Athletes of the Week: Oct. 16-22, 2017
The Empire 8 Athletic Conference has announced that 15 student-athletes in 9 different sports have been recognized for outstanding play during the week of Oct. 16-22, 2017....
Football Offensive Player – The College at Brockport
DaQuan Hubbard, Sophomore, WR – Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls
DaQuan Hubbard has been a deep threat for the Golden Eagles all season long, ranking third in the nation in yards-per-reception (27.33). He kept up that trend this week, catching three passes for 140 yards (46.7 avg/rec) and two touchdowns. His first touchdown catch was the longest of the season thus far, a 79-yard bomb that put Brockport out in front 24-0. He also caught a 52-yard pass on a third and long in the fourth quarter that put the game at its eventual final score of 45-0.
Football Defensive Player – Alfred
A.J. LiCata, Senior – Lake View, NY/Frontier
A.J. LiCata was a dominant force against RPI as he recorded a game-high 18 tackles (seven solo, 11 assisted) and three tackles for a loss. LiCata broke the school record in total tackles as his 18 on the day brought his career total to 382, breaking the previous mark of 377.
Football Special Teams Player – Utica
Brandon Few, Sophomore, Punter – Lockport, NY/Lockport
Utica sophomore punter Brandon Few had an outstanding afternoon for the Pioneers as he totaled six punts for 374 yards (45.7 yard average). He posted a career-long 61 yard punt and a career-high four punts inside the 20 to help pin the Bengals back. He had three punts downed inside 11 yards, including his first punt of the day that pinned Buffalo on their own four yard line.
Men’s Cross Country Runner – Utica
Brian Attas, Senior – Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong
Senior Brian Attas led the Pioneers with a fifth place finish in the 5k Saturday as the Pioneers placed second int he team competition at the Hamilton College Short Course Tuneup. Attas clocked a 16:32.0 in the 5k.
Women’s Cross Country Runner – Houghton
Shelby Langlois, Sophomore – Upperco, MD/Hereford
Sophomore Shelby Langlois placed 15th overall in the 5k race at the John Reif Memorial tune-up Friday at Cornell. Langlois clocked an 20:16.5.
Field Hockey Offensive Player – Utica
Sydney Scaccia, Freshman, Forward – Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro
Freshman Sydney Scaccia totaled four goals in a 1-1 week for Utica. On Wednesday, she had a goal as Utica fell to Geneseo 4-2. She followed that up with three goals in 1:38 to help Utica to a 5-1 win over Brockport on Saturday.
Field Hockey Defensive Player – Washington & Jefferson
Karlie Baran, Senior, Goalie – Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty
Karlie Baran put together a 0.50 goals allowed average in two matches last week for 2-0 W&J. She made four saves to record her sixth shutout of the season against Wooster on Wednesday before making three saves in the 2-1 win over St. John Fisher on Saturday.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player – Sage
River Seybolt, Junior, Forward – Selden, NY/Longwood
River Seybolt had a record-breaking week as he broke Sage’s career goal scoring record with his goal against Ithaca on Wednesday. On Saturday, he added five points in Sage's 3-0 win over Alfred to break the all-time points record.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player – Elmira
Jacob Mattice, Freshman, Goalie – Canton, NY/Hugh C. Williams
Jacob Mattice amassed nine saves in a pair of starts against Scranton, who reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2016, and the defending Empire 8 champion Cardinals of St. John Fisher. He made five saves against the Royals, before stopping four shots in a double-overtime tie against the Cardinals.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player – Alfred
Lexi Riffelbach, Sophomore, Forward – Clifton Park, NY/Catholic Central
Sophomore Lexi Riffelbach scored two goals on the week to help the Saxons go 2-0. Her first goal was against SUNY Canton to extend the Saxon lead to 2-0 over the visiting Roos. Then, in Empire 8 action, she scored the game’s only goal in double overtime against St. John Fisher College on the road. It was the first win against the Cardinals since 1999. Her goal came after teammate Emily Wright took a shot on goal in which the Fisher goalie stopped it but the ball deflected towards Riffelbach who tucked it away for the win.
Women’s’ Soccer Defensive – Alfred
Sammy Jo Shanahan, Senior, Goalie – Valley Stream, NY/Valley Stream South
Senior Sammy Jo Shanahan picked up two shutout wins on the week as the Saxons were undefeated. She was vital in the Saxons’ double-overtime win over St. John Fisher College on the road in Empire 8 action. Shanahan faced a total of 27 shots with 20 of the Cardinal shots being on goal and she stopped every single one of them to tie her career-best mark. The win over Fisher was the first since 1999.
Women’s Volleyball Player – Stevens
Casey King, Sophomore, OH – Wallington, NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy
Casey King totaled 24 attacks on 55 attacks with just three errors (0.382 attack percentage) as the Ducks swept Hartwick and rallied to defeat St. John Fisher in four sets to win the Empire 8 regular season title. King notched 11 kills without an error against Hartwick and then added 13 kills versus the Cardinals. King also totaled five aces, four blocks and 13 digs. King currently ranks 10th in the conference in hitting percentage, third in kills and aces, and third in points per set.
Women’s Volleyball Rookie – Alfred
Sarah Raemen, Freshman, OH – Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua
First-year Sarah Raeman hit an astonishing .435 against Nazareth College on Saturday morning. She finished the match with 11 kills on 23 attempts with only one error. She also recorded two digs on the match. Then, in the Saxons’ win over Utica College, Raeman tacked on 6.0 points from five kills and one solo block as she helped the Saxons secure their first spot in the Empire 8 Playoffs since 2000.
Men’s Swimming & Diving Athlete – Alfred
Noah Koltenuk, Freshman – Danville, PA/Danville Area
First-year Noah Koltenuk had a collegiate debut that most dream of as he picked up three individual wins and a third place relay finish. Koltenuk got things started in the 200-yard medley relay with teammates Zach Goodwin, Ethan Zyglocke and Ryan Brown as the team finished third with a time of 1:44.57. After the relay, things only looked better for the first-year as he won the 1,000-yard freestyle in a time of 10:08.10. Next, he topped everyone else in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:53.30 before rounding out his day with a win in the 200-yard butterfly, touching finish with a time of 2:02.12. In total, he swam 1,750 yards on the day in his inaugural college season.
Women’s Swimming & Diving Athlete – Utica
Phoebe King, Senior – New Bedford, MA/GNB Voc Tech
At the Hartwick Quad Meet on Saturday, Phoebe King placed first in the 200-yard freestyle event with a time of 2:05.07. She also earned a second-place finish with a time of 5:45.39 in the 500-yard freestyle.