E8 Athletes of the Week: March 31
Men's golf and outdoor track and field have held their first events of the spring season, bringing the Empire 8 up to a full slate of spring sports in action. Those earning weekly honors include...
Baseball Player of the Week – Houghton College
Michael Kerr, Junior, Outfield- Brentwood, Tenn. / Hamburg
Michael Kerr had a double and a triple in four at bats in the second game of a doubleheader against Ithaca. He also stole a base and drove in a run in the 5-2 defeat.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week – Ithaca College
John Prendergast, Junior - Clifton Park, N.Y. / Shenendehowa
John Prendergast worked five innings of the seven-inning contest and allowed just one hit and no runs. He had seven strikeouts and no walks in a 7-1 Ithaca victory over Houghton College. Prendergast picked up his fourth win of the year to improve to 4-0, and has allowed just one run in 26 innings of work this season. He has 25 strikeouts and has walked just one batter.
Softball Player of the Week – Stevens
Jessica Rees, Freshman, Outfield – Mount Dora, FL/Mount Dora
Freshman Jessica Rees had a breakout week for Ducks going 10-15 (.667), which included 5 doubles and one triple in a 4-0 week for Stevens. Rees also added 11 RBIs and scored eight runs to improve her batting average from .250 to .383. The freshman also played a flawless left field, making every play hit to her.
Softball Pitcher of the Week – Stevens
Kayla Berardi, Senior – Brookfield, CT/Brookfield
Kayla Berardi surrendered just two earned runs in 18.2 innings last week, earning three wins in the process in a 4-0 week for Stevens. Berardi struck-out 18, and lowered her ERA to 0.79. After striking out six in an 11-1 five inning complete-game against St. John Fisher on Saturday, Berardi turned right around and pitched another five inning complete-game shut-out in game two. The wins marked the first time that Stevens has swept Fisher.
Men’s Lacrosse Player of the Week –
Nazareth College
Drew Simoneau, Junior, Midfield – Manchester, N.H. / Kimball Union
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Drew Simoneau helped the Golden Flyers to E8 wins over Alfred and Elmira by once again dominating on face-offs, winning 35 of 44 draws in the two games and scooping up 32 ground balls. He also broke Nazareth career records for total ground balls (468) and face-off wins (628). He has won 68 percent of his draws this season (152 for 244) and has 121 ground balls.??
Men’s Lacrosse Goalie of the Week??-
Hartwick College
Michael Rourke, Sophomore – Long Beach, N.Y. / Long Beach?
Michael had a total of 27 saves in goal for the Hawks in two games this week. Against King's College, Rourke stopped 12 shots in Hartwick's 12-9 victory. On Saturday, against St. John Fisher, Rourke had 15 saves as the Cardinals prevailed 10-4. He also picked up eight ground balls (4 vs King's and 4 vs Fisher). He ranks first in the Empire in saves per game (14.14) and 22nd in the NCAA.??
Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Week?- Utica College
Morgan Dupont, Junior, Attack – Wynantskill, N.Y. / Averill Park
Junior attack Morgan Dupont finished last week with 12 points in two games (1-1) for the Utica College Pioneers. In an 11-10 nail-biting loss to Stevens, Dupont had a career-high five assists as UC's come back from a two deficit late in the second half came up short. On the following day, the junior bested the impressive performance the day before by scoring two goals and adding five assists in a 16-9 win over Hartwick. She also scooped up three ground balls in the game. Dupont is leading the conference in assists with 21 after seven games in 2014.??
Women’s Lacrosse Goalie of the Week??- St. John Fisher College
Caroline Trpcevski, Senior – Manlius, N.Y. / Fayettville-Manlius
Caroline Trpcevski allowed 13 goals in three games last week as the nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College women’s lacrosee team picked up two more conference wins after beating Alfred 21-2 and Nazareth 13-4. Trpcevski moved her season record to 7-2 on the year and lowered her goals against average to a miniscule 6.89.
Men’s Tennis Player of the Week – Stevens
Michael Feldman, Freshman – Alamo, CA/Monte Vista
Michael Feldman won in straight sets against Ithaca from the No. 3 singles positions, and followed it up with a 6-1, 6-0 win against Elmira at second singles. Feldman also had an undefeated week in doubles, teaming with Charles Drake for two 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles against Ithaca and Elmira.
Men’s Golf Athlete – Moravian
Jim Maru, Sophomore – Allentown, PA/Lehign Valley Academy
Jim Maru posted a career-best round of 2-over-par 74 at the York College Invitational, which was played at the Out Door Country Club. He placed tied for seventh overall in a field of 83 players and helped Moravian to a team score of 318 and a seventh-place finish among 16 teams. Maru’s round included four birdies.
Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete – St. John Fisher College ?
Trevor Wilkes, Sophomore – Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima
Trevor Wilkes played a big part in the St. John Fisher College men's track and field team's performance over the weekend at the Daniel Curran Invitational at Widener University. Wilkes placed second overall in the 200 meter dash with a time of 23.05 before taking fourth place in the 400 after finishing the event in 50.86.??
Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete – Stevens
Robert Pinto, Junior – Staten Island, N.Y./ Monsignor Farrell
?Junior Robert Pinto placed second overall in the high jump with a cleared bar of 2.00 meters at the Monmouth University Invitational on March 29.??
Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete – St. John Fisher College?
Ronni Ehlers, Freshman – Glenfield, NY/South Lewis
?Freshman hurdler Ronni Ehlers finished second overall in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:12.05 as the St. John Fisher College women's track and field team competed at the Daniel Curran Invitational hosted by Widener University over the weekend.??
Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete – Stevens
Gladys Njoku, Sophomore – Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove
Sophomore Gladys Njoku set a new school record in the high jump with a mark of 1.70 meters to take second overall at the Monmouth University Invitational on March 29.