April 9, 2012

GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has announced its Student-Athlete of the Week selections in the sports of baseball, men’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, softball and men’s and women’s tennis for the period ending April 8, 2012.

Paul Greco (Brooklyn, N.Y.) has been selected as the NEAC West Baseball Student-Athlete of the Week after his sensational hitting performances for the Lancaster Bible College Chargers.  The senior shortstop finished the week batting .562 at the plate during a 2-2 week for the Chargers, going 9-for-16 with three home runs, three doubles, seven RBIs, seven runs scored and two walks drawn to post a .611 on base percentage and a 1.312 slugging percentage.  Greco opened the week going 4-for-8 with two doubles while driving in a run and scoring three more during a doubleheader split with West Division rival Penn State Harrisburg last Tuesday.  He then went on to add five more hits in a doubleheader split with West rival Gallaudet University Thursday, which included a 4-for-4 performance with three home runs, a double and six RBI in a dramatic 17-16 game-two loss.  Greco currently leads the Chargers with a .508 batting average and 30 hits on the season thus far.

 

Marcus Smith (Baltimore, Md.) has been chosen as the NEAC West Baseball Pitching Student-Athlete of the Week after a quality performance on the mound for the Gallaudet University Bison.  The sophomore tossed a complete game, one-hit shutout with three strikeouts in last Friday’s 11-0 victory over Penn State Abington, which is currently the league’s most productive offense statistically.  It was Smith’s fourth victory of the season, which currently places him in a three-way tie for the most in the conference.

 

 

 

Derrick Reese (Ringtown, Pa.) has been named the NEAC Men’s Golf Student-Athlete of the Week after his stellar performance for the Penn State Berks Nittany Lions.  Reese, a freshman, took first place out of 13 golfers by shooting a three-over-par 75 to help lead Berks to a 331-338 dual victory over Philadelphia Biblical University last Thursday.  Reese finished the day with two birdies and 12 pars. Prior to that dominant performance, Reese opened the week carding a 79 (par 72) to finished tied for 15^th out of 105 competitors at the Lebanon Valley College Spring Invitational last Monday. 

 

 

TJ Shaw (Tully, N.Y.) has been selected as the NEAC Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week for his do-it-all performance for the Cazenovia College Wildcats.  The senior finished with 14 points on eight goals and six assists during a 2-0 week for Cazenovia, while also tallying 14 groundballs and winning 11 out of 20 face offs. Shaw had seven points apiece in both Wildcat victories, scoring four goals and dishing out three assists while also scooping up 10 groundballs in a 16-9 victory over conference rival SUNY Institute of Technology on Wednesday, and added another four goals and three assists in addition to four groundballs in a 22-2 win over Penn State Abington Saturday.  Shaw currently leads the conference with 30 points on the season.

 

 

Eric Saltrelli (Webster, N.Y.) has been named the NEAC Men’s Lacrosse Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week after his strong performance between the pipes for the Keuka College Storm.  The freshman goalie made 13 saves while facing 18 shots to post a 72.2 save percentage and help lead the Storm to a 16-5 victory over conference rival SUNY Cobleskill Saturday.  It was the second-highest save total of the year for Saltrelli, who now has 76 saves and a .543 save percentage through seven games this season.

 

 

Maggie Bonafede (Churchville, N.Y.) has been chosen as the NAC West Women’s Lacrosse Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week after her outstanding performance for the Keuka College Storm.  The sophomore registered 24 points on six goals and 18 assists while also tallying 11 groundballs to help the Storm to a perfect 4-0 record last week, which included three divisional victories. Bonafede had two goals and five assists during a 17-3 win over NAC West Division rival Wilson College on Monday, had one goal and three assists in an 11-9 win over Roberts Wesleyan College on Wednesday, had one goal and seven assists during an 18-2 West Division win over College of Saint Elizabeth on Friday and concluded her productive week with two goals and three assists in a 14-5 divisional road win over Penn State Abington Saturday.  For the season, Bonafede has 44 points on 11 goals and 33 assists and is currently among the nation's leaders in assists per game (4.7).

