SUNYAC Athletes of the Week - November 3, 2025
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC selects its last field hockey and soccer Athletes of the Week, rolls into its fourth week of picks for swimming and diving and makes its first men's and women's ice hockey and wrestling selections of the 2025-26 season. The conference honors 18 student-athletes from nine different member institutions for their performances during the week of October 27- November 2.
Field Hockey Offensive Athlete of the Week – Tori Peterson, Cortland
Peterson recorded four points on two goals, including the game-winning goal, during the Red Dragons' 2-1 win at Skidmore on Saturday afternoon. The junior knocked in a cross early in the fourth quarter, then notched a second goal on a rebound just minutes later.
Field Hockey Defensive Athlete of the Week - Maura Leib, Oneonta
Maura Leib finished the week with 30 saves for an .882 save percentage as Oneonta went 1-1 in non-conference play. Leib started the week with 17 saves along with an .895 save percentage against Ithaca. The senior keeper then totaled 13 saves in the Red Dragons 3-2 victory over RPI. Leib finished the regular season ranked first in the SUNYAC with an .854 save percentage and second with 152 saves.
Men's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week - Sam Rogers, Oneonta
Rogers led Oneonta men's soccer with a hat trick for a 3-0 win over New Paltz in the first round of the SUNYAC tournament. He started the game with a brace in the first half, then he earned the hat trick in the 60th minute.
Men's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week – Ryan Ameis, Fredonia
Ryan Ameis led a Fredoinia State defense that did not allow a goal in a road post-season game at Plattsburgh, as the Blue Devils came away with a 1-0 victory on Saturday. For good measure, Ameis moved upfield on a Fredonia State corner kick, and his header accounted for the only goal of the games as the Devils advance to the Semi Final Round on Wednesday.
Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week - Olivia Kilmer, Buffalo State
Kilmer netted a hat trick for Buffalo State in their SUNYAC Tournament First Round win over New Paltz on Saturday. The Bengals will now battle Cortland on Wednesday in the SUNYAC Semifinals after earning their first postseason win since the 2016 season. The hat trick is also tied the SUNYAC record for most goals in a playoff game and is the first postseason hat trick for Buffalo State since Mary Lund in 1984.
Women's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week – Casey Fetzner, Fredonia
Casey Fetzner was perfect into double overtime as the Blue Devils came away with a 1-0 SUNYAC First Round win over Oswego. The freshman goaltender made 10 saves for the shutout as Fredonia State advances to Wednesday's Semifinal contest at Plattsburgh.
Women's Volleyball Offensive Athlete of the Week - Emalee Ballou, Cortland
Ballou was dominant offensively during Cortland's home wins over Potsdam and Plattsburgh as the Red Dragons wrapped up their fifth straight 9-0 SUNYAC regular season. She finished the weekend with 24 kills and just three errors in 41 attempts for a .512 attack percentage. She had 11 kills and no errors in 20 attempts in a sweep of Potsdam and 13 kills and three errors in 21 swings in a sweep versus Plattsburgh.
Women's Volleyball Defensive Athlete of the Week - Lola Konopa, New Paltz
Konopa was huge at the net this weekend to help the Hawks to two wins and clinch the No. 3 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament. In a five-set win over Fredonia Friday, Konopa finished with a game-high five blocks, two shy of her career-high, with four solo blocks ? the most in a single game for her career. She added eight kills, hitting a productive .471 with three digs and 12.5 points. Konopa tied for a game-high four blocks in a four-set win over Buffalo State Saturday, while adding seven kills and four digs in the match. She finished the weekend by leading her team in total blocks (9) and solo blocks (6) with seven digs, to go along with 15 kills and seven digs.
Men's Ice Hockey Athlete of the Week - Niko Schoner, Canton
Schoner tallied five points on two goals and three assists leading the Roos to an unbeaten weekend to start the season. He opened the weekend scoring the game-winning goal at 11:12 of the third period on the power play to lead Canton to a 2-1 win against No. 7/8 nationally-ranked Trine on Friday. The win marked the third highest for the Roos against a ranked opponent in program history. On Sunday he recorded a game-high four points on a goal and three assists having a hand in all but one of Canton?s goals in a 5-1 win against Misericordia. Schoner leads the Roos with five assists, two goals, three assists and two power play goals through two games this season.
