BOSTON - University of Massachusetts Boston women's soccer player Taylor Massmann (Kingston, Mass.) has been named Little East Conference and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for her play during the week of October 6-12, it was announced today by the conferences. The award marks the third time this season that a Beacons' women's soccer player has been named the LEC's top defender after senior Katherine Wall (Arlington, Mass.) was named for the week of September 15-21 and sophomore Lauren Vargas (Rochester, Mass.) was selected as the defensive player of the week for September 29 to October 5.

Massmann tallied four points on the week with a goal and two assists in three matches. The defender netted her first career goal and added an assist in UMass Boston's 7-1 victory at Newbury College on Oct. 7 and assisted on her second goal of the week in the Beacons' 6-0 win at Wheelock College two days later. When she wasn't contributing to the offense, the freshman was helping the defense hold opponents to a 1.33 goals against average, including the team's third shutout of the campaign at the Wildcats.

The Silver Lake Regional High School product has started three of 12 matches that she's played in during her first collegiate season, while registering five points on a goal and three assists. She currently ranks fifth in the conference in total assists and is tied for second on the team.

The Beacons are currently 5-6-1 on the season, including a 2-1-1 mark in Little East Conference play to place them fourth in the LEC standings. UMass Boston will be in action again on October 14 when it travels to nearby Emerson College for a 6:00 p.m. match.