 

Molly Hogan (Horseheads, N.Y.) has been selected as the NAC West Women’s Lacrosse Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week after her magnificent work guarding the net for the Keuka College Storm.  The junior goalkeeper led the Storm to a perfect 4-0 week, making 28 saves and posting a 68.3 save percentage while allowing just 13 goals in 212 minutes of action for a 3.68 goals against average. Hogan stopped four shots during a 17-3 win over West Division foe Wilson College Monday before making 12 saves during an 11-9 road win over Roberts Wesleyan Wednesday.  She made three saves and allowed only one goal in 50 minutes of action during an 18-2 divisional road win over College of Saint Elizabeth on Friday, and closed the week with nine stops in a 14-5 victory over division rival Penn State Abington on Saturday.  For the season, Hogan tops the conference in goals allowed (27), goals against average (4.44) and save percentage (65.4).

 

Kara Boyd (Alexandria, Pa.) has been named the NEAC Softball Student-Athlete of the Week after a sensational showing at the plate for the Penn State Harrisburg Nittany Lions.  The junior went 11-for-14 at the plate with four doubles, two triples and walk en route to a .786 batting average, a .812 on base percentage and a 1.357 slugging percentage.  Boyd also scored 11 runs, had two RBIs and stole four bases to help lead Harrisburg to a 4-0 week.  Boyd finished 5-for-9 with a double and triple while scoring five runs and driving in two more in a doubleheader sweep over conference rival College of Saint Elizabeth Tuesday, and closed the week going a perfect 6-for-6 at the plate with three doubles, a triple, six runs scored and three stolen bases in two conference victories over Gallaudet University Saturday.

 

Kristyan Gates (Hanover, Pa.) has been selected as the NEAC Softball Pitching Student-Athlete of the Week after a pair of quality outings on the mound for the Penn State Harrisburg Nittany Lions.  The junior pitched a total of eight innings on the week, giving up just one unearned run on three hits while striking out 16 batters and walking one.  Gates began the week pitching three innings of scoreless ball while in relief during an 8-1 victory over South Division rival College of Saint Elizabeth Tuesday, giving up two hits and striking out six batters.  She then closed the week with a five-inning complete game performance during a 10-1 conference victory over Gallaudet University Saturday, allowing one unearned run on one hit while recording a season-best 10 strikeouts to earn her first win of the season.

 

Ross Raddi (Langhorne, Pa.) has been chosen as the NAC West Men’s Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week after his performance for the Penn State Abington Nittany Lions.  The junior remained undefeated at 9-0 on the year with his 6-3, 6-1 singles victory out of the No. 4 position during Abington’s 6-3 victory over Baptist Bible College last Wednesday.  Abington is now 8-2 overall this season.

 

 

Kimberly Ochester (Philadelphia, Pa.) has been named the NEAC West Women’s Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week for her strong performance for the Penn State Abington Nittany Lions.  The senior helped Abington to a 9-0 victory over Trinity University (DC) last Thursday, winning her singles match 6-3, 6-1 out of the No. 5 position and teaming up with junior Lori Phillips (Philadelphia, Pa.) to pick up an 8-1 victory at second doubles.  This is the second time Ochester has earned the honor this season.

 

 

 

