CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has selected the first 2015 fall Athletes of the Week. Nine athletes in six sports from six SUNYAC institutions were honored. SUNYAC will release the tennis athletes of the week Tuesday. 

MALE RUNNER OF THE WEEK - Justin Sommer (SO)
Oswego (Massapequa/Plainedge)
Justin Sommer led the Oswego Lakers in the SUNY Poly Wildcat Invite 6K on Saturday, where the team placed first out of 13 teams. The Massapequa, N.Y. native finished 5th overall (out of 126), clocking in with a personal best time of 19:54. The time was also good enough to tie him for second-best in Oswego State history at that distance.

FEMALE RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Robyn Schaefer (SR)  
New Paltz (Sayville, NY/Sayville)
Senior Robyn Schaefer had the best finish for the State University of New York at New Paltz women's cross country team at the Vassar Invitational Sept. 5. Schaefer finished the five-kilometer course in a time of 19:51.9, earning 13th-place and helped the squad finish fourth out of 11 teams. Schaefer earned the second-fastest time at the New Paltz Two-Miler Sept. 1, finishing 11th individually in a time of 12:02.7 to help the Hawks place third out of three teams. 

FIELD HOCKEY OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Dani Ackerman (SR)  
New Paltz, Midfielder (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East)
New Paltz senior midfielder Dani Ackerman eclipsed the program's all-time goals record this past week, scoring two to push her career total to 36. She also added two assists on the week for six points. Ackerman played the full 70 minutes in the Hawks' season-opening 1-0 win over Western Connecticut State University on Tuesday. On Saturday against St. Lawrence University at the Utica Tournament, she netted two goals and added an assist in a 4-2 New Paltz win, and on Sunday, she chipped in with an assist in the Hawks' 4-1 triumph over host Utica College.

FIELD HOCKEY DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Alayna Wageman (SR)
New Paltz, Goalkeeper (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North)
New Paltz senior goalkeeper Alayna Wageman made 14 saves in her first appearance in goal this season on Sunday against Utica College at the Utica Tournament, lifting the Hawks to a 4-1 win. That performance gives her a .933 save percentage for the season, which currently ranks first in the SUNYAC.

MEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Nick Tata (JR)
Cortland, Forward (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute)
Nick Tata helped lead 19th-ranked Cortland to a 2-1 week. In a 6-2 win at Elmira in the season-opener, Tata netted a pair of goals. He followed up with two goals and an assist in a 5-1 victory over Morrisville St. at the Rochester Flower City Classic, where he was named Best Offensive Player. For the week, he totaled nine points on four goals and one assist.

MEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – William Banahene (JR)
Buffalo State, Goalkeeper (Rochester, NY/Brighton)
The junior transfer, William Banahene backstopped the Bengals to a perfect 3-0 start with a 0.34 GAA and a .938 save percentage. Banahene made three saves in a 2-0 win over Alfred State, and then had six saves in his second-consecutive shutout in a 3-0 victory at Nazareth. He then made six saves and allowed only one goal on a penalty kick in a 2-1 victory at RIT.

WOMEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Alexis Moreland (JR)
Fredonia, Forward (Newfane,N.Y./Newfane)
Alexis Moreland, a junior, scored a goal in each of Fredonia's first three games this season. Her goal against Allegheny on Sept. 1 was the game-winner. Moreland has now scored 14 goals as a Blue Devil in 39 games as a Blue Devil. Four of her goals have won games.

WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Catherine Eliasson  (SO)
Brockport, Goalkeeper (Salisbury Mills, NY/Cornwall)
Catherine Eliasson helped lead Brockport to a 1-1-1 record to begin the season in which she recorded 23 saves while allowing only three goals.

VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Kelly Edinger (SR)
Fredonia, Setter (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena)
Kelly Edinger moved up to No. 2 in assists on Fredonia's career list. She has 185 assists this season, which gives her 3,519 in her college career. She's 54 assists away from becoming Fredonia's career leader. Edinger was named to the Cortland Red Dragon Classic all-tournament team as the Blue Devils swept their four matches and improved to 5-0 this season. Edinger also added 68 digs, 15 kills and 3 aces.