NAPERVILLE, IL - NJIT sophomore goalkeeper Sadie Mele earned the first Great West Conference Defensive Player of the Week award, as the league began to recognize student-athletes within the membership.

Houston Baptist junior midfielder Ana Viscariello earned Player of the Week honors netting a goal in each of the Huskies wins.

Mele, from Rio Rancho, NM, finished the first week of the season, combining for 31 saves, six goals against and a .838 saves percentage in three games.

Standing 5-foot-6, she posted a career-high 14 saves in the Highlanders season opener against Army on August 26. She surpassed her old mark of 12, which she recorded on two different occasions last year.

Mele recorded a 10-save performance against St. Peter's and seven saves in the Highlanders home-opener against Binghamton.

The Highlanders will return to action on Friday, when they host Canisius at 7pm on Lubetkin Field.