General | 9/30/2024 12:54:48 PM
Below are the Empire 8 Players of the Week, released on September 30, 2024, for games played from September 23-September 29. It is the fifth Empire 8 weekly honors release of the 2024-25 season. Sports featured include men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Alex Hillyard, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., East Aurora, NY/East Aurora
Hillyard was the top finishing Division III runner, placing 11th overall out of 334 runners at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational, hosted by Roberts Wesleyan College on Saturday. He recorded a time of 24:52.5 over the 8,000-meter course, averaging a 5:01-mile time for the event. Hillyard, who was the top E8 finisher by nearly 15 seconds in the event, led Geneseo to a second-place team (behind Cornell University) and top Division III team finish at the event.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Isabel Marzec, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., Avon, NY/Avon
Marzec was fifth among all Division III runners, placing 26th overall out of 255 runners at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational, hosted by Roberts Wesleyan College on Saturday. She recorded a time of 18:59.8 over the 5,000-meter course, averaging a 6:07-mile time, while finishing 16 seconds faster than the next E8 finisher.
FIELD HOCKEY
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Katrina Clare, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., F, Barker, NY/Barker Central
Clare tallied four goals in a 2-0 week for the nationally ranked Knights, as they defeated SUNY Oswego and two-time E8 defending champion Hartwick College. She began the week by scoring twice in the 4-0 win over Oswego and added two more goals, including the eventual game-winner in Saturday’s 3-0 victory at Hartwick. Clare leads the league with nine goals in nine games this season.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Michaela Cushman, Nazareth, Fr., F, Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent
Cushman netted three goals in two conference wins for the Golden Flyers. She scored two goals, including the game-winning tally late in regulation in a 3-2 win at Houghton on Wednesday and notched a goal in a 4-0 win over Keuka Saturday.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Olivia Brand, Russell Sage, Fr., D/GK, Little Falls, NY/Little Falls
Brand contributed on the field and in goal for the Gators this week. She scored her first collegiate goal in Friday's 7-0 shutout win over visiting Elmira. Brand made the first start in goal of her career on Saturday at RPI, stopping 20 of 22 Engineers shots to keep Russell Sage in the game in an eventual 2-0 non-conference setback.
FOOTBALL
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Alexander Coffey, Alfred, Jr., TE, Columbia, MD/Long Beach
Coffey was an all-around standout for the Saxons in their 45-15 win over visiting Catholic University on Saturday, scoring three total touchdowns. Coffey was the go-to option on short yardage plays, subbing in as a wildcat quarterback, rushing five times for 18 yards as he totaled two rushing touchdowns. He was also targeted once for a 37-yard touchdown catch, Alfred’s longest passing play of the day. Coffey added one assisted tackle on a kickoff.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Adam Mietz, Alfred, Sr., DB, Akron, NY/Akron
Mietz intercepted two passes and added four tackles, helping lead Alfred to a 45-15 win over Catholic University on Saturday. His first interception came at a crucial time, jumping in front of a screen pass late in the first quarter, causing the first turnover of the game with a two-yard interception return. Mietz’s second interception was an 80-yard pick-six for a touchdown as he opened the scoring floodgates in the third quarter, giving the Saxons a 17-3 edge.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Dion Anderson, Alfred, So., WR/KR, Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institution
Anderson returned a kick 95 yards for a touchdown in Alfred’s 45-15 win over Catholic University during Homecoming Weekend Saturday. After Catholic scored to make it 24-9 in the third quarter, Anderson quelled the visitors’ momentum with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown to make it 31-9 Saxons. He totaled 153 yards on three kick returns while adding five receptions for 26 yards. He was previously the E8 Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 16.
MEN’S GOLF
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Nick Tellone, St. John Fisher, Gr., Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna
Tellone finished ninth out of 104 golfers at the Northeast Elite Championship hosted by Penn State Altoona from Williamsport Country Club over the weekend. Tellone shot a one-under par 141 over the two rounds. He began the weekend by shooting a -3 round of 68 on Saturday, tied for the third best round of the day. On Sunday, Tellone shot a 73 (+2).
WOMEN’S GOLF
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Jillian Draper, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., Watertown, NY/Watertown
Draper rallied to earn a 3&1 win over Olivia Hatch of Keuka College in a dual match from Livingston Country Club on Wednesday, as Geneseo earned a 5-0 team win. After getting down early in the match, Draper rallied to win three of the last four holes to garner the win at the top spot in the lineup.