Men's Ice Hockey Goaltender of the Week - Brady Spry, Plattsburgh
First-year goaltender Spry delivered an impressive collegiate debut to help the Cardinals complete a perfect 2-0 opening weekend. Earning his first career start against Plymouth State, Spry posted a 34-save shutout to secure both his first collegiate win and Plattsburgh State?s 4-0 victory. The rookie netminder stood tall throughout the night, making several key stops to keep the Cardinals tied early and preserve their lead down the stretch. His composure and consistency in net anchored the team?s defensive effort and capped off a strong start to the season.
Men's Ice Hockey Rookie of the Week - Colton Alexander, Canton
Alexander tallied four points on two goals and two assists leading the Roos to an unbeaten weekend to start the season. He opened the weekend recording an assist on the game-winning goal at 11:12 of t he third period in a 2-1 win against No. 7/8 nationally-ranked Trine on Friday. The win marked the third highest for the Roos against a ranked opponent in program history. On Sunday he tallied a game-high two goals to go with an assist in a 5-1 win against Misericordia.
Women's Ice Hockey Athlete of the Week - Dakota Carlson, Buffalo State
Carlson was an offensive force for the Bengals as they opened the season 2-0 following a pair of wins over King's College. In Friday's season opener, Carlson scored twice while adding an assist in Buffalo State's 9-1 win over the Monarchs. In Saturday's effort, Carlson added her first career hat trick while adding an assist in the Bengals' 5-1 victory, helping the team to a weekend sweep to open the season.
Women's Ice Hockey Goaltender of the Week - Chloe Lewis, Plattsburgh
Junior goaltender Lewis was outstanding between the pipes, leading Plattsburgh State to a 3-0 shutout victory over No. 15 Norwich. Lewis turned aside all 21 shots she faced, earning the clean sheet and helping the Cardinals start the season on a high note. She made several key saves early to keep the game scoreless and came up clutch down the stretch to preserve the lead, anchoring a strong defensive effort against a nationally ranked opponent.
Women's Ice Hockey Rookie of the Week - Kaylee Cadez, Buffalo State
Cadez had a strong weekend in her Buffalo State debut as the Bengals went 2-0 following a 9-1 and 5-1 victory over the King's College Monarchs. Cadez totaled a goal and five assists, including four assists in Saturday's contest, to help Buffalo State earn a weekend sweep to open the season.
Men's Swimmer of the Week - Caden Traggiai, Penn State Altoona
Traggiai had two individual first places while also being part of a relay win in Saturday's home victory over McDaniel. The senior won the 200 Yard Freestyle (1:50.74) and 500 Yard Freestyle (5:03.43) while also being part of the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay team that won its event with a combined time of 1:32.14.
Women's Swimmer of the Week - Victoria Oldford, Penn State Altoona
Oldford placed first in the 50 Yard Freestyle (26.51) and 100 Yard Breaststroke (1:12.75) in Saturday's home dual meet win over McDaniel.
Men's Wrestler of the Week - Josh Harkless, RIT
Harkless won the 285 lb. weight class at the Ned McGinley Invitational, Saturday. Top-seeded Harkless defeated Christopher Dellabella (Wilkes) with a fall 1:47 into his first match. He pinned Sam Moffet (Kings) 16 seconds into their quarterfinal match. Harkless, ranked third in Division III, pinned Nathan Faxon 12 seconds into their semifinal match and beat Derek Martin (York) with an 11-2 major decision in the title bout.
Men's Wrestling Rookie of the Week - Colton Havens, Cortland
Havens posted a 6-0 record to claim individual title at 157 pounds in his first collegiate meet at the Ned McGinley Invitational on Saturday. The freshman registered one pin, one technical fall, and two major decisions in his first four matches to advance to the semifinals. He earned a 4-1 decision over Marc Kleyman of Hunter in the semifinals, before defeating MJ Turi of King's with a takedown with 58 seconds remaining in the sudden-victory overtime period for a 4-1 scoreline in the finals.
