SUNYAC Athletes of the Week - September 29 2025
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - SUNYAC selects its fall 2025 week five Athletes of the Week. The conference recognizes 12 student-athletes across seven different institutions for their performances during the week of September 22-28.
Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week – Stephen Hallberg, Fredonia
Hallberg finished the 8k race 32nd overall in a time of 26:16.1 at the Roberts Wesleyan Invitational on Saturday. He was the top Blue Devil finisher in a field of 113 runners that scored.
Field Hockey Offensive Athlete of the Week – Ali Howell, Oneonta
Alexandra Howell recorded a hat trick in Oneonta's conference opener and finished the week with three goals and two assists for eight points as Oneonta went 1-1 and picked up a win in SUNYAC competition. After a close double overtime contest at Misericordia, Oneonta faced Morrisville and defeated the Mustangs, where Howell registered eight points in the conference victory. The junior scored or assisted the first four goals of the game for the Red Dragons then, early in the third period, she recorded her third goal of the game for the hat trick.
Field Hockey Defensive Athlete of the Week - Sam Krauthiem, Oswego
Krauthiem collected another 24 saves for the Lakers this week while earning a road victory over an Empire 8 foe, Brockport. Against New Paltz she added 20 more saves in the first conference game of the season. She leads the conference in saves (117) and is second in save percentage (.867).
Men's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week – Diego Rivera, Buffalo State
Rivera posted another stellar performance for Buffalo State scoring five goals with an assist in the teams SUNYAC win over Potsdam. Rivera has now scored in all but one game for the Bengals and leads the SUNYAC with 40 points and 17 goals. He also leads the nation in goals scored as well as points while posting multi-goal performances five times this year.
Men's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week – Jordan Ott, Cortland
Ott had another strong performance in goal in helping the nationally 11th-ranked Red Dragons to a 2-0 shutout at New Paltz in their SUNYAC opener on Saturday. The senior stopped six shots in the game for the clean sheet, including making five saves in the first half and another save early in the second half with the game still scoreless.
Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week – Sydney Myers, Plattsburgh
Myers played a pivotal role in the Cardinals' strong week of action. Myers provided a timely game-tying assist in the 62nd minute against St. Lawrence before delivering in conference play with a game-winning goal and an assist to lead Plattsburgh State to a 2-0 victory over Morrisville.
Women's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week – Abby Szymkowiak, Fredonia
In 180 minutes in net, Szymkowiak did not allow a goal. She made 13 saves in a 0-0 draw with Brockport on Tuesday. Over the weekend, she got her second shutout making one save. She had 14 saves and a 0.00 GAA average for the week.
Women's Tennis Singles Athlete of the Week – Lisa Schulz, Cortland
Schulz earns her third SUNYAC Women's Tennis Singles Athlete of the Week honors of the season after she finished 2-0 at first singles in a pair of road matches during the week to improve to 7-1 on the season. She won 6-4, 6-4 against Nazareth's Catherine Zak in a non-league match Monday and she cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win versus Fredonia's Lucy Prevet on Saturday. Schulz also finished 1-1 in doubles play.
Women's Tennis Doubles Team of the Week – Olivia Kunz and Patrycja Filonik , New Paltz
Filonik and Kunz won both of their conference matches this weekend 6-0 at second doubles. The dynamic duo did not let up a single point in their match against Oneonta or Oswego State.
Women's Volleyball Offensive Athlete of the Week - Kira Pirrera, Cortland
Pirrera led Cortland with 40 kills (4.0 per set) during a 3-0 home weekend. She finished the weekend with a combined .321 attack percentage and also had 29 digs (2.9 per set) and six blocks. Pirrera posted 14 kills and 10 digs in a 3-0 win over Misericordia on Friday. On Saturday, she had nine kills and eight digs in a sweep of Cobleskill and finished with 17 kills, a .361 attack percentage, 11 digs and four blocks in a four-set win over Muhlenberg.
Women's Volleyball Defensive Athlete of the Week - Lauren Millspaugh, Cortland
Millspaugh averaged 1.2 blocks per set over 10 sets during a 3-0 weekend for the Red Dragons. She also recorded 23 kills and just one error in 43 attempts (.512 attack percentage). Millspaugh totaled six blocks, two solo, in a three-set win over Cobleskill and had six blocks, along with nine kills and no errors, in a four-set win versus Muhlenberg.
