Athletes of the Week: Oct. 2-8, 2017
The Empire 8 Athletic Conference has announced that 16 student-athletes in 10 different sports have been recognized for outstanding play during the week of Oct. 2-8, 2017....
Football Offensive Player – Hartwick
Ronald Ballard, Sophomore, RB – Deposit, NY/Deposit
Ronald Ballard recorded career-highs of 22 carries and 156 rushing yards on Saturday in a 52-34 conference win over Morrisville. He also made three receptions for 15 yards. He caught a two-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter for Hartwick's first points of the game. In a one-possession game in the fourth quarter, Ballard broke free for a 64-yard touchdown run, the longest of his career, to give the Hawks some breathing room.
Football Defensive Player – St. John Fisher College
Demarre Nelson, Junior, CB – East Rochester, NY/East Rochester
Demarre Nelson of the St. John Fisher College football team continued to lockup the opposition's top wide receiver as the junior cornerback came away with two interceptions on Saturday against nationally-ranked Alfred University. Nelson's first pick halted a drive at the Alfred 49 while his second INT gave Fisher the ball back for one final drive in the fourth quarter. Nelson was also credited with six tackles on the day. For the season, the East Rochester native leads the Empire 8 with four total interceptions and seven passes defended.
Football Special Teams Player – Hartwick
David Van Alstine, Senior, Return – Otego, NY/Unatego
Davis Van Alstine returned four kickoffs for 143 yards, including an 89-yard return for a touchdown in the second quarter in Hartwick's 52-34 win over Morrisville Saturday. It marked the second kickoff return for a touchdown of his career. In addition, the senior defensive back also recorded two of 'Wick's three interceptions on the day, which included a 14-yard return to end the first half.
Men’s Cross Country Runner – Stevens
PJ Gunther, Freshman – Sayville, NY/Sayville
PJ Gunther posted the fastest 8K time for a freshman in Stevens history on Saturday at the Highlander Invitational. Gunther clocked in at 25:51, a 5:12/mile pace to take 12th out of 187 entrants.
Women’s Cross Country Runner – Stevens
Mary Visca, Junior – Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland
Junior Mary Visca repeats as the runner of the week following a fourth place finish out of 147 runners in the 6k at the Highlander Invitionals in a time of 22:27. It was a 6:02/mile pace in a day that saw hot, humid racing conditions.
Men’s Golf Athlete – St. John Fisher
Colin McGaugh, Sophomore – Hamilton, NY/Hamilton
Colin McGaugh of the St. John Fisher College men's golf team was the Cardinals' top finisher over the weekend as Fisher competed in the Royal Lakes Oglethorpe Invitational in Flowery Branch, Ga. McGaugh carded a two-day score of +4 and finished tied for 29th place overall. After shooting an opening round 75 (+3), McGaugh shaved two strokes off his score in the second round to finish at one-over on the final 18 holes.
Women’s Golf Player – SUNY Cortland
Danielle Bambola, Sophomore – Miller Place, NY/Miller Place
Danielle Bambola was Cortland's top finisher in a tie for 31st place out of 95 golfers at the Williams College Fall Invitational. She carded an 81 and an 83 for a 164. The tournament was the highest-rated in Division III statistically so far this fall with three top-10 teams in the field
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Field Hockey Offensive Player – Stevens
Victoria Alvarez, Senior, Forward – Pine Beach, NJ/ Toms River South
Victoria Alvarez totaled 12 points in three games for the Ducks. She scored game-winning goals against SUNY New Paltz and Nazareth and scored in all three games the Ducks played. Alvarez scored twice with one assist in a 5-3 win over New Paltz on Wednesday. Then in a busy conference weekend, she netted two goals in a 5-4 overtime shootout loss to Houghton. She finished up the week with one goal with one assist in a 5-1 conference victory vs. Nazareth on Sunday.
