SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The SUNYAC has selected Hannah Esslie from Buffalo State and Lauren Haley from Plattsburgh as its first Women's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Athletes of the Week of the 2023 season.

The sophomore midfielder had a strong week on both offense and defense to lead the Bengals to a 2-0 opening weekend for the first time since 2011, scoring two goals, including one game winner, and adding an assist on another goal. Esslie helped the Buffalo State defense hold its opponents to just one combined goal over two games. On Friday evening against Keuka, Esslie assisted on the game-winning goal, then blasted a left-footed shot into the right corner of the net to give the Bengals an insurance goal in a 3-0 win. She followed that performance up by scoring the game-winning goal with under 90 seconds remaining in a 2-1 win over Houghton.

Haley earned two wins to start the season this past weekend, giving up just one goal over 180 minutes of action. Haley earned her eighth career shutout in the season opener against Castleton, stopping the opposition's only shot on goal. Against R.I.T., who was an NCAA tournament team last year, Haley picked up seven saves and allowed just one goal, earning her second win of the season over the Tigers.