Monmouth-Manhattan Men's Lacrosse Contest Flexed to ESPNU on Friday, April 28
EDISON, NJ – The Monmouth University Men’s Lacrosse team will host Manhattan College on Friday, April 28 at 4pm live on ESPNU in West Long Branch, NJ. As part of the MAAC’s deal with ESPN, one regular season contest is showcased on ESPNU.
The Hawks are currently on a six-game winning streak and sit at 3-0 in the MAAC and 9-3 overall. Monmouth is led by four-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Week, senior goalkeeper Nick Hreshko. Hreshko leads the conference with a 7.22 goals against average.
The Japers are led by 2015-16 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Year, Parker Giarratana, who ranks third in the MAAC with 26 goals and fifth in the MAAC with 3.09 points per game. Goalkeeper Michael Zingaro leads the MAAC with 12.82 saves per game.
The 2017 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship will take place at Marist College, beginning with semifinals action on Friday, May 5 when the top four seeds in the conference will square off. The 2017 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship Game takes place on Sunday, May 7 at 10am live on ESPNU.
For all up-to-date information on the 2017 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship, visit maacsports.com/menslax
Canisius Duo of Kearnan, Ganzhorn & Marist's Tierney Claim Weekly Awards
Offensive Player of the Week
Jr., 5-8, A, Courtice, Ontario/St. Stephen's (Saint Joseph's)
Recorded five goals and one assist in leading Canisius to an 11-5 victory over Detroit Mercy. Scored three goals in the second half as the Griffs out-scored the Titans 7-0 in the final 30 minutes to move to 3-0 in league play for the first time since 2008. Kearnan recorded his seventh hat trick of the season and the 12th of his career with the five-goal effort. Kearnan also recorded five or more points in a game for the fifth time this season and the seventh time in his career.
Defensive Player of the Week
Jr., 6-2, GK, Cleveland, OH/University School
Made 11 saves to help Canisius defeat Detroit Mercy, 11-5, in a matchup of MAAC unbeatens on Saturday. Posted six saves in the first half and stopped all five shots he faced in the second half as he helped keep the Titans off the scoreboard for the final 31:51 of the contest. Ganzhorn recorded double-digit saves for the fifth time this season and the 12th time in his career.
Rookie of the Week
Fr., 5-10, A, Bethpage, NY/Bethpage
Tierney extended his point streak to 11 games when Marist took down defending MAAC Champion Quinnipiac, 9-8, on April 8 in Connecticut. He had a hat trick and an assist against the Bobcats and all four of his shots came on goal. He also picked up a ground ball in Marist’s first conference win of 2017. Both of Tierney’s goals gave the Red Foxes the lead, including one as time expired in the second quarter.
Canisius' Evans, Marist's Witczak & Siena's Deaken Earn MAAC Women's Lacrosse Weekly Honors
Offensive Player of the Week
Jr., M, Peterborough, Ontario/St. Peter's Secondary
Junior Erica Evans totaled a team-high nine goals and 13 points in two conference wins this week. The midfielder added 11 ground balls, 10 draw controls, and five caused turnovers. In a 25-11 win over Siena on Wednesday, Evans scored five goals and added two assists, setting the Canisius career goals record, with the 155th of her career. In a 18-3 victory over Monmouth on Saturday, Evans became only the fifth player in program history to reach the 200 point mark, totaling six points on four goals.
Defensive Player of the Week
Sr., GK, Mendham, NJ/West Morris Mendham
Senior Abigail Witczak helped Marist pick up its first two MAAC wins of the season this week. She made 16 saves on 33 shots faced in the Red Foxes’ 16-9 win at Manhattan on Wednesday. Witczak allowed just four goals to Quinnipiac on Saturday and made five saves in a 10-4 Marist victory. In 120 minutes of work in the two games, she compiled a 6.50 goals against average and .618 save percentage alongside four ground balls and a caused turnover. Her 21 saves came on 46 shots faced. Witczak has played every minute in goal for the Red Foxes this season.
