamilton. The sophomore went 2-for-2 on field goals (33-yard and 22-yard) and was 2-for-2 on PATs. Mousa’s biggest kick came with 10:17 left in the fourth quarter. The sophomore booted a 22-yard attempt through the uprights, giving Middlebury a lead it would never relinquish. Mousa is tied for second in the NESCAC with five field goals made heading into the final weekend of the season.
NESCAC Men’s Soccer Player of the Week
Nikola Antic – Tufts – Gr. – GK – Waltham, Mass.
Antic helped Tufts win its fifth NESCAC crown and its second consecutive title. Antic allowed only one goal on the weekend, while making 14 saves, including seven in a 1-1 draw against No. 6-seeded Hamilton and seven in a 1-0 shutout win in the championship game against Amherst, the No. 8 seed. In the semifinal draw with Hamilton, Antic stopped a pair of shots in the penalty shootout to propel the Jumbos into the NESCAC title match. The seven saves in each game matched his season high.
NESCAC Women’s Soccer Player of the Week
Chelsea Mohammed – Williams – Jr. – GK – Sicklerville, N.J.
Mohammed allowed just one goal in 180 minutes of action during the NESCAC Championship Weekend to help the Ephs win their conference-leading ninth NESCAC Championship. In a 2-0 semifinal win over fifth-seeded Middlebury, the junior made seven saves and earned her seventh shutout of the season. In the championship match, Mohammed made four saves and improved to 14-1-1 on the season in a 2-1 win over second-seeded Tufts.
NESCAC Volleyball Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Cyanne Jones – Colby – Jr. – MB – Pasadena, Calif.
In a NESCAC Quarterfinal sweep of Hamilton, Jones anchored the Mules' defense with a match-high six blocks while tallying nine kills with a .571 hitting percentage. Jones totaled a match-high 13 points.
