CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has released its final 2017 lacrosse, baseball and softball Athletes of the Week. Eight athletes from five institutions have been recognized for their performances during the week of April 24-30.
Men's Lacrosse Athlete of the Week - Ryan Callahan, Plattsburgh
(Sr, A - Miller Place, N.Y., 47)
Plattsburgh State senior attackman Ryan Callahan tallied seven points on two goals and five assists in a 1-1 week for the Cardinals that saw the team lock up the No. 2 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament. On Wednesday, he scored two goals and added two assists for four points and added two ground balls and one caused turnover in a 13-4 victory over SUNY Potsdam. Finally, on Saturday, he shined on Senior Day, dealing out three assists in the Cardinals' 12-9 loss to No. 5 SUNY Cortland. Callahan currently leads the SUNYAC in points with 61 and has 95 total during his career at Plattsburgh State.
Men's Lacrosse Goalie of the Week - Dallas Meyers, Brockport
(Jr, GK - Elma, N.Y., 7)
The Golden Eagles secured their place in the 2017 SUNYAC playoffs with a pair of SUNYAC wins. Dallas Meyers was crucial in leading the Green and Gold to their 2-0 finish, starting the week with a 7-6 road win over SUNY Geneseo, and finishing strong with a 9-8 win over Oswego. On the week, Meyers saw all 120 minutes of action, with seven saves against the Knights, adding one ground ball. Against a charging Oswego, Meyers played lights out, making and impressive 17 saves against 45 shots faced for a save percentage of 68 percent. The junior added five ground balls in the win. On the week, the Elma, N.Y. native had a save percentage of better than 60 percent on the week.
Women's Lacrosse Defensive Athlete of the Week - Cassandra Minerd, Brockport
(Sr, D - Onondaga, N.Y., 16)
Cassandra Minerd played a key role in Brockport?s historic week, picking up a pair of SUNYAC wins and securing the No. 1 seed and the right to host their first ever SUNYAC Conference Tournament. Brockport opened the week with a strong 16-11 win over No. 9/18 SUNY Cortland, a first in program history. The senior wreaked havoc on the Cortland offense, accounting for four caused turnovers and wracking up seven draw control wins. Minerd added one ground ball on the day, and played a key role in holding the Red Dragons to 2.5 goals below their season average. In the lopsided win over New Paltz, she continued her strong play, adding two caused turnovers, two ground balls and two draw controls while leading the Green and Gold defense that allowed only eight shots in the contest.
Women's Lacrosse Offensive Athlete of the Week - Kelly Wall, Brockport
(Sr, MF - Clifton Park, N.Y., 26)
Kelly Wall led the Golden Eagles in a record breaking week, picking up a pair of SUNYAC wins and securing the No. 1 seed and the right to host their first ever SUNYAC Conference Tournament. Brockport opened the week with a strong 16-11 win over No. 9/18 SUNY Cortland, a first in program history. The senior wracked up seven points in the win, setting the mark for goals in the Brockport record books with her five scores. Wall added two assists, three ground balls, three draw control wins and two caused turnovers for a well rounded performance. The Clifton Park, N.Y. native continued her strong week, helping lead the Green and Gold past SUNY New Paltz, 20-2. Wall added four points in the win, with three goals and an assist, while also scooping up four ground balls, a caused turnovers and a draw control. On the week, she averaged 4 goals per game, 1.5 assists per contest, 3.5 ground balls a contest, 1.5 caused turnovers and two draws a contest. She currently rests atop the Brockport leader board with 175 career goals, and is in second in career points with 261.
Baseball Athlete of the Week - Eric Hamilton, Oswego
(Sr, INF/C - Liverpool, N.Y., 3)
Hamilton had an absolutely monstrous week at the dish, recording 17 hits and 20 total bases over the week's five games for a .739 average. Early in the week, in wins over Ithaca and Rochester, the Liverpool, N.Y. native had three and four hits, respectively, including an RBI in each game. Over the weekend, against conference-foe Oneonta, Hamilton recorded a pair of five hit games to raise his season batting average to a preposterous .442. His performance helped lead the Lakers to a series sweep and the clinching of the SUNYAC regular season title. The Lakers also earned the top seed and will host the conference tournament for the first time since its inception in 1998. Hamilton scored nine runs, drove in four and smacked three doubles from the two spot in the lineup. On the base paths, he was 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts to bring his season total to 14, while he also fielded his position perfectly in 14 chances.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week - Mitchell Cavanagh, Oswego
(Jr, P/INF - Oneida, N.Y., 32)
Cavanagh returned to the mound against Oneonta and thoroughly dominated the Red Dragons, keeping them off balance throughout his seven innings of work. The junior allowed just five hits and one earned run, including not allowing a base knock through the opening 3.1 innings. Cavanagh moves to 8-0 on the year with a 2.31 ERA and 50 strikeouts (5.5 per game).
Softball Athlete of the Week - Nicole DeCosta, New Paltz
(Sr, C/3B - Stormville, N.Y., 14)
DeCosta and the Hawks finished the week 3-1 (1-1 SUNYAC) to earn the No. 5 seed in the upcoming SUNYAC Tournament from May 4-6. The senior catcher hit .538 (7-for-13) with two runs, one double, one home run and nine RBI with 11 total bases. DeCosta enjoyed a .571 on-base percentage and a .846 slugging percentage while registering a perfect fielding mark. Starting all four games this week, DeCosta finished the doubleheader sweep at Sage on Wednesday going 2-for-7 with one run and a grand slam in game two. At Catskill Cup rival Oneonta on Saturday, the senior finished 5-for-6 overall with five RBI in the split with the Red Dragons. DeCosta and the softball team will play #2 Oswego on the first day of the SUNYAC Championship, Thursday, May 4 at 11 a.m.
Softball Pitcher of the Week - Allie Block, Buffalo State
(So, P - N. Tonawanda, NY, 18)
Block was 3-0 in the circle for the week, helping the Bengals secure a playoff berth. She posted a 1.47 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched, and allowed just 14 hits and five walks. She helped herself at the plate, hitting .375 (3 for 8) with a home run, two RBIs and two walks.