Field Hockey Defensive Player – St. John Fisher
Ashley Maynard, Junior, Goalie – Rochester, NY/Hilton
Junior goalkeeper Ashley Maynard helped extend the teams win streak to 11 games this past week with wins against #17 Rochester and Elmira. Maynard continued to be unbeatable between the pipes for the Cardinals posting another two wins this past week, along with her fifth shutout of the season. On Wednesday versus Rochester, Maynard only allowed two goals on the 10 shots she faced including a couple saves that helped send the game to overtime, where Fisher would win 3-2. On Saturday, the junior picked up her fifth shutout of the season in the 4-0 win over Elmira. She stopped all six shots that came on net and increased her win total to 11 on the year.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player – St. John Fisher
Tyler Randall, Junior, Midfield – Churchville, NY/Churchville-Chili
Tyler Randall netted two of Fisher's nine goals on the week, going 2-0. Randall came out against Houghton on their homecoming turf on Saturday, scoring Fisher's first two goals in the first 5:40 minutes of play. He came down the field and rocketed a shot from 35 yards out, top right shelf for Fisher's first goal at the 2:44 mark. He then scored again off an assist from Dallas Kaiser at the 5:40 mark. Fisher would end up with five goals in the game in the 5-2 victory over its conference opponent.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player – Nazareth
Brian Wilkin, Sophomore, GK – Rochester, NY/Hilton
Brian Wilkin finished the week 1-1 for Nazareth after allowing just one goal in 191:28 of play. The sophomore made eight saves in Nazareth's 1-0 overtime loss to Geneseo on Tuesday. He then recorded his fifth shutout of the season Saturday, making five saves in Nazareth's 1-0 win over Alfred.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player – Nazareth
Julia Delgatti, Senior, Forward – Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy
Julia Delgatti had four goals, including scoring a hat-trick in Nazareth's 3-2 triumph over No. 16 Stevens on Saturday in a 2-1 week for the Golden Flyers. Nazareth fell early in the week to No. 13 Carnegie Melon. She ended the week with a goal in Nazareth's 3-2 win over Sage on Sunday.
Women’s’ Soccer Defensive – Alfred
Sammy Jo Shanahan, Senior, Goalie – Valley Stream, NY/Valley Stream South
Senior Sammy Jo Shanahan broke the Alfred University school record in career saves this past week. She tied the record after Saturday’s 2-1 overtime win against The Sage Colleges. Shanahan had six saves in the match before she officially broke the record on Sunday as the Saxons hosted Hartwick College. She finished the game with five saves in the 0-1 loss. The record was previously 542 saves set by Julie Francis ’92, making it a 25-year old record. Shanahan now has 547 saves on her career with five more games. For the week, Shanahan made 25 saves with a 1.67 GAA in three starts with 8.33 saves per game.
Women’s Tennis Player – Nazareth
Allison Friends, Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa
Allison Friends helped Nazareth to a 2-0 as Nazareth clinched the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Empire 8 Tournament with wins over Fisher and Alfred. She won her first singles match against Fisher 4-6, 6-1, 10-8 and her first doubles match 8-6. Against Alfred she won first singles 6-1, 6-0 and second doubles 8-1.
Women’s Volleyball Player – Stevens
Taleen Mitchell, Sophomore, OH – Los Angeles, CA/South Pasadena
Taleen Mitchell totaled 25 kills on 47 attacks with just two errors (.489 attack percentage) as the Ducks swept Nazareth and Sage to remain atop the E8 standings. Mitchell also collected 10 digs, one assist, one ace and a block. Against Nazareth, Mitchell connected for 12 kills, but was especially strong against Sage, registering 13 kills on 20 attacks without an error (.650 hit %). The Los Angeles native has reached double-digits in kills on 13 occasions this season.
Women’s Volleyball Rookie – Hartwick
Maria Sorriento, Freshman, OH – Troy, NY/Troy
Maria Sorriento led the team with 41 kills (3.42/set) in a 2-1 week for the Hawks. She also contributed 30 digs and five blocks. After registering eight kills in a 3-0 sweep of Cobleskill on Wednesday, she notched a match-high 18 kills and added 13 digs and four blocks in a 3-2 conference win over Houghton. In a five-set loss to Alfred, she totaled 15 kills and six digs.