Empire 8 Conference Players of the Week - March 4
Empire 8 Players of the Week
February 25 – March 3
Men’s Lacrosse
Player – Ian Evans, St. John Fisher (Freshman, Jamesville, N.Y.)
Evans and St. John Fisher picked up its second win of the season this past week, with a 23-8 victory over SUNY Potsdam. Evans continued his hot offensive start as the freshman tallied five goals on eight shots versus Potsdam on Friday. The freshman also finished the game with two assists and two ground balls. It’s the second consecutive week he’s been recognized with this award from the league office.
Goalkeeper – Carson White, Stevens (Senior, Downingtown, Pa.)
White finished one save of a career high, making 15 stops as the Ducks defeated Springfield 16-7. He stopped 15 of 22 shots, including all seven in the final quarter as the Ducks scored six times to break open a three-goal game. The senior 'keeper also picked up three ground balls and caused one turnover.
Women’s Lacrosse
Player – Lexi Scaccia, Utica (Freshman, Whitesboro, N.Y.)
Scaccia was incredible in Utica's 10-9 win over New Paltz on Friday. The Pioneer rookie scored three goals and added an assist, and notched the game-winner in the second half of action to give Utica the triumph. She scooped four ground balls, controlled six draws, and caused three turnovers.
Goalkeeper – Hali Vandermeulen, Utica (Junior, Walden, N.Y.)
Vandermeulen stopped seven of thirteen New Paltz shots to propel the Pioneers past the Hawks by a one goal margin on Friday. The Pioneers won the contest 10-9. It’s the second consecutive week she’s been recognized with this honor from the league office.
Men’s Tennis
Player – John Papin, Alfred (Junior, Rochester, N.Y.)
Papin had two of the most convincing wins on Friday in the Saxons' 8-1 win over Pitt-Bradford. He helped Alfred sweep doubles as he teamed with Reeder Bruffey for an 8-2 win at #3 doubles. Then, he never gave up a single game at #4 singles as he won 6-0, 6-0.
Men’s Volleyball
Player – Mike Strumpfler, St. John Fisher (Graduate, Rome, N.Y.)
Strumpfler and St. John Fisher have won 15 of its last 16 matches, including three conference victories this past week over Elmira, Bard, and MIT. In two matches against Elmira and MIT, he posted 29 total kills, eight blocks, and an average hitting percentage of .441. In the match at Elmira, Strumpfler finished with 11 kills, four blocks, and a .350 hitting percentage on 20 swings. The Rome, New York native would then lead the Cardinals to a win over MIT on Saturday after posting a career-high 18 kills, only one error, four blocks, and a .531 hitting percentage.
Rookie – Josh Bigford, St. John Fisher (Freshman, Cicero, N.Y.)
Bigford and St. John Fisher won three conference matches this past week over Elmira, Bard, and MIT. He had another solid week for the Cardinals as the freshman saw action in both victories over Elmira and MIT, finishing the week with 25 kills, five blocks, 12 digs, and a .197 hitting percentage. In the four set win over Elmira, Bigford tallied nine kills to go along with three blocks and one dig. The freshman went on to help lead the Cardinals to a five-set win over MIT after posting 16 kills, two blocks, 11 digs, and a .325 hitting percentage. It’s the second straight week he’s been honored with this award.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com and
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