CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has announced its field hockey, men's soccer, women's soccer and volleyball athletes of the week for the week of September 5-11. Seven athletes from six different institutions were honored.
FIELD HOCKEY OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Lauren Kellum (JR), Morrisville
Position: Forward
Hometown: Eaton, N.Y.
Kellum posted two goals and two assists in a 1-1 week for the Mustangs, registering six total points. In the 3-2 loss against St. Lawrence, Kellum posted both scores before wrapping up the week with two assists in the 3-0 win over New England College.
FIELD HOCKEY DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Megan Gangewere (JR), New Paltz
Position: Goalie
Hometown: Nazareth, P.A.
Gangewere made a career-high 23 stops in the cage at Montclair State (L, 5-1), which ranks sixth-most all-time in single game program history. The last 20 save game for New Paltz ironically occurred at Montclair State on Sept. 24, 2003, as Erica Engstrom stopped 20 shots in that match.
MEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Tristan Myers (JR), Buffalo St
Position: Forward
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
Myers scored four goals in three games and was named MVP of the Fredonia Blue Devil Classic. He started the week with his first goal of the season in a 4-0 win over Medaille on Tuesday. He then netted a hat trick in a 4-1 win over Baldwin Wallace on Friday and added three shots in a 0-0 tie against Houghton on Saturday that was enough to clinch the tournament title for the Bengals. The junior had scored one goal in his first 38 games as a Bengal before striking four times in the two-game stretch.
MEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK– William Benahene (SR), Buffalo St
Position: Goalie
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
Banahene backstopped the Bengals to a championship at the Fredonia Blue Devil Classic and added a win against Medaille earlier in the week. The senior recorded his second and third shutouts of the season with a four-save performance in a 4-0 win over Medaille, and made two stops in a 0-0 draw against Houghton. He also had six stops in a 4-1 win over Baldwin Wallace. In three games, Banahene had a 0.33 GAA and a .923 save percentage. He was selected to the Fredonia Classic All-Tournament Team.
WOMEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Brooke Falsion (SO), Potsdam
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Brockport, N.Y.
Brooke Falsion scored five goals in a 3-0 week for the Bears. She scored two goals in their 5-2 victory over Utica College on Wednesday. Then the Bears returned to Maxcy Turf for a 7-0 win over Johnson State, where Falsion scored twice again. She scored the final goal for Potsdam in their 4-0 victory over SUNY Canton on Saturday evening.
WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Kendall Owczarzak (SO), Fredonia Position: Goalie
Hometown: Lancaster, N.Y.
Owczarzak was the MVP of the Fredonia Blue Devil / Clarion Hotel Classic. She had two shutouts with 19 saves to lead the Blue Devils to the tourney title. Owczarzak had 13 of those saves vs. Baldwin Wallace, including two point-blank stops in the second half to preserve the 1-0 lead. She lowered her season goals-against average to 1.50 and her save percentage to 85.7 percent.
VOLLEYBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK- Noelle Poloncarz (JR), Brockport
Position: Setter
Hometown: Orchard Park, N.Y.
Poloncarz was an instrumental part of Brockport's 5-0 week, leading the squad in the setting department with 143 assists. The junior was named to the All-Tournament team at the University of Rochester Invitational, a tournament in which Brockport won. Her 52 assists in the match against Division II Roberts Wesleyan on Tuesday was a season-high, and she also added two blocks which was a season high as well. The Orchard Park, N.Y. native ended the week with six kills, 36 digs, three blocks, and nine service aces.