Rookie of the Week
Fr., M, Orangeville, Ontario/The Hill Academy
Alexis Deaken led Siena in scoring this week as she had eight goals (four against Canisius and four against Iona). The freshman also dished out one assist against the Gaels for nine points. She tallied nine ground balls, six draw controls, and caused one turnover for the Saints.
Quinnipiac Women's Hoops Ranked No. 1 in College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll for First Time in Program History
EDISON, NJ – Quinnipiac University Women’s Basketball team (29-7, 17-3 MAAC) ranked No. 1 in the final College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll of 2016-17. It is the first time in program history that the Bobcats have claimed the top spot in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll. This news comes after the team was ranked nationally for the first time ever in the USA Today Sports Coaches’ Top 25 Poll on Monday, April 3.
Earlier this season Quinnipiac was ranked as high as No. 2 overall in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll (January 4-17). The Bobcats were in the Top 10 of the poll for 11 consecutive weeks (November 15-January 24).
Prior to its loss against 2017 NCAA National Champion, University of South Carolina in the Sweet 16, the Bobcats were on a MAAC-high 12-game winning streak. They knocked off nationally ranked opponents No. 25 Marquette University and No. 16 University of Miami en route to their first-ever Sweet 16 appearance.
Quinnipiac was one of 13 programs across the nation to have won at least three-straight conference regular season titles. The Bobcats have recorded a mark of 54-6 (.900) in conference games in that three-year span (since 2014-15).
The Bobcats finished first in the MAAC in scoring offense (68.4), scoring margin (+9.7), field goal percentage defense (36.9%), blocked shots per game (4.9), assists per game (16.2), steals per game (10.8), turnover margin (+4.94), and assist/turnover ratio (1.1).
Rider University tallied 43 votes in the final poll of the season. The Broncs ranked as high as No. 23 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 on February 21.
Monmouth's Justin Robinson Invited to Portsmouth Invitational
PORTSMOUTH, VA- Monmouth guard Justin Robinson (Lake Katrine, NY/Kingston) has accepted an invitation to play in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, which will take place from April 12-15 at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, VA. Robinson is the first Hawk to ever be invited to Portsmouth, and is one of 64 seniors in the nation to receive an invite.
“To be invited to the P.I.T. is nothing short of an honor and a blessing,” said Robinson. “To be named one of the top seniors in the country and be able to compete with them is something I’m incredibly grateful for.”
Robinson rewrote the record books in his four years in West Long Branch, becoming the Division I all-time leading scorer and the second Hawk ever to score 2,000 points, finishing with 2,003. He concluded his career first in DI scoring and started 128 games, the most in program history. Robinson also completed his time in the Blue and White second in assists (496), field goals made (635), three pointers made (257), steals (211), minutes played (4,002), and games played (131). In the all-time MAAC rankings, Robinson finished up 14th all-time in scoring, one point behind Iona’s AJ English, who received an invitation to the 2016 P.I.T.
Robinson was recently named the Lou Henson National Player of the year, awarded to the top mid-major player in the country, in addition to earning his second straight MAAC Player of the Year and picking up ECAC Player of the Year honors. He was named an Honorable Mention AP All-America for the second year in a row, and picked up NABC and USBWA All-District accolades. A three-time All-MAAC First Team member, Robinson led the MAAC in scoring as a senior.
The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament is set for Wednesday, April 12 through Saturday, April 15. Each year for 65 years the P.I.T has invited 64 of the best college basketball players (seniors) from across the nation to participate in a four-day, twelve game tournament in front of representatives from every NBA team. The tournament is held at Churchland High School in Portsmouth.
Chazz Patterson Named to the 2017 Lefty Driesell Defensive All-American Team
PHOENIX, AZ – After becoming the first ever Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Defensive Player of the Year from Saint Peter’s University, senior guard Chazz Patterson (Browns Mills, NJ/Trenton Catholic) can add another accolade to his resume, as he was named to the 2017 Lefty Driesell Defensive All-American Team, the first in program history. Patterson is one of 25 Division I players to be named to the lineup that consists of the nation’s top defensive players and becomes the first Defensive All-American from the MAAC since Rhamel Brown of Manhattan College made the team in 2014.