MEN’S SOCCER
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Justin Eaton, Alfred, Fifth Year., F, Williamson, NY/Williamson
Eaton totaled three goals on the week as the Saxons went 1-0-1 in a pair of Empire 8 contests. He scored the first goal of the week in a 1-1 draw against with Nazareth University Wednesday. On Saturday, Eaton scored Alfred’s second and third goals in a 3-0 win at Houghton University. Eaton scored his first goal of the game off a corner kick from Gavin Culley, settling the ball and chipping it into the goal. He then scored the Saxons’ third goal during the 71st minute of play off a backwards pass from Bowman, firing it from 10 yards out.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Juan Carlos Cruz Gandia, Elmira, So., GK, Orlando, FL/XL Academy
Cruz Gandia helped the Soaring Eagles to a pair of crucial Empire 8 victories, while extending the Soaring Eagles winning streak to three games in league play. On Wednesday against Russell Sage, he allowed an early goal in the 13th minute of play, before concluding the final 77:05 with a clean sheet, facing six shots in total while collecting a pair of saves. At home on Saturday against Utica, Cruz Gandia would see himself tested a bit more in goal, recording a clean sheet against the Pioneers while making six saves in Elmira's 3-0 victory. After not facing a shot in the first half, Gandia would make six second half saves to preserve the Elmira shutout while lowering his season goals against average mark to 1.14.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Jaylah Cossin, SUNY Brockport, Gr., F, Silver Creek, NY/Silver Creek
Cossin tallied seven points on three goals and an assist in two Brockport wins. On Wednesday, Cossin scored an unassisted goal early on at 5:03, which proved to be the eventual game-winning tally. She found the back of the net yet again at 13:59 with a goal assisted by Caitlin Nelson as Brockport cruised to a 4-0 win at Hilbert. On Saturday, Cossin tallied a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win over Hartwick. She is tied for the league lead with 14 points on six goals and two assists this season.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Ryann Dauksza, St. John Fisher, Jr., D, Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius
Dauksza tallied five points on two goals and an assist and was the leader of a defensive unit that allowed just one total goal in league wins over Utica University and SUNY Poly. On Wednesday, she scored the eventual game-winning goal in St. John Fisher’s 2-0 win over Utica. Three days later, Dauksza scored a goal and added an assist, as the Cardinals rolled to a 7-1 win at SUNY Poly. Overall, Dauksza and the Cardinals defense allowed six total shots in the two victories.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Preslee Miller, Houghton, Fr., GK, Fillmore, NY/Fillmore Central
Miller posted two shutouts last week in wins over Alfred State and Alfred University to help the Highlanders remain undefeated in conference play. Miller turned away eight shots on goal against the Saxons. She now sits third in the E8 in shutouts and fourth in saves per game and is a two-time E8 Defensive Player of the Week this season.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Alexandra Krasinska, Hartwick, Fr., Pine Island, NY/Warwick Valley
Krasinska went 2-0 in both singles play and doubles play this weekend, helping the Hawks to two more dominant wins against Empire 8 foes. Krasinska started her weekend off with a straight set 6-0, 6-1 win over Utica at first singles. She followed that up with a come-from-behind win over Catherine Zak of Nazareth on Sunday, rallying back from a first set 6-3 loss to claim the second set 6-1 and ultimately win in the tie breaker 10-8. Krasinska and doubles partner Phoebe Olson turned in two dominant first doubles performances defeating their Utica opponents, 8-1 and their Nazareth counterparts, 8-2.
DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK – Emma Nuzzi, Russell Sage, Gr., Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake
DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK – Tirzah Spivey, Russell Sage, Jr., Clifton Park, NY/Schenectady
Nuzzi and Spivey got the Gators going on the right track Saturday, rolling to an 8-1 win over Abby Garvey and Maddy Langley of St. John Fisher at first doubles, as Russell Sage outlasted the Cardinals by a score of 5-4 in the match. Russell Sage is now 4-0 in league play this season.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Tessa Grover, Nazareth, Sr., S/RS, Penfield, NY/Penfield
Grover recorded 36 kills, 39 assists, and 24 digs in three matches this past week, helping Nazareth go 2-1. In the win against Johnson & Wales University Saturday, Grover recorded a triple-double with 15 kills, 11 assists, and 12 digs. In the other two matches this past week Grover scored double doubles with kills and assists (11 kills and 16 assists against RIT, 10 kills and 12 assists against SUNY Canton). She also hit .276, while averaging 4.55 points, 3.9 assists, 2.4 digs, 0.6 service aces and 0.7 blocks.
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Macey Salvione, Russell Sage, Sr., OH, Johnstown, NY/Gloversville
Salvione hit .344 with 43 kills (4.78 per set) and 43 digs (4.78 per set), while adding eight service aces in a 3-0 week for the Gators. On Wednesday, she began the week with 14 kills, 18 digs and five service aces in a three-set win over Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. On Saturday, she had 12 digs and nine kills in a sweep over Vermont State Castleton and saved her best for last, exploding for 20 kills, while hitting .552 with 13 kills in a three-set win over Rhode Island College.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Lilly Bentley, Houghton, Fr., MB/RS, Weston Mills, NY/Portville
Bentley posted 27 kills, while hitting .339 over three matches last week. She began the week with 13 kills and a .370 hitting percentage while adding three blocks against Buffalo State on Wednesday. Bentley hit .533 with 10 kills against Penn State Behrend and added four kills against SUNY Fredonia Saturday.
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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