Athletes of the Week: Oct. 30-Nov. 5, 2017
The Empire 8 Athletic Conference has announced that 11 student-athletes in seven different sports have been recognized for outstanding play during the week of Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2017....
Football Offensive Player – Morrisville
William Flatow, Sophomore, QB – Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck
William Flatow, in just his second collegiate start, led Morrisville State to a 35-28 E8 win over St. John Fisher in Morrisville, completing 19-of-27 passes for 276 yards and five touchdown scores. The sophomore averaged 10.2 yards per completion and led the charge for the late fourth quarter rally that led to the Mustangs win. On that game winning drive, Flatow completed three passes for a gain total of 45 yards, including a 17-yard scoring strike with 1:16 to go for the win.
Football Defensive Player – Cortland
Kyle Richard, Junior, LB – Lakeview, NY/Malverne
Kyle Richard made a career-high 15 tackles, 12 solo, and recovered a fumble in Cortland's 24-23 win over Utica that clinched a berth into the New York State Bowl for the Red Dragons. He registered a key sack on third down and less than 1:20 remaining to help thwart Utica's final drive and preserve the win.
Football Special Teams Player – Utica
Maki Medici, Freshman, Kicker – Watervliet, NY/Shaker
Maki Medici was 3-for-3 on field goal opportunities and also converted two extra points as the Pioneers traveled to Cortland on Saturday for Empire 8 action. He made a career-long 44 yarder and also made field goals of 24 and 37 for the Pioneers. He leads the league with 10 field goals this season and is also tied for the longest field goal in the E8 this year (44 yards).
Men’s Cross Country Runner – N/A
Women’s Cross Country Runner – N/A
Field Hockey Offensive Player – Washington & Jefferson
Rachel Buyan, Junior – Huntington Beach, CA/Edison
Rachel Buyan was named the tournament’s most outstanding player as she tallied three goals and one assist in the two games as W&J won its second E8 Championship in program history and first since 2011. The wins also gave the Presidents a berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Field Hockey Defensive Player – N/A
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player – Sage
River Seybolt, Junior, Forward – Selden, NY/Longwood
River Seybolt scored both goals in the semifinal against Nazareth to send Sage to the conference finals. With just 1:56 left in regulation, Seybolt tied the game as he collected a blocked shot and fired into the back of the net to force overtime. Late in the first overtime period, Seybolt scored his second goal of the match at 99:32 off a corner kick with heavy traffic in front of the net. In the championship game, Seybolt registered six of the Gators’ 12 shots.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player – Stevens
Nicholas Cousillas, Junior, Defender – Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge
Nicholas Cousillas was named the championship's most valuable player after leading the effort to hold the conference's top scorer, River Seybolt, without a shot on goal in the championship game. Cousillias was solid on the defensive end of the field throughout the championship as the Ducks earned their seventh and eighth shutouts of the season. In the semifinal match against St. John Fisher, the Cardinals were held to eight shots throughout the game, while Cousillas and the defenisve limited Sage to 12 shots in the championship match and only three of them on goal.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player – N/A
Women’s’ Soccer Defensive – Stevens
Lindsey Mahnken, Senior, GK – Bayville N.J. MATES/Toms River
Lindsey Mahnken was named Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament after stopping a total of five shootout attempts and not allowing a goal over the two postseason matches. She stopped six shots in the semifinal game against Nazareth and then made stops in the PK shootout on Nazareth’s first and fourth attempt. In the championship game, Mahnken made five saves in the double-overtime game before stopping three PK attempts in the shootout to give the Ducks the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Women’s Volleyball Player – Stevens
Sara Hain, Sophomore, MH – Roseville, MN/Roseville
Sarah Hain was named the championship's Most Valuable Player after hitting 0.571 over the two-match tournament. The Roseville, Minnesota native recorded six kills on 10 attacks without an error against Alfred and then totaled eight kills on 11 attacks with two errors in the championship. Hain also collected five blocks.
Women’s Volleyball Rookie – Nazareth
Jessica Barry, Freshman, Setter – Brewerton, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse
Jessica Barry dished out 48 assists (8.0 per set), had 17 digs (2.83 per set) and two service aces in a 1-1 week for Nazareth. She had 27 assists in a three set win over Fisher in the E8 semifinals and 21 assists against Stevens in the E8 finals.
Men’s Swimming & Diving Athlete – Nazareth
Seth Farrand, Freshman – Franklinville, NY/Franklinville
Seth Farrand helped Naz defeat Hartwick for the first time since 1986 (21 tries) as he was part of three school records, while just missing out on a fourth in a 181-117 defeat on Saturday. He anchored the 200-meter medley relay that finished first in 1:47.39 with fellow freshman John Koch, senior Gannon Connors and junior Rob Coatsworth. He also won the 50-meter freestyle by lowering his own pool record to :23.49. In the 200-meter free relay, Farrand swam the anchor leg and helped produce a record time of 1:36.97. Farrand just missed his own record in the 100-meter freestyle as he touched the wall in :52.68 to take first, just shy of his record of :52.24.
Women’s Swimming & Diving Athlete – Nazareth
Taylor Robey, Freshman – Hurley, NY/Kingston
Taylor Robey was a part of two school records and won four events to help Nazareth defeat Hartwick 162.5-131.5. It was the Golden Flyers first win over Hartwick since 2010. Robey was part of four winning events, including the 100-meter freestyle in which she set school and pool records with a winning time of :59.59, breaking a seven-year-old mark held by Rachael Phipps. She also anchored Nazareth's winning 200-meter medley relay, which opened the swimming portion of the meet with a school record time of 2:04.94. Robey also won the 50 freestyle (:27.30) and swam on the winning 200 free relay (1:52.72)