General | 9/16/2024 12:34:25 PM
Below are the Empire 8 Players of the Week, released on September 16, 2024, for games played from September 9-September 15. It is the third Empire 8 weekly honors release of the 2024-25 season. Sports featured include men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Cade Eells, Nazareth, Sr., Ithaca, NY/Ithaca
Eells finished second out of 106 runners at the Hamilton College Short Course Invitational on Saturday. He recorded a personal record time of 15:31.7 over the 5,000-meter course, averaging a 4:59.9-mile time for the event. Eells, who smashed his 5,000-meter personal best by over 20 seconds, led Nazareth to a fourth-place team finish at the event.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Noelle Linenfelser, Houghton, Jr., Grand Island, NY/Grand Island
Linenfelser finished third out of 106 runners at the Hamilton College Short Course Invitational on Saturday. She recorded a time of 14:51.5 over the 4,000-meter course, averaging a 5:58.7-mile time. She defeated the next best Empire 8 finisher by just over 13 seconds.
FIELD HOCKEY
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Kristin Billings, Keuka, Sr., F, Hilton, NY/Hilton
Billings had a career day as the Wolves started Empire 8 play on Saturday with a 5-1 win over Russell Sage, notching a career-high six points with two goals and two assists. She had a hand in each of Keuka’s first four goals, opening the scoring late in the opening quarter before notching an assist in the second quarter. Billings added a second goal and second assist in the third quarter to seal the win for the Wolves. She is now in the top-five in career points, goals, and assists at Keuka.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Ava Reynolds, Hartwick, Fr., GK, South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls
Reynolds posted several career firsts in Hartwick's 3-0 non-conference road win at DeSales University on Saturday. Reynolds made her first start, recorded her first win, and posted her first shutout, posting eight saves, while anchoring a defense that shut down 17 DeSales penalty corner attempts.
FOOTBALL
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Dion Anderson, Alfred, So., WR, Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute
Anderson led the Alfred offense in a historic win, scoring the most points since 1933 the Saxons opened their home schedule with a 64-28 win over Juniata College on Saturday afternoon. Anderson broke the Alfred University school record in single game receiving yards with 279 on 10 receptions. He initially broke the record on a 67-yard touchdown pass from Chris Kelly in the third quarter, putting him at 211 yards for the game. Anderson followed that up with a 68-yard receiving touchdown less than two minutes later. He totaled three receiving touchdowns, all in the third quarter on the day as he also had a 32-yard touchdown to open the third quarter. Anderson totaled 322 all-purpose yards as he added 32 yards on kick returns and 11 yards rushing. He had more yards receiving than the entire Juniata offense.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Zac Boyes, SUNY Cortland, Sr., QB, Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West
Boyes completed 18-of-19 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns in just over one half of play in Cortland's 70-7 win over visiting Lycoming. He completed his first 15 passes, extending his season streak to 19 straight completions, before his lone incompletion left him one pass shy of matching the school record. Boyes, however, did set a school record with 481 career completions, and he tied a school record with his ninth career 300-yard passing game. Boyes threw touchdown passes of 15, 12 and 76 yards, as No. 2 Cortland finished with 663 yards of total offense, the second-highest total in school history.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Norman Booth, Utica, Sr., Schenectady, NY/Schenectady
Booth made six tackles, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble for a 76-yard touchdown on Saturday at Moravian. Booth opened the scoring for Utica midway through the first quarter, scooping up a fumble forced by teammate Darius Johnson at his own 24-yard line and taking it the distance to help the Pioneers jump out to a 7-0 lead. He later forced a fumble that Utica recovered deep in Moravian territory.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Daniel Manneh, SUNY Brockport, Jr., PR/WR, Parkhill, NY/Curtis
Manneh had a strong day for the Golden Eagles in a 27-21 loss at No. 11 Susquehanna, finishing with 195 all-purpose yards as Brockport moved to 1-1. Manneh put Brockport on the scoreboard with an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the second quarter. He also added eight receptions for 114 yards in the game, including four plays for 15 yards or more. Manneh was key in Brockport's late touchdown drive in the fourth, making three catches for 49 yards on the drive.
MEN’S GOLF
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – RJ Juodaitis, St. John Fisher, Sr., Endwell, NY/Union-Endicott
Juodaitis shot a two-under par 142 over two rounds to win the 2024 St. John Fisher Collegiate Invitational by five strokes on Sept. 15-16 from Eagle Vale Golf Course. he shot a 69 (-3) to open up play on Sunday and followed that up with a 73 (+1) on Monday. He helped lead St. John Fisher to the team title by 21 strokes.
WOMEN’S GOLF
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Kayla Ringler, Nazareth, Gr., Loretto, PA/Penn Cambria
Ringler shot an 86 on Friday, earning individual medalist honors, while leading Nazareth to the team title at the 2024 Empire 8 Women’s Golf Invitation from Locust Hill Country Club. Ringler won the individual title by two strokes.