Patterson finished his senior campaign ranked second in the MAAC with 1.6 steals per game and second in total steals after recording 58 thefts on the season. His 58 steals were the ninth most in a single-season in program history and Patterson is the first Peacock to record over 50 steals in a season since Brandon Hall made 57 steals in 2011-12. Behind Patterson’s defense, the Peacocks finished the season ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense. He led the team in steals on 15 different occasions in his senior season and tied his career-high of four steals in a game five different times this year.
For his career, the Browns Mills, New Jersey native has recorded 142 steals, which places him 10th on the all-time Saint Peter’s list and he carried the squad in steals 38 times over the course of his career. He also helped the Peacocks lead the conference in scoring defense for the fourth consecutive season.
Jevon Carter of West Virginia was named the recipient of the 2017 Lefty Driesell Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top defensive player.
Driesell won 786 games in 41 years at Davidson, Maryland, James Madison and Georgia State. He ranks eighth on the NCAA career Division I coaches victories list and his teams at each stop were known for playing tenacious defense. From 1969-1986 at Maryland, his teams posted a 348-159 record, won two Atlantic Coast Conference regular season titles and one tournament title.
Driesell also led Davidson, Georgia State and James Madison to the NCAA tournament, making him one of three coaches to reach the NCAAs with four different programs. His teams won a total of 16 regular season championships and six tournament championships.
2017 LEFTY DRIESELL DEFENSIVE ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Jaylin Airington - CSU Bakersfield
Dakarai Allen - San Diego State
Ehab Amin - Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Jordan Bell - Oregon
Tim Bond - Eastern Michigan
Chris Boucher - Oregon
Devontae Cacok - UNCW
Jevon Carter - West Virginia
Joseph Chartouny - Fordham
Tacko Fall - UCF
Ethan Happ - Wisconsin
Tra-Deon Hollins - Omaha
Ben Lammers - Georgia Tech
Paris Lee - Illinois State
Reggie Lynch - Minnesota
Hassan Martin - Rhode Island
Tahjere McCall - Tennessee State
Chazz Patterson - Saint Peter's
Joe Rahon - Saint Mary's
Khyri Thomas - Creighton
Liam Thomas - Nicholls State
Isaiah Wilkins - Virginia
Jay Wright - Louisiana
Sindarius Thornwell - South Carolina
Derrick White - Colorado
Lipinski, Ajjan & Yocum Earn Weekly Awards
Player of the Week
Sr., 6-3, C, Glen Arm, MD/Calvart Hall
Senior catcher Lee Lipinski had a strong week for the Broncs, hitting .600 (6-for-10) as Rider went 4-0. Four of six hits on the week went for extra-bases including his second home run of the season. He posted a slugging percentage of 1.200 to go along with an impressive .737 on-base percentage. During the week he also stole one base, had six RBIs, scored six runs, had 12 total bases, was hit by three pitches and walked five times. He reached base safely in his eight plate appearances over the course of two games to start the week. His biggest game of the week came against Saint Peter’s when he went 3 for-3 with three runs scored, three RBIs, a double and a home run.
Pitcher of the Week
So., 6-0, LHP, Chester Springs, PA/Downingtown East
Ajjan threw a complete game shutout at Siena on Saturday, striking out seven and allowing just two hits. The southpaw tossed just 96 pitches in the win, and only allowed one Siena batter to reach second base.
Rookie of the Week
Fr., 6-10, RHP, Easton, PA/Freedom
Freshman starting pitcher John Yocum was stellar in his MAAC debut for the Broncs last week. In a 7-0 victory against Saint Peter’s, Yocum tossed seven scoreless innings and scattered just five hits, while striking out eight batters without a walk. It was Yocum’s longest start of his young career as he also struck out a career-high eight batters. Earlier in the week, he pitched a scoreless inning in a non-conference win at NJIT. Yocum’s start against the Peacocks was the first time he posted a WHIP under 1.00 this season.