The Rest of the Week’s Highlights: SUNY Institute of Technology senior Anthony Surber (Bronx, N.Y.) batted .500 (7-for-14) with eight RBIs and three stolen bases during a 4-0 week for the Wildcats … Penn State Abington junior Dustin Kology (Philadelphia, Pa.) batted .462 (12-for-26) and scored 11 runs while driving in eight more during a 4-3 week for the Nittany Lions … Cazenovia College junior Jamie Barr (Frankfort, N.Y.) smashed a home run and drove in eight runs on five hits in five games for the Wildcats … Penn State Berks senior Matt Emrick (Bethlehem, Pa.) tossed his first career complete game shutout, giving up three hits and striking out three in a 12-0 victory over Penn State Harrisburg on Friday … SUNYIT senior Patrick Baker (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) also pitched a complete game three hitter while allowing no earned runs and striking out a season-best eight batters in a 7-1 victory over Cazenovia College Friday … Cazenovia College junior Brian Gaskell (Saquoit, N.Y.) hurled a complete game seven hitter against Penn State Abington last Monday, recording eight strikeouts in the 4-1 victory … Penn State Abington junior John Haldis (Richboro, Pa.) shot a six-over-par 76 to finish in second place out of 41 golfers at the Chestnut Hill College Griffin Invitational last Monday … Medaille College sophomore Brock Levick (Newmarket, Ontario, Canada) totaled 16 points on 10 goals and six assists in a 2-0 week for the Mavericks … Keuka College senior Gino Marcello (Rochester, N.Y.) scored six goals in the Storm’s 16-5 victory over SUNY Cobleskill Saturday … Morrisville State College senior Tom Longland (Dunnville, Ontario) scooped up 10 groundballs and caused five turnovers during a 2-0 week for the Mustangs … Penn State Abington freshman Nicole Hayes (Ivyland, Pa.) registered eight points on four goals and four assists to go along with seven draw controls and six caused turnovers to help lead the Nittany Lions to a 1-1 week and their first win of the season, while sophomore Danielle Savoni (Horsham, Pa.) registered seven goals through two games … Cazenovia College sophomore Melissa Rivera (Slate Hill, N.Y.) scored eight goals in two games for the Wildcats … SUNYIT junior Taviot Jakowski (LaFayette, N.Y.) tallied five goals and six draw controls in the Wildcats’ lone contest of the week … Penn State Berks junior Alyssa Stahly (Bellefonte, Pa.) hit a home run and drove in seven runs on five hits in three victories for the Nittany Lions … SUNY Cobleskill freshman Julia Lull (St. Johnsville, N.Y.) batted .478 (11-for-23) and drove in seven runs during a 5-1 week for the Fighting Tigers, while freshman Brianne Gray (Hornell, N.Y.) won four games on the mound and struck out a total of 10 batters … Keuka College sophomore Brooke Lovell (Arkport, N.Y.) batted .500 (6-for-12) with eight RBIs during a 3-1 week for the Storm … SUNYIT junior Lyndsey Brognano (Rome, N.Y.) smashed two home runs and drove in six runs while batting .500 (10-for-20) during a 4-2 week for the Wildcats … Morrisville State College sophomore Jenna D'Ercole (Highland, N.Y.) posted 48 strikeouts and a 2.56 ERA in 38.1 innings of work for the Mustangs.

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The North Eastern Athletic Conference has thirteen NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Cazenovia College, College of St. Elizabeth, Gallaudet University, Keuka College, Lancaster Bible College, Pennsylvania State University - Abington, Pennsylvania State University - Berks, Pennsylvania State University -Harrisburg, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Institute of Technology, SUNY Morrisville State College, Wells College, and Wilson College.  Associate members are: Hilbert College (M Lacrosse), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse) and Rutgers University - Camden (M Golf). 

Beginning with the 2010 season, the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has partnered with the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) in the sports of baseball, women’s lacrosse, and men’s and women’s tennis.  The NEAC will compete as associate members of the NAC in women’s lacrosse and men’s tennis, while the NAC will compete as associate members of the NEAC in baseball and women’s tennis.  Members from each conference will be divided into an East and West Division for each sport, with each division holding a championship and the two divisional champions then facing off to determine the conference champion. The conference winner for each sport will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.  For baseball and women’s lacrosse, this partnership will end following the 2012 season.

A complete sport-by-sport breakdown of the NEAC/NAC partnership is as follows: 

Baseball: NAC members Castleton, Colby-Sawyer, Husson, Lyndon State, Maine-Farmington, New England College and Thomas will play in the NEAC as associate members in the East Division.  The West Division will consist of NEAC members Cazenovia, Gallaudet, Keuka, Lancaster Bible, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg and SUNY Institute of Technology.  A three-game series between the two divisional winners will be used to determine the conference champion.  

Women's Lacrosse: NEAC members Cazenovia, College of St. Elizabeth, Keuka, Lancaster Bible, Medaille, Penn State Abington, SUNY Institute of Technology, SUNY Morrisville, Wells and Wilson will play as associate members of the NAC in a West Division.  The East Division will consist of NAC members Castleton, Colby-Sawyer, Green Mountain, Husson, Maine-Farmington, New England College and Thomas. 

Men's Tennis: NEAC members Keuka, Lancaster Bible, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks and Penn State Harrisburg will play as associate members of the NAC in a West Division.  The East Division will consist of NAC members Castleton, Colby-Sawyer, Green Mountain, Johnson State, Lyndon State and Thomas. 

Women's Tennis: NAC members Castleton, Colby-Sawyer, Johnson State, Lyndon State and Thomas will play in the NEAC as associate members in the East Division.  The West Division will consist of NEAC members College of St. Elizabeth, Keuka, Lancaster Bible, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg and Wells.