GORHAM, Maine    –  Junior Jayla Gentry (Skowhegan, Maine) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies' field hockey has been named the Little East Conference Defensive Player of the Week.  Gentry is the fifth Husky to earn weekly awards from the conference office this season, and third different student-athlete to earn defensive player of the week honors from the conference.   
 
Earning weekly recognition from the Little East for the first time in her career, Gentry played all available minutes in a pair of conference road wins for the Huskies.  In a 5-1 win at UMass Boston, Gentry helped limit the Beacons to six shots on goal, as USM did not allow UMass Boston to register a first-half shot. In a 1-0 win at WestConn, Gentry played all 62 minutes holding the Wolves to three total shots and one on goal.  The Wolves did not register a shot in the second half or overtime period.
 
Southern Maine (11-6 overall, 5-0 Little East) is at home on Tuesday, October 27 (6:30 pm) against Plymouth State, and then closes out its regular season on Saturday, October 31 (12:00 pm) at Keene State College. The Little East tournament begins Tuesday, November 3. Site and time to be determined.
 
2026 University of Southern Maine Weekly Honors
 
Julia Elie                               Sept. 7                      Little East Defensive Player of the Week
 
Jenessa Foster                   Sept. 21                    Little East Defensive Player of the Week
 
Haylee Romasco                Sept. 7                      Little East Goalkeeper of the Week
                                               Sept. 21                    Little East Goalkeeper of the Week
                                                                                 Little East Rookie of the Week
 
Maddie Niles                        Oct. 19                      Little East Offensive Player of the Week
 
Jayla Gentry                        Oct. 26                      Little East Defensive Player of the Week
 
 
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