E8 Athletes of the Week: Sept 2
The first weekend of competition for the 2014-15 season is in the books, and the student-athletes are already turning in impressive performances. Those earning weekly honors include...
Field Hockey Offensive Player – Utica
Hannah Mackey, Senior, Forward – Locke, NY/Moravia Central
Senior Hannah Mackey netted seven goals to help Utica to a 2-0 opening weekend. On Saturday, Mackey had three goals in the Pioneers’ 5-1 win over St. Lawrence. Show followed that up with a four-goal effort in UC’s 7-3 victory over the College of Wooster on Sunday. She is currently second all-time with 55 goals, and just passed teammate Louise Steele-Norton for first on the College’s all-time scoring list with 133 career points.
Field Hockey Defensive Player – Houghton
Elizabeth Piszker, Freshman, Goalie – Glen Mills, PA/Cardinal O’Hara
Elizabeth Piszker began her collegiate career with 43 saves and compiled a save percentage of .878 in Houghton’s first two games of the 2014 season. After making five stops in the 8-1 win against Cedar Crest, Piszker did all she could to keep the Highlanders in the game against Rochester. The rookie starter made an impressive 38 denials in the effort.
Men’s Cross Country Runner – St. John Fisher
Evan Magnussen, Senior – Geneseo, NY/Geneseo
Evan Magnussen ran a 5:19 pace over the 5K Highlander Short Course Invitational on Friday afternoon. Magnussen was the top overall finisher with a final time of 16:34.2 to lead the Cardinals to a first place team score of 28 points.
Women’s Cross Country Runner - Utica
Ashton Villeneuve, Junior – Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent
Junior Ashton Villeneuve, a 2013 NCAA qualifier, opened her 2014 season with a victory at the 8th annual SUNYIT Short Course 5K Invitational. She won the race for the second consecutive season after recording a time of 20:23, good for an average mile pace of 6:34. She guided Utica to a third place finish overall at the 12 team meet (127 runners).
Men’s Golf Athlete – Elmira
Jarryd ten Vaanholt, Junior – West Vancouver, BC/Sentinel Secondary
Jarryd ten Vaanholt had a great opening weekend of golf for Elmira, earning two top-four finishes. At the Pitt-Bradford Invitational, Jarryd shot a three-over 75 which placed in a tie for fourth place. The following day, he finished tied for first with a one-over 73, tying his career-low round, at the Utica College Fall Invitational. Jarryd did not get medalist honors but still took home a tied for first place finish.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player – Utica
Shane Ruffing, Senior, Forward – Rochester, NY/Westborough
Senior forward Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) opened the season with five goals over the course of two games to pace Utica to a 2-0 opening weekend at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. Ruffing became just the fourth player in program-history to score at least three goals in a single game as the Pioneers kicked off their 2014 campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over The Sage Colleges Friday night. He added two more goals in a 4-0 victory over Purchase on Saturday. Ruffing is off to one of the hottest starts in program-history and he is just one goal shy of his career best of six goals in a single season which he set back in 2013. Ruffing's 36 career points (16 goals, four assists) are now tied for sixth all-time at UC and his 16 career goals are tied for fourth all-time
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player – Utica
David Abdou, Senior, Goalie – Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro
David Abdou registered two shutouts this weekend to help the Pioneers start the season 2-0 for the third time in the last four years. He stopped three shots in a 3-0 win over Sage on Friday. He came back with two saves in a 4-0 win over Purchase on Saturday. He played all 180:00 in net for the Pioneers this weekend as they outscored their opponents 7-0.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player – Houghton
Stephany Ellison, Senior, Forward – Whitesville, NY/Whitesville
Stephany Ellison scored five goals over the course of two games to lead Houghton to a 2-0 opening weekend. She scored all three goals in the Highlander’s 3-0 win at Westminster College on Friday and then netted two goals in the 3-2 victory at Grove City.
Women’s’ Soccer Defensive – Ithaca
Beth Coppolecchia, Junior, Goalie – Katonah, NY/Somers
Junior goalkeeper Beth Coppolecchia earned two victories over the weekend, putting Ithaca's record at 2-0 on the year. Coppolecchia made seven saves over that span, giving her two shutouts.
Women’s Tennis Player - Stevens
Danielle Stewart, Senior – North Plainfield, NJ/North Plainfield
Danielle Stewart had a perfect opening weekend, going 2-0 at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles against Houghton and Nazareth. Stewart stepped up after Stevens was without two starters due to injuries in two crucial E8 matches.
Women’s Volleyball Player – Stevens
Ashley Castillo, Senior, Setter – Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill
Ashley Castillo was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Salisbury University Opener after she tallied 118 assists, 36 digs, eight kills, eight blocks and four aces in four matches. She handed out 35 assists in a win over Mount Aloysius and posted 13 digs in a victory against Swarthmore College. Stevens went 3-1 at the tournament.
Women’s Volleyball Rookie – Houghton
Anna Coryell, Freshman, Setter – Phelps, NY/Midlakes High School
Anna Coryell had 68 assists in 9 sets this weekend averaging 7.5 a set. In the first match of her college career she dished out 30 assists for an average of 10 per set. She also served 4 aces and dug up 19 balls in the 3 matches.