MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – Wheaton College (Mass.) men's soccer player Leao Nelson (Bar Harbor, Maine) was named the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week for the week of October 13-19, it was announced today by the league.
Nelson earns the award for the second time this season to become the first field player in school history to be named twice for the weekly defensive accolade. He was also tabbed for the week of September 8-14. Sophomore forward Gael Vera (Westminster, Mass.) was also honored this week as the NEWMAC Offensive Athlete of the Week. The two weekly selections give Wheaton seven weekly conference award winners in 2025 for the highest total in program history. Junior Declan Rhatigan (Holderness, N.H.) was named the top offensive player for the weeks of September 29 to October 5 and August 25-31, while seniors Baden McLaughlin (Yarmouth, Maine) (September 1-7) and Aidan Doyle (Kingston, Mass.) (September 22-28) both received the offensive honor this season as well.
The senior netted a goal and helped the Lyons' defense limit their opponents to 10 total shots in a pair of shutouts. The back tallied the eventual game-winning score with the first goal of the day in a 3-0 shutout at Massachusetts Institute of Technology on October 18. Nelson helped the Wheaton defense hold the Engineers to just seven shots, including one on frame in the match. The Bridgton Academy product was part of a backline that surrendered just three shots and two on goal to host Union College in a 3-0 blank sheet on October 14.
For the season, the Business Marketing major has started all 14 matches, while racking up seven points on three goals and an assist to tie junior defender Owen Kane (Pembroke, Mass.) for the most points and goals among backline players for the Lyons. Nelson netted a career-high two markers in a 6-1 win over Husson University on September 13.
The Maine native has seen action in 68 career contests, while making 56 starts for Wheaton. He has netted at least one goal in all four of his campaigns and has six scores to go with two assists for 14 career points.
The Lyons are currently one of 18 unbeaten teams in the nation with an 11-0-3 mark and are among five schools to begin the season without a loss in their first 14 matches. Wheaton is also ranked 10th in the most recent United Soccer Coaches national poll. The Lyons are tied for eighth among NCAA Division III teams with a gaudy .893 winning percentage and their unbeaten streak to begin the season is the longest in school history. Wheaton is currently sixth in the nation in goals per game (3.28), first in total goal differential (37) and 23rd in goals against average (.642).
The Lyons return to action on Wednesday, October 22 when they host NEWMAC foe Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Keefe Field at 3:30 p.m.
