SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has named New Paltz's Sky Pedroza the PrestoSports Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week and Plattsburgh's Julia Ennis the Defensive Athlete of the Week.
Pedroza was key in a 2-0 week for the Hawks. Coming off the bench in both games, Pedroza, a fifth-year senior captain, provided the offensive spark to help the team to a 2-0 win over Bard Wednesday. She nearly gave New Paltz the lead in the first half one-timing a volley coming across the box that hit just off the cross bar, but she made sure to finish another opportunity in the second half to solidify the 2-0 outcome. Pressuring the Raptors backline, she got in front of Bard's goalie on a clear, got the deflection and then tapped in the open goal. In a 7-1 rout of Manhattanville, the Levittown, NY native continued to finish in the box, getting in front of a flat ball played by the Valiants goalie out of the back to score the game's third goal. She then put the finishing touches on a dominant victory with another hustle play on a 50-50 bouncing ball in the box. Pedroza got up and put Manhattanville's keeper to get a head on the ball and chip the keeper for her second goal of the game and third of the week. Pedroza took advantage of her opportunities off the bench, putting away three of four attempts on goal in 108 total minutes played over the last two games.
Junior goalkeeper Ennis made a career-high 10 saves in Plattsburgh's 2-1 come-from-behind win at Skidmore College on Saturday, Sept. 18. Ennis played to a 1-1-0 record with a 2.22 goals-against average, 12 saves and a .750 save percentage on the week. This is her second Defensive Athlete of the Week honor in three weeks to start the 2021 season.