SUNYAC announces top athletes for the week of Sept. 14-20

CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) recognizes 11 athletes in seven sports for their outstanding performances during the week of Sept. 14-20.

FEMALE RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Kailyn Balzano (SR)  
Cortland (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia)
Cortland senior Kailyn Balzano finished 24th overall, and was the ninth Div. III finisher, out of 276 runners at the Rochester Yellowjacket Invitational. She finished the 6,000-meter course in 23:10 and helped the nationally 26th-ranked Red Dragons finish in fourth place out of 20 teams.?

MALE RUNNER OF THE WEEK - Mitch Ryan (JR)  
Cortland (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Seton Catholic)
Cortland junior Mitch Ryan was the sixth finisher overall, and the fifth collegiate runner out of 243 entrants at the Rochester Yellowjacket Invitational. He posted a time of 26:14 over 8,000 meters.

FIELD HOCKEY OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Jessica Caruana (SR)  
New Paltz, Back (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East)
New Paltz senior back Jessica Caruana scored three goals and added an assist in a 2-0 week for the Hawks. In New Paltz's 6-0 win over Union (N.Y.) College on Tuesday, Caruana netted two goals, which marked her first scores of the season. She then played a key role in the Hawks' 3-2, come-from-behind win over No. 5 Skidmore College on Saturday, assisting on New Paltz's first goal before netting the game-tying score off a penalty stroke. It marked the Hawks' first-ever win over Skidmore in a series that dates back to 2004. Caruana has three goals and two assists for eight points on the season in 490 minutes of action.

FIELD HOCKEY DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Alayna Wageman (SR)  
New Paltz, Goalkeeper (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North)
New Paltz senior goalkeeper Alayna Wageman made 11 saves and fashioned a 1.41 goals-against average and an .846 save percentage in a 2-0 week for the Hawks. She played 57:20 in goal in the Hawks' 6-0 win over Union (N.Y.) College on Tuesday without seeing a single shot. Then, on Saturday against No. 5 Skidmore College, she made 11 stops and allowed two goals in the Hawks' 3-2 come-from-behind victory, which marked the program's first-ever win over Skidmore. Wageman currently ranks among the SUNYAC leaders in goals-against average (1.45, second), save percentage (.844, second), saves per game (7.60, fourth) and total saves (38, fifth).

MEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Matthew Wagner (SO)
Potsdam, Defense (Bronxville, N.Y./Bronxville)
Matthew Wagner scored the Bears lone goal in their 1-0 upset of No. 8 St. Lawrence on Tuesday afternoon. The win was Potsdam's first over the Saints in 10 years.

MEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Joe Brandofino (JR)  
Cortland, Goalkeeper (East Northport, NY/Commack)
Cortland junior Joe Brandofino helped the Red Dragons (5-1-1) post a 1-0-1 record over the weekend, making 16 saves and allowing two goals in the two games for an .889 save percentage and a 0.90 GAA. In a 0-0 double-overtime tie versus No. 8 St. Lawrence on Friday, Brandofino made a career-high 11 saves, including five during the two 10-minute overtime periods. In a 4-2 victory versus Clarkson on Saturday, he turned aside five shots with four of the saves in the second half to protect a two-goal lead. Brandofino has a 5-1-1 record this season and lowered his GAA to 1.45.

WOMEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Emily Green (JR)
Geneseo, Midfielder (Loudonville, N.Y./Colonie Central)
Emily Green's offensive performance led the Knights (4-1-1) to a 2-0 week. On Friday, Green tallied a goal and added an assist in a 2-0 victory at Skidmore. On Sunday, Green scored both of Geneseo's goals in a 2-0 win at Farmingdale St. She currently has a team-high nine points on the season.

WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Nichole Gibson (FR)
Plattsburgh, Goalkeeper (Arkport, N.Y./Arkport Central Schools)
Plattsburgh freshman goalkeeper Nichole Gibson kept up her defensive stand with her third-consecutive shutout on Wednesday against RPI in a 3-0 win. On Saturday against Skidmore she made a game-high six saves to help preserve a 2-1 victory for the Cardinals. On the week Gibson helped anchor Plattsburgh State defensively making eight saves and allowed only one goal to guide the Cardinals to a 2-0-0 week.

TENNIS SINGLES PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Cat Crummey, SR
Geneseo (Loudonville, N.Y./Shaker)
Senior Cat Crummey had a perfect 4-0 singles record on the week, going 3-0 at the St. Lawrence Tournament, which featured the hosts, Hamilton, Rochester and Geneseo. Earlier in the week, Crummey also won her first singles match in a dual match with Brockport. Crummey, along with Marylen Santos, also went 2-1 in first doubles play, going 1-1 at the tournament and 1-0 against Brockport.

TENNIS DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK – Mako Tanaka,FR (Tokyo, Japan/Keio Academy (N.Y.)
and Mai Hashimoto, Sr. (Chigasaki, Japan/Kanagawa Shogoh)
Geneseo
The doubles team of senior Mai Hashimoto and freshman Mako Tanaka each went 6-0 at the St. Lawrence Tournament, with the pair winning each of their three doubles matches. Both Hashimoto and Tanaka also went 3-0 in singles play. At the dual meet with Brockport, the duo won their second doubles match, with both Tanaka and Hashimoto winning their third and fourth singles matches, respectively.

VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Megan Russell (JR)
Oswego (Wantagh/Seaford)
Junior Megan Russell was a key threat in the middle as Oswego went a perfect 4-0 at its home tournament this weekend, dropping only one set on its way to tournament champs. The junior played all 13 sets, accumulating a team-high 38 kills and .395 attack percentage. Defensively, Russell recorded 10 block assist and a solo block while also picking up five digs. At the conclusion of the weekend, the Wantagh N.Y. native was named the Most Valuable Player of the Oswego State Volleyball Tournament.