Merle Hueser Named America East Rookie Of The Week

9/11/2023 1:07:00 PM

NEWARK, N.J. — NJIT Women's Soccer freshman defender Merle Hueser has been named America East Rookie of the Week, the league announced Monday afternoon.

The native of Rheinstetten, Germany has made an immediate impact at NJIT this season and this weekend was no different. Hueser started both of NJIT's matches - a pair of 1-1 draws against La Salle and Wagner - and played all 180 minutes on the Highlander backline. In total, Hueser has started all eight of NJIT's contests so far this season (no other Highlander freshman has made a start yet), sits second on the team in minutes played (661 minutes of a possible 720, behind only captain Emma Bitar's 700), and has contributed to NJIT's four shutouts and current five-match unbeaten streak.

Hueser has also contributed on offense, logging the eventual game-winning goal in the Highlanders' 7-0 win over Saint Peter's on August 20.

The award for Hueser is her first career America East honor, NJIT's fifth-ever Rookie of the Week accolade, and the program's 15th weekly award overall since joining the conference in July 2020. She joins teammate Maria Nogueira and Gabby Zalot as award winners in 2023 after Nogueira was named Offensive Player of the Week on September 5 and Zalot picked up the first Offensive Player of the Week honor of the season on August 21. Hueser is also NJIT's first AE Rookie of the Week honoree since teammates Briana Andreoli (1x) and Riley Jones (2x) combined to win the final three Rookie of the Week awards to close out the 2022 season.

Maine's Abby Kraemer (Offensive) and Bryant's Abbey Thornton (Samantha Breton) earned this week's other America East awards.

NJIT will play its final non-conference match before America East play starts on Wednesday, September 13 at 7 p.m. at Columbia.

NJIT AMERICA EAST WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
All-Time - 15: Offensive - 5 | Defensive - 5 | Rookie - 5

2023
Sept. 11 - Merle Hueser, Rookie of the Week
Sept. 5 - Maria Nogueira, Offensive Player of the Week
Aug. 21 - Gabby Zalot, Offensive Player of the Week

2022
Oct. 24 - Riley Jones, Rookie of the Week
Oct. 17 - Riley Jones, Rookie of the Week
Oct. 10 - Briana Andreoli, Rookie of the Week
Aug. 29 - Molly Saylor, Defensive Player of the Week
Aug. 22 - Ciara Adams, Offensive Player of the Week

2021
Oct. 25 - Madison Taibl, Defensive Player of the Week
Oct. 18 - Molly Saylor, Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 7 - Bailey Chant, Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 7 - Siani Magruder, Defensive Player of the Week

2020
Mar. 2, '21 - Molly Saylor, Defensive Player of the Week
Feb. 23, '21 - Corbin Reifschneider, Offensive Player of the Week
Feb. 23, '21 - Corbin Reifschneider, Rookie of the Week

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