Siena's Hess, Marist's Van Alphen & Manhattan's Williams Take Home MAAC Softball Weekly Awards
Player of the Week
Jr., INF, Gilbert, AZ/Campo Verde
In the Siena’s doubleheader sweep over Fairfield, Paige Hess went 3-4 at the plate. The junior infielder totaled five RBI on the day, added three walks, and a hit by pitch for an .875 on-base percentage. Hess ended the first game of the series early with a walk-off grand slam to give Siena the 10-2 win. In game two, Hess singled twice and added one RBI in another Saints victory.
Pitcher of the Week
R-Sr., P, Hudson, NY/Ichabod Crane
Jessica Van Alphen had an ERA of 0.00, a record of 1-0, and one save in her two appearances (one start) this week. In 8.0 innings, she recorded 10 strikeouts while allowing just five hits. The only walk she permitted all week was intentional. The opposition hit just .143 against her. In her first appearance of the week, she recorded a save in 2.0 scoreless innings in Marist’s 4-1 victory against Fairfield. She had one strikeout, and threw 19 of her 24 pitches for strikes. Against Iona the following day, she threw a 6.0 inning complete game shutout in Marist’s 8-0 victory. She struck out a career-high nine and gave up only three hits. She retired nine straight batters between the first and fourth innings, and struck out the side in the second inning.
Rookie of the Week
Fr., P, Ansonia, CT/St. Joseph's
Nicole Williams capped Manhattan’s first-ever sweep at Canisius with a complete game win in game two of the doubleheader. After allowing a second inning homer (the only run she allowed), she retired 12 straight Griffs before a leadoff single in the sixth. Williams struck out nine hitters during that stretch. She struck out the side in the third and again in the fifth as part of a 10-strikeout performance. Williams struck out every Canisius starter at least once and held the Griffs to just three hits in the 3-1 victory.
Clarke, Sosoo, Persson, & Gill Earn Outdoor Track & Field Performers of the Week
Men’s Field Performer of the Week
Sr., Townsville, Australia
Clarke won the long jump at the University of Georgia’s Spec Towns Invitational on Friday. With a personal-best leap of 7.68 m (25’2½), he improved to fourth place on the qualifying list for the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
Men’s Track Performer of the Week
Jr., Laurel, MD
Bryan Sosoo ran a time of 10.77 seconds to win the 100-meter dash at the Sam Howell Invite at Princeton this past weekend, qualifying for IC4A’s in the process. He was also a member of the 4x100 relay team that won at Princeton in 41.71 seconds, winning by .01 seconds.
Women’s Field Performer of the Week
So., Taby, Sweden
At the Spec Towns Invitational from the University of Georgia, Persson became just the fifth woman in program history to reach the six-meter barrier in the long jump. She leaped 6.00 m (19’8¼) on the nose to place third in the competition. With that effort, Persson moved into 25th place on the qualifying list for the NCAA East Preliminary Round. She also ran the 100 meter hurdles, finishing 10th in a time of 14.72 seconds.
Women’s Track Performer of the Week
Sr., Wyoming, PA
Cassandra Gill of the Iona College women’s track & field program recorded a six-second victory and personal best of 35:41.33 for the Gaels in the 10,000 meter at the Princeton hosted Sam Howell Invitational on Friday. Gill claimed the lead following the 4,000 meter mark over Maryann Gong of MIT, who finished in second. The senior owns the best time in the event this season thus far in the conference by more than 90 seconds, ahead of teammates Orlaith Moynihan and Shannon O’Hehir.
Iona's Schultz, VMI's French, and Wagner's Sjogren Take Home Awards
Offensive Player of the Week
Junior, Utility, 5'8", Tinley Park, IL
Hannah Schultz continued her torrid pace over the weekend. The junior utility scored 19 goals and help the Gaels to a 3-1 week. Against St. Francis Brooklyn Schultz had seven goals on eight shots. Vesus No. 24 Marist, she had five goals on 14 shots. In the matchup against Siena, Schultz recorded five goals on nine shots. In the final game of the weekend against Villanova, the junior registered two goals on six shots.
