Empire 8 Conference Players of the Week
Empire 8 Players of the Week
September 24 – September 30
Cross Country
Men’s Runner – Tyler Wright, Utica (Senior, Little Falls, N.Y.)
In a highly competitive field featuring over five regionally ranked teams, Wright's 34th place finish set the standard for Utica at the Saratoga Invitational hosted by RPI. The senior averaged a 5:23 mile over the eight-kilometer course, and was the top Empire 8 finisher at the event.
Women’s Runner – Kaitlyn Stinson, Utica (Senior, South Kortright, N.Y.)
Stinson led the Pioneer effort as Utica finished 12th at the extremely competitive Saratoga Invitational hosted by RPI. The senior finished 26th in a field of 192 competitors this weekend, traversing the five-kilometer course at Saratoga State Park in a time of 18:40, a new season-best at that distance.
Field Hockey
Offensive Player- Ireland Tawney, Stevens (Junior, Hopkinton, N.H.)
Tawney totaled three goals and two assists for the Ducks, who improved to 7-3 on the year, with victories over Drew and Houghton. The junior forward recorded the game-winning goal in both contests to move into a tie for the league lead in the statistic. Tawney totaled eight shots, including five on goal and moved into the top-10 in the Empire 8 with 16 points.
Defensive Player- Rena Israel, Washington & Jefferson (Sophomore, Wexford, Pa.)
Israel commanded the W&J defense to a 2-1 win over St. John Fisher in critical Empire 8 action on Saturday afternoon. The sophomore keeper logged four saves and allowed just one goal against the high-powered Cardinals. On the season, Israel owns a league-leading .167 goals-against average, with Saturday's score being her first allowed this season. The win over Fisher propelled the Presidents to sole possession of first in the E8 standings with a 3-0 record, in addition to stretching their win streak to begin the year to eight games.
Football
Offensive Player - Nasir Smith, Alfred (Sophomore, Auburn, N.Y.)
Smith rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns while catching his first career touchdown pass in a 27-22 win over Morrisville on Saturday. Smith's marks in rushing yards and touchdowns are both career-highs. He amassed 211 of AU's 310 yards of offense in the game. With 190 yards rushing on the day, he was just outside of the top-10 for most rushing yards in a single-game at AU. He was also just one touchdown short of making his way into the top-10 for rushing touchdowns in a game. Smith now has 513 yards rushing on the season, ranking second in the Empire 8. He has also rushed for at least 100 yards in 3-of-4 games in 2018
Defensive Player – Denarii Beard, SUNY Cortland (Sophomore, Willingboro, N.J)
Beard recorded seven tackles, five solo, forced two fumbles, broke up a pass and returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown in Cortland's 45-38 win at Utica. His first forced fumble force Cortland 2-yard line, followed two plays later by a Red Dragon 97-yard TD pass. Beard's interception return in the second quarter gave Cortland a 21-14 lead, and his second forced fumble caused a turnover, and then two plays later to a 74-yard Cortland TD pass.
Special Teams Player - Alex Benson, Brockport (Sophomore, Beacon, N.Y.)
Benson had a solid all-around day for the Green and Gold as they bypassed St. John Fisher College 49-7 in the Courage Bowl. The highlight of the game for Benson was an 85-yard punt return that ended in points for the sophomore in the third quarter, establishing a 35-0 lead. He had five returns for a total of 123-yards. He also added a reception for a 14-yard pickup.
Men’s Golf
Player – Corey Marshall, Oswego (Senior, Webster, N.Y.)
Marshall placed first at the 21st Annual Oswego State Fall Invitational. Led the tournament by three strokes entering Sunday, after shooting a 72 (+1) in the first round. The senior clinched the tournament shooting a 76 for a two-day total of 148.
Women’s Golf
Player – Danielle Bambola, SUNY Cortland (Junior, Miller Place, N.Y.)
Bambola earned medalist honors at Cortland's Martin/Wallace Invitational with a school record-breaking score of 147. She broke her own school two-day record of 148 (records since the program was re-started in 1997). Bambola opened with a 75 Saturday, followed by an even-par 72 Sunday at the Cortland Country Club in a round that featured 16 pars, one birdie and only one bogey (due to a three-putt on a par 3). Bambola helped Cortland finish first in the six-team tournament.
Men’s Soccer
Offensive Player- Patrick Hynes, Utica (Sophomore, Glenmont, N.Y.)
Hynes led the way for Utica in their lone Empire 8 conference victory of the week, a 2-1 regulation triumph over the Nazareth Golden Flyers. In the 73rd minute, the sophomore doubled up a standing 1-0 lead as his finish landed on target off an assist from Thomas Muller. The goal stood as the eventual game-winner as Utica short circuited a late comeback attempt by Naz in the win. For the week, Hynes placed four of his five shots on goal.
Defensive Player- Randy Miksch, Utica (Sophomore, Lake Villa, Ill.)
Miksch was quite impressive in the first two starts of his career, as he helped the Pioneers collect victories in both matches. On Wednesday, he posted a clean sheet in 105 minutes of action in a 1-0 win over Albany College of Pharmacy that was decided in extra time. He then turned aside eight of nine shots to help Utica prevail by a goal in a 2-1 win over Nazareth to improve to 2-0 in his young career.
Women’s Soccer
Offensive Player- Mikayla Blumenstock, Utica (Junior, Poland, N.Y.)
Blumenstock posted a breathtaking performance on the pitch in a pair of wins for Utica in the past week. She posted four goals total to grab hold of the team lead with a total of six in her first campaign wearing a Utica uniform. Her week started with some extra time magic, as she took a crossing pass in the 97th minute and redirected it inside the post to push Utica to a 2-1 win over Cazenovia and hand the Wildcats their first non-conference loss of the year. She then had all three goals to advance the Utica effort in a 3-2 win over Houghton in Empire 8 play.
Defensive Player- Hannah Miller, Nazareth (Junior, Butler, Pa.)
Miller helped the Golden Flyers to a pair of shutout wins last week. She had 7 saves in a 1-0 non-conference win over 18th-ranked Rochester last Tuesday and then added a pair of saves in a 6-0 win over Elmira last Saturday as she combined with freshman Gabrielle Pighetti for the shutout. She has three shutouts on the year and a 0.56 GAA and a .933 save percentage.
Women’s Tennis
Player – Agatha Malinowski, Stevens (Freshman, Kinnelon, N.J.)
Malinowski added another pair of wins to her career-opening winning streak, teaming with partner Isabella Calandra for an 8-0 victory at No. 1 doubles over Hartwick's Sallie Suski and Victoria Wilson and a straight-set win over Suski (6-1, 6-0) at first singles as the Ducks defeated Hartwick 9-0. It’s the second straight week she’s been recognized with this award from the league office.
Women’s Volleyball
Player - Amber Smith, Alfred (Junior, Penfield, N.Y.)
Smith had a breakout day for the Saxons as she hit a whopping .524 off of 42 attacks with 23 kills and only one error. She helped the Saxons defeat Houghton College for the first time in 27 years with her 23.0 points as she tallied a double-double with her 10 digs. Smith also added a set assist on the evening.
Rookie- Elizabeth Chu, Stevens (Freshman, Old Tappan, N.J.)
Chu totaled 47 digs over seven sets as Stevens topped Vassar and Hartwick to extend its winning streak to 15. The freshman libero also recorded five assists, five aces and a kill.