SUNYAC Athletes of the Week - April 27, 2026
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC selects its spring Athletes of the Week highlighting performances of 12 student-athletes from seven different member institutions.
Baseball Athlete of the Week - Michael Piccirillo, Plattsburgh
Michael Piccirillo turned in a dominant week at the plate for Plattsburgh, totaling 10 hits and 8 RBI across a strong slate of games. He opened the week against Canton with a 2-for-3 performance, scoring three runs and drawing two walks, then delivered in clutch fashion in game two with a walk-off RBI single. Piccirillo stayed hot against Clarkson, recording three hits, two runs scored, and six RBI, highlighted by a grand slam. He continued to produce in a three-game series against New Paltz, adding four hits and an RBI. His consistent production and timely hitting were key catalysts for Plattsburgh's offensive success throughout the week.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week - Xavier Zykoff, New Paltz
Zykoff became the first player in program history to throw a no-hitter. He did so in a seven-inning, 13-1 win over Oneonta where he yielded just three walks, no earned runs and had four strikeouts. He then appeared in a 15-6 win over Plattsburgh and tossed two innings, allowing three hits with three strikeouts. In nine innings pitched in his two outings, he gave up three hits, two earned runs and four walks with seven strikeouts and boasted a k.9 of 7.00, an ERA of 2.00 and WHIP of .78.
Men's Lacrosse Offensive Athlete of the Week - Nick Stoecker, Cortland
Stoecker had a stellar week with 16 points on 13 goals and three assists, and added three ground balls, in leading the Red Dragons to a pair of SUNYAC wins and clinching the conference regular-season title. The senior celebrated Senior Day on Saturday with a career-high seven goals and one assist for eight points in a 26-3 victory over Plattsburgh. He also added six goals and two assists for eight points in a 34-8 road win at Morrisville on Wednesday evening, and finished the week with a 54.2% shooting percentage.
Men's Lacrosse Defensive Athlete of the Week - AJ Surian, Cortland
Surian had an four caused turnovers, seven ground balls, helped pace a Red Dragon defense that allowed an average of 5.5 goals per game, and added three points on a goal and two assists, in helping Cortland to a pair of SUNYAC wins and clinching the conference regular-season title. The senior had a team-high three caused turnovers and scooped up five ground balls in a 26-3 home win over Plattsburgh on Saturday, while also providing an assist. He also recorded one caused turnover, two ground balls, and had a goal and an assist in a 34-8 road win at Morrisville on Wednesday.
Women's Lacrosse Offensive Athlete of the Week - Alexis Hill, Oswego
Hill led the Lakers to their biggest win of the season so far on the road at Cortland. She scored 5 goals while collecting 6 ground balls, 4 draw controls, and casued 4 turnovers from the midfield. She continues to be in the top 5 in the conference in goals, points, and shots.
Women's Lacrosse Defensive Athlete of the Week - Kate Whitley, Canton
Whitley had a monster game defensively for the Roos recording game-highs of seven ground balls and six caused turnovers to go with five draw controls and an assist as the Canton doubled up Potsdam 14-7 on Wednesday in their lone game of the week. Her six caused turnovers were just one shy of tying the Roos single-game program record. She helped key a defense that held the Bears to just one goal each in the second and fourth quarters and only allowed three total goals in the second half.
Softball Athlete of the Week - Ella Sharrock, New Paltz
Sharrock became the team's new single season home run leader as she rocketed her eighth of the season to help the Hawks to a 10-2 win over Oswego. She started the week going 3-for-3 with three doubles, two runs, six RBI and a stolen base in an 18-0 win over Canton. She then added a hit and a run in a Game 2, 10-0 victory over the Roos. During the. team's 10-2 victory over the Lakers, Sharrock went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs and three RBI along with her home run and then aided in a 9-5 victory in Game 2 after going 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI. She finished the week hitting .750 with an on-base-percentage of .692 and slugging percentage of 1.417. She also was perfect in the field, manning first base. She finished with 11 total catches, 10 put outs and one assist, as she helped turn two double plays over the course of the team's four games on the week.
Softball Pitcher of the Week - Morgan Smith, New Paltz
Smith was an out away from throwing a perfect game against Canton Thursday. Instead she settled for a no-hitter as she let up a single walk on a full count in the fifth to lead her team to a 10-0, five-inning complete game shutout over Canton. She then came in for relief in Game 2 after a tied two innings, she was crucial in holding her team's lead down the stretch, as she finished the last 4.2 innings and allowed just four hits and no walks. Over the two games, Smith allowed just four hits, one walk with 10 strikeouts, owning a K/7 of 7.24, an ERA of 0.00 and WHIP of .52.
Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week - Charles Cypress , Plattsburgh
Cypress delivered a record-setting performance for Plattsburgh State at the SLU Twilight Invite, helping lead the Cardinals to a first-place team finish with 231 points. Cypress broke the outdoor program record in the 100-meter dash with a personal-best time of 10.57 seconds, earning a second-place finish. He continued his standout day on the track with a first-place finish in the 200-meter dash, clocking 22.11 seconds.
Mens's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week - Cam Sample, Fredonia
Sample won the long jump at the blue devil invitation with a best of 7.26 meters (23 feet, 10 inches), hitting that mark twice, and adding a 7.15 and 7.02 to complete a dominant series; no other athlete in the field reached 7.00. He was also apart of the 4X100 relay team that took first with a time of 3:34.92 which was a school record. His jump is tied for 15th in Division III.
Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week - Grace Yarkosky, Plattsburgh
Yarkosky delivered a standout performance for the Plattsburgh State at the SLU Twilight Invite, leading the Cardinals with a first-place finish in the 400-meter dash in 56.08 seconds, an All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Conference (AARTFC) qualifying mark. Yarkosky also played a key role in the 4x400-meter relay, helping the Cardinals secure a first-place finish with a time of 4:18.98. Her efforts were instrumental in Plattsburgh State's strong showing, as the team placed second overall with 174 points at the meet.
Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week - Ashley LaReddola, Oneonta
Sophomore Ashley LaReddola broke the Oneonta women's track & field program record in the pole vault at the RPI Capital District Classic on Friday. She cleared 3.15 meters for second overall.
