SUNYAC selects weekly awards for lacrosse, baseball and softball
CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) honors eight athletes with weekly awards in lacrosse, baseball and softball.
Men's Lacrosse Athlete of the Week - Devin Phelps, Cortland
(Jr, Attack - Chittenango, N.Y.)
Phelps helped the Red Dragons (6-0) to a pair of wins last week with 14 points on seven goals and seven assists, adding five ground balls. In a 16-5 home win versus Morrisville on Tuesday, Phelps scored a career-high eight points on three goals and five assists with two ground balls. He then tallied six points on four goals and two assists with three ground balls in Cortland's 18-13 victory at 13th-ranked Cabrini on Saturday. For the season, he leads the Red Dragons with 27 points on 12 goals and a team-best 15 assists.
Men's Lacrosse Goalie of the Week - Jack Bezek, SUNY Potsdam
(Sr, G - Webster, N.Y.)
Jack Bezek posted 34 saves and a .618 save percentage in a 1-1 week for the Bears. Bezek stopped a career-high 22 shots in a loss to Clarkson on Tuesday. He then made 12 saves in an 11-8 victory over Morrisville on Saturday for his second career win.
Women's Lacrosse Offensive Athlete of the Week – Melissa Wagner, New Paltz
(Sr, Attack - Putnam Valley, N.Y.)
Wagner led the Hawks to a 2-1 week with wins over Elmira (W, 13-7) and at USMMA (W, 14-5). Wagner tallied eight goals (three free-position) and five assists for 13 total points and compiled 12 shots, all on goal. The senior also collected three ground balls and two draw controls as New Paltz has already matched its win total from last season just four games into the 2017 campaign.
Women's Lacrosse Defensive Athlete of the Week - Jaclyn Beshlian, Cortland
(Sr, G - Wantagh, NY, 25)
Beshlian recorded a 7.50 GAA, 19 saves, a .576 save percentage and five ground balls in a 1-1 week for the Red Dragons (4-2). In an 11-10 OT setback at #13 Ithaca on Thursday, Beshlian stopped 13 shots, including three on overtime, and recorded three ground balls. She followed up with six saves in 48:40, allowing just three goals and securing two ground balls, in a 17-5 home win versus Denison on Saturday. For the season, she has a 4-2 record with a 7.77 GAA, 51 saves, a .531 save percentage and 10 ground balls.
Baseball Athlete of the Week - Steven Figueroa
(Sr., 2B - Bronx, N.Y.)
Figueroa batted an impressive .692 (9-for-13) with four walks in a 4-0 week for the Red Dragons. He also handled 18 fielding chances (eight putouts, 10 assists) at second and third base without an error. Figueroa went 2-for-3 with two walks and two RBI in a 5-2 win at Fredonia Thursday, followed by going a combined 5-for-7 with a double, walk, three RBI and four runs scored in a doubleheader sweep of the Blue Devils Friday. He closed the week Sunday by going 2-for-3 with a triple, walk, sac bunt, RBI and two runs scored in an 11-3 win at Rochester. Figueroa finished the week with a .765 on-base percentage and .923 slugging percentage.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week - Mike Harrington, Cortland
(Jr, P - Glens Falls, N.Y.)
Harrington was dominant out of the bullpen for the Red Dragons in a 5-2 win at Fredonia Thursday. He entered in the third inning and allowed no runs on only four hits with no walks over the final six and two thirds innings. He struck out nine batters and earned the victory.
Softball Athlete of the Week - Mikayla Shade, Cortland
(Sr, 1B - Glenmont, N.Y.)
Shade hit .429 (6-for-14) with four doubles and two RBI in a 2-2 weekend for the Red Dragons in New Jersey. She was 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in a 7-4 win at Stockton University and went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI in a 2-1, eight-inning victory at The College of New Jersey.
Softball Pitcher of the Week - Sam Van Dorn, Cortland
(So, P - Medford, N.Y.)
Van Dorn recorded two wins out of the bullpen for the Red Dragons during a weekend trip to New Jersey. She allowed one run on three hits in two and two thirds innings with two strikeouts in a 7-4 win at Stockton University Friday. The following day she gave up only one hit and fanned one in three scoreless innings in a 2-1, eight-inning win at The College of New Jersey. Van Dorn finished the week 2-0 with a 1.24 ERA and allowed four hits and no walks in five and two thirds innings.