Defensive Player of the Week
Isabel French, Virginia Military Institute
Freshman, Goalkeeper, Naperville, IL
Over the weekend the freshman goalkeeper logged 30 saves in three complete games helping team to go 2-1 and clinch a MAAC playoff berth for the first time. French recorded 15 saves in the matchup against #17 Wagner. In the game against St. Francis Brooklyn, the keeper had seven saves en route to a 13-8 victory. In the Keydets 16-11 win against Villanova, French made eight saves.
Rookie of the Week
Jacqui Sjogren, Wagner College
Freshman, Attack, Queensland, Australia
Freshman attack Jacqui Sjogren recorded ten points on five goals and five assists as the Seahawks defeated La Salle, Siena, and VMI. The rookie fired the game-winning tally in the Green & White’s 13-10 overtime victory over VMI as the Seahawks took a 10-9 lead and never looked back. Earlier in the contest, Sjogren tied the score 3-3 with just six seconds remaining in the first quarter, while drawing three exclusions throughout the bout. Earlier in the weekend, the Australian native registered the fourth hat trick of her rookie season in Wagner’s 19-1 triumph over La Salle. Additionally, Sjogren collected 11 steals throughout the weekend, including a personal best five against the Saints.
Saint Peter's Rodriguez, Monmouth's Kokotajlo Earn Weekly Golf Awards
Fr., 5-11, Highland Mill, NY/Cornwall Central
Rodriguez was the top individual finisher at the Peacock Invitational on Tuesday, shooting two under par, with a final score of 70 at the 72 par event. The freshman shot two under par on par five holes and one under par on par four holes while making four birdies in the 18-hole, one round event. Rodriguez’s top finish helped lead Saint Peter’s to the team title in the Peacock Invitational for the first time since 2012.
Fr., 5-11, Highland Mill, NY/Cornwall Central
Junior Sarah Kokotajlo registered rounds of 85 and 84 before firing a team tournament-tying low 78 to finish the 54-hole Hoya Invitational with 247. Her score ties her season best for a three-round tournament while she led the Hawks’ card for the first time this season and fifth time in her career.
Quinnipiac's Rencheli, Marist's Restrepo Take Home Weekly Tennis Awards
Sr., 6-1, Sarasota, FL/VCU
Rencheli went 4-0 this week, winning two matches in both of Quinnipiac University’s duels against Fairleigh Dickinson University and Siena College. Rencheli teamed with Kelsi Oliphant in the No. 2 doubles match against Patricia and Tatiana Eftenoiu, defeating the FDU duo, 6-3 to secure the doubles point for the Bobcats. Rencheli followed with a win over Shreya Pasricha in three sets in the No. 1 singles match, 6-3, 0-6 and 6-1.
Rencheli and Oliphant had the opportunity to secure the doubles point against Natalie Weaver and Ivana Boberic in the No. 2 doubles match against Siena and the senior duo came through for Quinnipiac, securing the point with a 6-2 win. The win was the duo's sixth straight win, which is the highest streak of the season for the Bobcats. In the No. 1 singles match, Ali Garrity took Rencheli to three sets before Rencheli would put her away. Rencheli took the first set 6-2 but dropped the second, 5-7. However, Rencheli bounced back and defeated Garrity convincingly, 6-0.
Jr., Miami, FL/UNC-Wilmington/ New Village High School
Marist junior Javier Restrepo went a perfect 6-0 on the week in the Red Foxes three matches against Quinnipiac University, Niagara University, and St. Bonaventure University. Restrepo played exclusively at the first position in singles and played from the first and second position in doubles.
Restrepo’s first win of the week came from second doubles as he teamed up with Gianlucca Massa to defeat Austin Yannone and Axel Stern, 6-3. Restrepo followed up his doubles win by taking down reigning MAAC Player of the Year, Kei Ezaka in a thrilling three set match that would clinch the overall match win for the Red Foxes and improve them to 2-0 in conference play.
Against Niagara, Restrepo picked up two more wins. First playing from No.1 doubles, he teamed up with Massa again and defeated Felipe Fuentes and Francis Nadeau, 6-4. Restrepo then defeated Fuentes again, 6-2, 6-2, from the first singles spot. In his final two matches of the week, Restrepo won 6-3 at No. 2 doubles and 6-4, 6-4 at the No. 1 singles position.
