E8 Athletes of the Week: September 3, 2013
The first weekend of Empire 8 competition is in the books, and all signs point to a quality 2013-14 campaign.
Field Hockey Offensive Player – Washington & Jefferson
Gina Taglieri, Junior, Midfield – Huntington Beach, CA/Huntington Beach
Gina Taglieri had three goals in her first two games of 2013 after scoring just once in 35 previous college appearances. Trailing 2-1 to Kenyon on Friday night, she assisted on W&J’s second goal and scored the third to give President’s the lead. Later she added an insurance goal for the 5-3 win. On Sunday she netted the fifth goal in the 5-1 win against Oberlin.
Her three goals and one assist helped W&J start the season with a 2-0 record for the second consecutive year.
Field Hockey Defensive Player – Stevens
Megan Traub, Senior, Defender – Berkeley Heights, NJ/Gov. Livingston
Senior back Megan Traub helped Stevens to a 1-1 week, falling in overtime to No. 8 Messiah, 2-1, and upsetting No. 12 TCNJ, 4-3. It was the first win for Stevens in program history over the Lions. The captain and central back was key on the Stevens defense as the Ducks allowed only 2.5 goals against on the weekend, while also tallying a pair of assists - one in each contest.
Men’s Cross Country Runner – St. John Fisher
Evan Magnussen, Junior – Geneseo, NY/Geneseo
Evan Magnussen ran a 5:15 pace over the 5K Highlander Short Course Invitational on Friday afternoon. Magnussen placed fourth with a final time of 16:21.08 to lead the Cardinals.
Women’s Cross Country Runner - Utica
Ashton Villeneuve, Sophomore – Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent
Sophomore Ashton Villeneuve won the 7th annual SUNYIT Invitational as she covered the 5K course in 19:27. She was the only runner to cross the finish line in less than 20 minutes out of the 143 runners that competed in the race. As a team, Utica totaled 62 points for second place among 12 teams.
Men’s Golf Athlete – Scranton
Grant Gulick, Senior – Binghamton, NY/Johnson City
Grant Gulick won the Utica Fall Invitational individual title with a 4-under-par 68 to lead Scranton to its fourth straight Utica team championship. His 68 is tied for the second-lowest round in school history and it broke his previous career-low round by one stroke.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player – Stevens
Jay Mikula, Freshman, Forward – Howell, NJ/Colts Neck
Jay Mikula led the No. 13 Ducks to a pair of victories over the weekend as he netted three goals and an assist in just 74 minutes of game time. He scored twice in the 4-1 win over No. 20 St. Lawrence on Friday and then added a goal and an assist Saturday in the 5-0 win against Clarkson.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player – St. John Fisher
Mike Lynch, Junior, Defender – Geneseo, NY/Geneseo
Mike Lynch played a full 180 minutes in St. John Fisher’s 3-0 and 2-1 victories over Cazenovia and Wilmington College of Ohio. He led the back line in allowing just three shots (one on target) over the weekend en route to being named the defensive MVP for the Flower City Classic.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player – Elmira
Mollie Hamilton, Junior, Forward – Victor, NY/Victor
Mollie Hamilton recorded her first career hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Lycoming College. She had her hand in all four of Elmira's goals. Assisting on the game's opening goal and scoring the final three.
Women’s’ Soccer Defensive – Ithaca
Beth Coppolecchia, Sophomore, Goalie – Katonah, NY/Somers
Sophomore Beth Coppolecchia allowed one goal on nine shots in 180 minutes of action over the weekend as the Bombers start the season 2-0. In her first-career start, she earned her first-career shutout, stopping all four shots in a 1-0 win over Kean. On Saturday, Coppolecchia stopped four shots as the Bombers defeated Stockton, 2-1.
Women’s Tennis Player - Stevens
Jessica Bourque, Junior – Houma, LA/Vandebilt Catholic
Jessica Bourque clinched the decisive fifth point in the Ducks' 5-4 victory over Nazareth College on Saturday. She outlasted her opponent at first singles, 6-7(8), 6-2, 6-2 after sweeping first doubles, 8-0, with partner Lisa Tessitore. On Friday, Stevens participated in The College of New Jersey Doubles Invite as part of a tune-up for the season. Bourque and Tessitore went 2-1 over their three matches.
Women’s Volleyball Player – Stevens
Kirsten Salmins, Junior, RS/DS – Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo
Kirsten Salmins helped Stevens to a 3-0 week to begin the 2013 season at the Coast Guard Tournament. She posted 66 digs over the three matches for an average of 6.0 per set. Salmins set a career-high 24 digs in a 3-1 victory over Coast Guard on Saturday. The junior also tallied 23 digs vs. Colby-Sawyer and 19 against Eastern Connecticut State.
Women’s Volleyball Rookie – Nazareth
Madi Wickens, Freshman, Setter/Libero – Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy
Madi Wickens finished with 60 assists and 20 digs as the Golden Flyers posted a 3-1 mark at the Red Dragon Invitational at Cortland. She totaled 38 helpers in the 3-2 win over Lebanon Valley and dished out 19 assists in the 3-0 sweep of Stockton. Wickens finished her rookie weekend debut with 14 digs against No. 20 Juniata.