MARLBOROUGH, Mass. -- Wellesley College soccer first-year Areet Rao (Palo, Alto, Calif.) has been selected to the 2026 NEWMAC Women's Soccer First Team All-Conference. Additionally, senior Mae Nephew (Duluth, Minn.) and sophomore Olivia Lore (Blue Bell, Pa.) have each been selected Second Team All-Conference.

Areet Rao | Fy. | Palo Alto, Calif. | NEWMAC First Team All-Conference

Areet Rao was a key player for the Blue this season, racking up 12 points with three goals and a team-leading six assists. Highlights for Rao included a goal against nationally ranked University of Hartford, a game-winner in a NEWMAC contest at Smith, two assists versus Clark and a header goal against highly regarded Brandeis University.

Mae Nephew | Sr. | Duluth, Minn. | NEWMAC Second Team All-Conference

Mae Nephew both helped the Blue on the defensive side of the ball and offensively this year. Defensively, Nephew anchored the backline and played nearly 1700 minutes this season, helping the Blue keep eight opponents off of the scoreboard. Offensively, Nephew had two goals, both converted penalty kicks, as well as an assist against Brandeis.

Olivia Lore | So. | Blue Bell, Pa. | NEWMAC Second Team All-Conference

Olivia Lore's eight shutouts, 1.30 goals against average, 138 saves and .847 save percentage paint a picture of a great season. The sophomore keeper hit double-digit saves on five occasions, kept four NEWMAC opponents from scoring and helped Wellesley finish the season with its best record since 2015.

The 2026 NEWMAC Women's Soccer All-Conference Team consisted of a first team of 16 honorees and second team of 16 honorees, as voted on by the 12 head coaches. 

2026 NEWMAC Women's Soccer Postseason Awards:

Offensive Athlete of the Year: Arianna Doss, MIT
Defensive Athlete of the Year:  Sasha Ceol, MIT
Rookie of the Year: Claire Zhang, MIT
Coaching Staff of the Year: Salve Regina

First Team All-Conference

Sabrina Lawless, Salve Regina
Arianna Doss, MIT
Camila Leiva, Wheaton
Claire Zhang, MIT
Solimar Rivera, Clark
Priscilla-Rose Men-Martin, Babson
Madeline Seebeck, MIT
Emma Wang, MIT
Paige Jessuck, Salve Regina
Areet Rao, Wellesley
Sasha Ceol, MIT
Jess English, WPI
Allie Gallagher, Salve Regina
Caroline Sutherland, Babson
Madelyn Popilek, MIT
Jojo Miller, MIT

Second Team All-Conference

Olivia Lore, Wellesley
Ayla Verheul, WPI
Maeve Steckley, WPI
Karina Contreras, Wheaton
Sienna Mastrioanni, Salve Regina
Liliann McAughan, Babson
Georgia Louis, Clark
Maya Thomas, Wheaton
Andrea Cummings, MIT
Izzy Lee, Babson
Madison Shaw, WPI
Kory Lloyd, Clark
Selene Hammad, Clark
Alarice Luwaga, Wheaton
Sadie Cohen, Clark
Mae Nephew, Wellesley
Ellie Millner, Coast Guard

The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) consists of 12 highly selective institutions committed to academic excellence: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.