MEN’S SOCCER
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Gavin Culley, Alfred, So., F, San Diego, CA/San Dieguito Academy
Culley recorded nine points on three goals and three assists in a 2-0 week for the Saxons. His big breakout was a two-goal, three-assist, seven-point showing in a 6-0 win over Pitt-Bradford on Wednesday. He tied the E8 single-game record for assists in the win. Culley was credited with the game-winning goal in the 24th minute off a pass from Niko Lampros. He then assisted Justin Eaton on the next goal to go up, 2-0. Culley scored his second goal off a pass from Xavier Bowman in the 44th minute, just before the half ended with three seconds remaining on the clock. Culley then assisted the next two goals, with both occurring within the first four minutes of the second half. Culley closed out his week helping Alfred open Empire 8 play with a 4-0 win over Keuka College. He scored the final goal of the game in the 66th minute, redirecting a long ball from Christian Martinez.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Maximillian Bertmann, Russell Sage, Fr., GK, South Burlington, VT/South Burlington
Bertmann totaled nine saves and allowed just one goal in a 2-0 week for the Gators. He began the week by stopping three shots in a 4-1 win over Westfield State University. Bertmann stopped all six SUNY Brockport shots he faced in Saturday's 2-0 road shutout victory to open Empire 8 play.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Logan Menna, Nazareth, Sr., GK, Lancaster, NY/Lancaster
Menna posted a shutout against Hobart on Wednesday, making five saves in a 1-0 win. He came back to make five saves in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Allegheny.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Elena Esh, Houghton, So., F/M, Gordonville, PA/Linville Hill Christian
Esh scored three goals on the week including both the game tying and game winning goals less than five minutes apart in a 2-1 win over national-ranked, No. 25 Penn State-Behrend on Saturday. Esh, who also tallied for Houghton in a win over Hilbert on Wednesday, has scored for the Highlanders in all but one contest this season and is tied for the conference lead in goals with five.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Madeline McCrosson, SUNY Brockport, Jr., GK, Mahopac, NY/Mahopac
McCrosson played the full 90 minutes in net for back-to-back shutout victories for SUNY Brockport last week over Buffalo State and Russell Sage College. She made five saves in the win 2-0 over Buffalo State Wednesday and added four saves in the Empire 8 opener, a 1-0 win over Russell Sage on Saturday. The Golden Eagles are now 4-0-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Preslee Miller, Houghton, Fr., GK, Fillmore, NY/Fillmore Central
Miller turned away nine shots on goal in 90 minutes of play, helping the Highlanders secure a 2-1 win over No. 25 Penn State-Behrend on Saturday. She made six saves in the second half, as Behrend attempted 14 total shots over that stretch. Miller also partnered with teammate Chesnie Waddingham to shutout Hilbert earlier in the week.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Marian Aguirre, Russell Sage, Fr., Plano, TX/Plano
Aguirre moved to 4-0 in both first singles and second doubles over the weekend, as the Gators defeated SUNY Purchase and Alfred University. On Friday, Aguirre rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Amelia Perlmutter of Purchase at first singles. On Saturday, Aguirre defeated Alyssa Seegert of Alfred at first singles, 6-1, 6-0 as Russell Sage rolled to a 7-2 team win. She also teamed with Olivia Monaco for a pair of doubles wins at the second position. It is her second straight E8 weekly honor.
DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK – Alexandra Krasinska, Hartwick, Fr., Pine Island, NY/Warwick Valley
DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK – Gianna Leggieri, Hartwick, So., Ballston Lake, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake
Krasinska and Leggieri set the tone early for the Hawks in their 9-0 conference road win over SUNY Brockport on Saturday, defeating Cara Vasile and Olivia Raschiatore, 6-2 at first doubles. The pair came right back on Sunday to turn in a convincing 6-2 win over Kira Kronenberg and Emily Greb of RIT.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Dayna Edholm, Keuka, Gr., OH, Buffalo, NY/Sweet Home
Edholm averaged 3.82 kills, 4.18 digs and 4.45 points per set at the Hamilton College Invitational over the weekend. She began the weekend with a 28-dig, 20-kill effort in a five-set thriller against SUNY Morrisville. She hit 276 with 11 kills, 11 digs and a career-best six service aces to go along with two blocks in a three-set win over St. Lawrence and added 11 more kills against host Hamilton.
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Macey Salvione, Russell Sage, Sr., OH, Johnstown, NY/Gloversville
Salvione averaged 3.81 kills, 2.69 digs, 0.94 service aces and 4.75 points per set, while hitting .243 across five matches during the week. She began the week with 17 kills and 15 digs, while hitting .342 in a three-set win over SUNY Delhi Wednesday. Salvione had 17 more kills and a career-best nine service aces in a four-set win over SUNY Oneonta Friday. She hit .343 with 14 kills and 15 digs against SUNY Oswego Saturday.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Kate Barba, SUNY Geneseo, Fr., OH, Huntington, NY/Huntington
Barba slammed 27 kills (3.86 per set) to go along with 23 digs (3.29 per set) and four service aces as SUNY Geneseo took on Amherst College and the University of Rochester on Saturday. She had a season-high 18 kills to go along with 17 digs and three aces in a four-set thriller against Amherst and hit .300 with nine kills in a three-set match against host Rochester.
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.
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