SUNYAC weekly award picks released for lacrosse, baseball and softball
CORTLAND, N.Y.Y - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has named its Men's and Women's Lacrosse, Baseball and Softball Athletes of the Week for performances during the week of April 3-9.
Men's Lacrosse Athlete of the Week - Eric Soderquist, Potsdam
(Jr, Attack - Watertown, N.Y., 10)
Eric Soderquist had 11 points in a 3-0 week for the Bears. He registered two assists in Potsdam's 11-7 win at Canton on Tuesday. He then had a hat trick, including the game-winning goal in overtime, and two assists in a critical 11-10 SUNYAC win at Oneonta on Saturday. The following afternoon he added two goals and two assists in a 10-9 overtime victory at Castleton.
Men's Lacrosse Goalie of the Week - Jack Bezek, Potsdam
(Sr, G - Webster, N.Y., 4)
Jack Bezek guided the Bears to a 3-0 week. In the three contests he posted 41 saves, a .612 save percentage and a 8.51 goals-against-average. He stopped 11 shots in an 11-7 win a Canton on Tuesday night. He then matched the effort in a critical 11-10 overtime SUNYAC victory at Oneonta on Saturday. He capped the stretch with 19 saves in a 10-9 overtime win on Sunday.
Women's Lacrosse Defensive Athlete of the Week - Angela Ponto, Oswego
(Jr, G - Syracuse, N.Y., 31)
Ponto led the Lakers to a 2-0 week in the goal. The junior tallied 30 saves over the course of the two wins, including 19 saves against Potsdam on Saturday. She was one shy of her career-high, which she set against No. 9 York earlier this season. Ponto recorded a .714 save percentage on the week.
Women's Lacrosse Offensive Athlete of the Week - Montana Garrett, Oswego
(Fr, A - Cortland Manor, N.Y., 4)
Montana Garrett led the Lakers with 11 points over two days as she dominated the defense. During a 17-6 win against Potsdam on Wednesday, the freshman scored a career-high six goals on six shots. She also collected two ground balls and had a draw control. Against Oneonta on Saturday, she backed up her best statistic performance of the season with a five point game, scoring four goals and recording an assist and leading Oswego to a 9-7 win. The Cortland Manor, N.Y. native now leads the team with 19 goals on the season.
Baseball Athlete of the Week - Jack Massa, Cortland
(Jr, C - Shoreham, N.Y., 27)
Massa batted .600 (6-for-10) with a homer, double, two walks, two hit-by-pitches and two sac bunts in four games for the Red Dragons. He finished the week with a .714 on-base percentage and 1.000 slugging percentage. Massa went 3-for-5 with a homer and double in an 8-3 win Saturday vs. Oneonta. He also reached base four times (hit, two walks, hit-by-pitch) and scored three times in a win over Cazenovia.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week - Jeff Cooke, Cortland
(Sr, P - Rome, N.Y., 28)
Cooke threw six shutouts innings in Cortland's 5-0, seven-inning victory over visiting Oneonta. He allowed three hits and one walk and fanned four batters and improved to 5-2 on the season with a 2.11 ERA.
Softball Athlete of the Week - Andrea Schoonmaker, Cortland
(Jr, IF - Marlboro, N.Y., 14)
Schoonmaker hit .538 (7-for-13) with two doubles, a walk, two steals, three RBI and three runs scored in a 4-0 week for the Red Dragons. She finished 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs in a win at Rochester and was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two steals in a 4-0 victory over visiting Oswego.
Softball Pitcher of the Week - Katie Pitkin, Plattsburgh
(Jr, P - Dexter, N.Y., 7)
Plattsburgh State junior Katie Pitkin fashioned a 1.00 ERA over 14 innings pitched and went 2-0 during the week for the Cardinals. Pitkin struck out 12 batters during the week. She yielded two runs on six hits while striking out five in a 4-2, complete-game victory over SUNY New Paltz in the front end of a doubleheader on Monday before shutting out SUNY Geneseo, 1-0, in the first game of a twinbill on Sunday. Against Geneseo, she allowed just two hits and struck out seven. Pitkin is the SUNYAC's leader in wins with eight for the season.
