BOSTON, Mass. (October 5, 2026) – Emerson College senior forward Thomas Pelino has been named the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Offensive Player of the Week for men's soccer, presented by SKYBOKX 109 Bar & Grill located in Framingham, Massachusetts, by the Conference office today.
It marks the second-straight week an Emerson men's soccer student-athlete has received the weekly recognition after first year Cade Lagerwey earned NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Week accolades last week and third time this season overall the program has collected NEWMAC weekly honors with senior back Daniel Bede earning Defensive Player of the Week accolades on September 8.
Pelino earns NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the first time after netting a team-high three goals in leading Emerson to a 2-0-1 record in a busy three match week. He scored a pair of goals as the Lions reached double-digits in goals for the first time in 16 years with a 10-0 triumph over Lasell University on Wednesday in its second of back-to-back matches to open the week. Pelino started by curling a corner kick from the left side inside the far post in the 27th minute and then opened the Lions seven goal second half with his fourth of the year when he knocked in his own rebound off the left post just 2:02 after halftime. Pelino capped the week by scoring the opening goal just past the half hour mark for his team-leading fifth marker of the year to give the Lions their first of two leads against No. 19 Wheaton College on Saturday.
Pelino earns NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the first time after netting three goals in a 2-0-1 week for the Lions (PHOTO BY Andrew Monson) |
Pelino has moved atop the NEWMAC goal scoring leaders with his five markers this season and is tied for third among NEWMAC scoring leaders with ten points. He has started ten of his 11 matches played for Emerson this fall and has also contributed a game winning goal. His two goals scored against Lasell on Wednesday matched his career-best and marks the second multi-goal game of his career and first since netting a double in a 3-0 win at Westfield State University in 2023. Pelino has scored in consecutive matches for the second time this season.
Pelino has started 38 of the 50 matches he has started over his career at Emerson and has totaled 14 goals and two assists for 30 career points, netting five match winning goals. He is a two-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference performer for his efforts in the classroom and on the field.
Emerson (6-3-2, 0-1-1 NEWMAC) is back in action tomorrow night when it visits Framingham State University for a non-conference matchup at 7 p.m. The Lions conclude the week at the United States Coast Guard Academy for a NEWMAC clash on Saturday at noon. Emerson returns home on Saturday, October 17, to host Clark University in NEWMAC play at Rotch Field at 1 p.m.
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