PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Little East Conference (LEC) has announced its field hockey weekly awards for the week ending Oct. 18, 2026. Southern Maine’s Maddie Niles earned Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Western Connecticut’s Kaitlyn Biase was named Defensive Player of the Week. Keene State’s Tori Kelly and Henley Gilstrap earned Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Week honors, respectively.

Offensive Player of the Week: Maddie Niles, Southern Maine

Niles totaled two goals and an assist in Southern Maine’s 3-1 victory over Vermont State Castleton, helping the Huskies improve to 3-0 in conference play.

The sophomore forward from Benton, Maine, scored the game’s opening goal in the 14th minute before extending Southern Maine’s lead to 2-0 in the 42nd minute with her team-leading eighth goal of the season. She assisted on Chloe Beauchesne’s first career goal in the 52nd minute to complete her five-point performance. Niles finished the two-game week with seven shots, including four on goal.

Defensive Player of the Week: Kaitlyn Biase, Western Connecticut

Biase recorded a defensive save in each of Western Connecticut’s two victories, helping the Wolves defeat Nichols 5-4 and shut out UMass Boston 2-0.

The senior defender from Nesconset, New York, also contributed offensively against Nichols, assisting on the game-winning goal with five seconds remaining in regulation. She finished the week with two defensive saves and one assist.

Goalkeeper of the Week: Tori Kelly, Keene State

Kelly posted a 2-0 record with nine saves, a 1.50 goals-against average and a .750 save percentage over 120 minutes for Keene State.

The first-year goalkeeper from Castleton, Vermont, made one save in a 3-0 shutout of Clark before stopping eight shots in a 4-3 conference victory at Eastern Connecticut. Kelly played all 60 minutes in both contests.

Rookie of the Week: Henley Gilstrap, Keene State

Gilstrap scored three goals for six points across Keene State’s two victories, finding the back of the cage in both contests.

The first-year midfielder and forward from Greenfield, Massachusetts, scored once in the Owls’ 3-0 victory over Clark before adding two goals in their 4-3 conference win at Eastern Connecticut. Gilstrap finished the week with 11 shots, including seven on goal.