PITMAN, N.J. — The New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) announced its weekly award winners today, Tuesday, Oct. 10, and New Jersey City University women's soccer sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Mannino (Burlington, N.J./Burlington Township) was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career.

Mannino was the closest thing to a brick wall last week, posting a 1-0-1 record in net and making 14 stops for a 0.80 goals against average and a .875 save percentage over 225 minutes – she played the second half to pitch half of a shutout in the 1-0 non-conference win at Lehman College in the Bronx on Monday, Oct. 2. In the Wednesday night, Oct. 4, 2-1 road win at Rutgers-Camden – the first over the Scarlet Raptors since 2017 – Mannino made six saves on seven shots on goal for her fourth victory of the season. She then made eight saves in the 1-1 draw at Ramapo College – the first non-loss against the Roadrunners since 2019 – for her second tie of the season. She has made at least six saves seven times this season and at least eight on five occasions.

Up Next:
Mannino and the rest of the Gothic Knights return to action on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 11, finally back on Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex in Jersey City. NJCU welcomes NJAC rival William Paterson University to the West Side for a scheduled-3:00 p.m. kickoff as the Green and Gold look to make it two straight wins against the Pioneers, while also trying to extend their unbeaten streak to four in a row.