This is Restrepo's third consecutive week earning the male tennis player of the week award.
Marist and Canisius Win Weekly Rowing Honors
Varsity 8 Boat of the Week
Marist College
In the Knecht Cup, the varsity 8+ placed second behind the Boston University Lightweights, and ahead of SMU, Delaware, Washington College and MAAC rivals Sacred Heart with a time of 6:56.44 to advance to the semifinals. The Red Foxes varsity 8 then edged out Canisius and Buffalo in the Sunday semifinal to advance to the third level final where they placed third with a time of 6:58.04 behind UConn (6:55.29) and Delaware (6:56.84), and ahead of Villanova (7:00.41), George Mason (7:04.10) and Buffalo (7:11.99). The Women's Varsity Eight consisted of Erin Gisolfi, Kelsi Cottrell, Julia Rigothi, Sydney Ford, Clodagh Deasy, Kate Beebe, Caroline Withers, Coco Defrancesco, and Eliza Hartford.
2nd Varsity 8 Boat of the Week
Marist College
The 2nd Varsity 8 of Marist Colleg came in fourth in their first heat out of five boats with a time of 7:24.63 to advance to the semi final of the Knecht Cup, edging out Buffalo and coming in just behind UConn. In the semi finals, the Red Foxes placed in fifth out of seven boats with a time of 7:13.62, just missing the qualifying time for the petite final by three seconds. The boat advanced to the third level final along with conference rivals Fairfield. In the third level final, Marist finished amongst the top four finishers. Villanova took first (7:05.33), with Buffalo 2nd (7:10.13), SMU 3rd (7:10.14), and Marist 4th (7:10.92). 2nd-4th were all within .8 seconds of each other. Women's Second Varsity Eight was Izzy Koch, Kim Foster, Katherine Perry, Shawna Gilson, Kerri Ernenwein, Abby Gragg, Maddy Gragg, Julia Czarnecki, Mimi Kamm.
Varsity 4 Boat of the Week
Canisius College
In the varsity 4 event of the Knecht Cup, the Canisius team of Liz DelBarba, Chanel Davis, Melissa Frank, Erin Grim, and Kaitlyn Taylor moved on in their heat as they finished the course with a time of 8:08.67. As one of the four-fastest times in the heat stage, the Griffs moved on to the semifinals. In the semi final round the boat finished the course with a time of 8:13.22.
Ghaderi, Storms Earn Student-Athlete of the Week Awards
Men's Lacrosse | Senior | Defender | 6-1 | Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood
Ghaderi, a senior defensemen on the men's lacrosse team has appeared in 37 games for the Saints over his three year career. He is now ranked fifth in program history with 33 caused turnovers. The Ridgewood, New Jersey native has played and started in every game this season for Siena. He has caused 16 turnovers and picked up 18 ground balls in 2017.
In the classroom as a philosophy major, he has a 3.55 cumulative GPA and achieved a 3.57 GPA during the fall semester. Ghaderi was named the 2016 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Sport Semi-finalist as well as being the 2017 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Team Winner. He has been named both a MAAC All-Academic Team and Academic Honor Roll selection the last two seasons. Ghaderi has also completed volunteer work with Immokalee Workers in both Florida and Chile and is a graduate of an Outward Bound Program. Ghaderi is the co-president of Phi Sigma Tau International Honors Society in Philosophy.
Samantha Storms, Saint Peter’s
Softball | Senior | Catcher/Utility | 5-9 | Lake Geneva, WI/Williams Bay
Samantha Storms led the Peacocks over the weekend with a team-best .363 batting average on 4-for-11 hitting. She hit a two-run homerun on Monday against Niagara for a team-high two RBIs. On the season, Storms is the team leader in homeruns with four and ranks second on the squad in RBI (10), runs (7), doubles (4), and walks (6). In the field, she has the second most put outs on the team with 66 and has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, having logged zero errors thus far in the season.