Athletes of the Week: Oct 3-9
Competition is as tight as ever in the conference this season, leading to some outstanding performances by Empire 8 student-athletes during the week of Oct. 3-9, 2016. Those earning weekly honors include...
Football Offensive Player – Buffalo State
Kyle Hoppy, Junior, QB – Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park
Kylie Hoppy threw for 434 yards and accounted for all five Buffalo State touchdowns in a 39-21 win at Cortland on Saturday. He finished 29 of 47 with three passing touchdowns of 6, 17 and 5 yards, and he also ran for 36 yards with a pair of rushing touchdowns.
Football Defensive Player – Brockport
Jake O’Connell, Sophomore, Safety – Rochester, NY/Spencerport
Jake O'Connell returned an interception 100-yards midway through the fourth quarter, setting a record for The College at Brockport football team, and helping the Golden Eagles to a 35-28 win. The sophomore intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 100-yards for his first career pick six, and setting a Brockport football record for longest interception returned for a touchdown. O’Connell also tabbed three tackles including one for loss.
Football Special Teams Player – Cortland
Travis Alvarez, Freshman – Keyport, NJ/Keyport
Travis Alvarez blocked two kicks in Cortland's loss to Buffalo State. He blocked a field goal in the first half and an extra point in the second half.
Field Hockey Offensive Player – St. John Fisher
Emily Markarian, Junior, Forward – Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park
Emily Markarian helped lead St. John Fisher to a 2-0 week as the Cardinals defeated the University of Rochester for the first time in program history on Tuesday, and then took down Stevens on Saturday to remain undefeated in the Empire 8. Markarian scored the game-winner off a penalty corner for the 2-1 win against Rochester. With 13 minutes left in regulation against Stevens, Markarian shot the ball but it hit off the post. Luckily for Fisher freshman Kelly Bergamo was there to collect the rebound and put the Cardinals on the scoreboard.
Field Hockey Defensive Player – Houghton
Elizabeth Piszker, Junior, Goalie – Glens Mills, PA/Cardinal O’Hara
Elizabeth Piszker finished with a 2-1 record on the week. She made 10 saves in Houghton’s 3-2 comeback win against SUNY Morrisville on Tuesday. She then recorded two saves during Houghton’s 2-1 loss to SUNY Cortland on Thursday. Piszker finished the week with eight saves in Houghton’s overtime, shut out, win against previously unbeaten W&J.
Men’s Cross Country Runner – Utica
Mitchell Marlow, Freshman – Malone, NY/Franklin Academy
At the Hamilton Invitational over the weekend Mitchell Marlow finished in sixth place overall. His time of 26:09.8 was a personal best and was good enough for the sixth best time in program history.
Women’s Cross Country Runner – Utica
Kaitlyn Stinson, Sophomore – South Kortright, NY/South Kortright
Sophomore Kaitlyn Stinson was Utica's top finisher at the Hamilton Invitational on Saturday as she placed sixth out of 126 runners with a time of 19:21.8 for the 5k course.
Men’s Golf Athlete – Moravian
Kevin Kunkle, Junior – Walnutport, PA/Northampton
Kevin Kunkle averaged 74.5 strokes per round last week in two outings for the Greyhounds. He had a 76 on the par 70 Lehigh Country Club course as the Greyhounds tied for 2nd at the Muhlenberg College Fall Invitational last Monday. Kunkle's 76 was tied for 20th in the tournament and included three birdies and seven pars. On Tuesday, Kunkle fired a season-low round of 73 on the par 72 Saucon Valley Country Club Weyhill Course as he tied for first with teammate Anthony Beltrami to lead Moravian to the John Makuvek Cup with a 297, defeating Muhlenberg and DeSales University. Kunkle's round had a birdie and 15 pars in it.
Women’s Golf Player – Ithaca
Kimberley Wong, Senior – Hong Kong/German Swiss International
Senior Kimberley Wong concluded her fall campaign with another top-10 finish, her fifth in five appearances, placing in a tie for ninth at the competitive Middlebury Invite. She opened the tournament with a 78 (+7) and carded an 83 (+12) during Sunday's final round.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player – Houghton
Andrew Bussey, Sophomore, Midfield – Leicester, England/Rosslyn Academy
Andrew Bussey was the key factor in all three goals scored in the 3-0 win over Brockport last Tuesday. He started the play setting up the assist for the first two goals, and then earned the foul in the box leading to the third goal on a penalty kick. In the 4-1 win over Nazareth on Saturday, Bussey scored two goals and assisted on another.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player – Houghton
Tyler Inch, Senior, Defender – McAllisterville, PA/East Juniata
Senior Tyler Inch anchored Houghton’s defense that aided the Highlanders to two more wins (3-0 over SUNY Brockport and 4-1 over Nazareth) and extend its win streak to six games. Inch and the Houghton defense held Brockport and Nazareth each to three shots on goal.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player – Nazareth
Julia Delgatti, Junior, Forward – Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy
Julia Delgatti led Nazareth in points with seven (3 goals and 1 assist) in a 3-0 week. She tallied a goal and an assist in 4-0 blanking of Alfred on Tuesday night. She followed it up with a goal in a 4-0 win over Elmira. The junior closed out the week with the game-winning goal in a 1-0 edge of Hartwick on Sunday. Delgatti has now scored a goal in the last five games played.
Women’s’ Soccer Defensive – Nazareth
Allison Dobles, Senior, Goalie – Spencerport, NY/Spencerport
Allison Dobles recorded two solo shutouts and no goals against in a 3-0 week for Nazareth. She played 64:52 against Alfred on Tuesday. On Saturday she made three saves in a blanking of Elmira 4-0. Dobles closed out the weekend with four saves in a 1-0 win over Hartwick to extend her shutout streak to 346.06 minutes.
Women’s Tennis Player – Elmira
Tilila El Yazidi, Freshman – Marrakesh, Morocco/Hebron Academy
Tilila El Yazidi finished with a perfect 6-0 record this past week. All six of El Yazidi's wins came against E8 opponents at the first singles and doubles positions. Her six wins brought her overall record this season to a staggering 24-4, including a 14-2 mark in conference matches. Her 24 wins set a new program record for single-season victories, as did her 12 singles wins that are now a program best. El Yazidi, along with partner Megan Fitzgerald, also moved into a tie for first place in EC history for single-season doubles victories.
Women’s Volleyball Player – Nazareth
Kelsey Milligan, Sophomore, MB – Pavillion, NY/Pavillion
Kelsey Milligan had a stellar week with 29 kills (2.64 per set) on a .421 attack percentage. She also had five blocks on the week. Milligan went for 11 kills on 31 attempts with four errors (.226) in a five set win over RIT. She erupted for 13 kills on 16 attempts with no errors (.812) in a three set win over Utica. Milligan had five kills (.400) on 10 attempts with an error against Alfred.
Women’s Volleyball Rookie – Stevens
Sara Hain, Freshman, MB – Roseville, MN/Roseville Area
Sara Hain hit no worse than .300 in three matches last week, leading the Ducks to a 3-0 week. In a five set win over Vassar, Hain hit .429 with a career-high 15 kills while matching a career best with six total blocks. In Empire 8 play, the freshman tallied 14 kills on 25 attempts with three total blocks (two solo) in wins over Houghton and Elmira.