November 23, 2015
SUNYAC athletes of the week announced for Nov. 16-22
CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) honors athletes of the week baskeball, ice hockey and swimming and diving. Nine athletes from five different institutions were recognized.
MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Nico McLean (JR) Â
Buffalo State, Guard (Buffalo, NY/Amherst)
Nico McLean returned to the Bengals' lineup for the first time since the 2011-12 season and picked up right where he left off, averaging 21.7 points and 8.7 rebounds to go with 13 assists and eight steals in three games as the Bengals went 2-1 to open the season. McLean was named the MVP of the Coles Classic after the Bengals claimed the title with a 74-71 victory over Nazareth where he scored 19 points. He had 29 points, and 10 rebounds in a 100-91 win over Villa Maria, and earlier in the week had 17 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in a two-point loss to Point Park.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Devona Paul (SR) Â
Plattsburgh, Forward (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappen Zee HS)
Devona Paul has played an instrumental role in helping Plattsburgh State to a 3-0 start for the 2015-16 season. Over the first three games, Paul is averaging 17.6 ppg, 8 rpg and 2.3 apg. The Blauvelt, N.Y. native posted 25 points against Johnson State in the Cardinal Classic Tournament this past weekend. Plattsburgh State captured the Cardinal Classic crown over Bowdoin College with Paul earning All-Tournament and Tournament MVP honors.
FEMALE DIVER OF THE WEEK - Miranda Fergus (SR)
Cortland (Millbrook, N.Y./Millbrook)
Miranda Fergus won both diving events during Cortland's 182-72 dual-meet win at Buffalo State. She scored 279.70 points on the 3-meter board and 261.45 points on the 1-meter board. Both scores were NCAA Zone Diving qualifiers.
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FEMALE SWIMMER OF THE WEEK - Emily Smith (JR)
Geneseo (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley)
Emily Smith was a triple-winner as the Knights swept host Ithaca (W, 165-135) and Hartwick (W, 220-77) in tri-meet action on Saturday. She swept the 100 (1:00.02) and 200 (2:10.44) backstroke events with the two fastest times in the SUNYAC this season and added a leg to the winning 200 medley relay (1:52.54) which also posted the conference's top time this year. Smith's day also included logging the SUNYAC's fourth-fastest time of the year in finishing third in the 200 IM (2:16.72).Â
MALE DIVER OF THE WEEK - Arron Carlson (JR) Â
Fredonia (LeRoy, N.Y./Notre Dame)
Arron Carlson won both boards as the Fredonia men's swimming and diving team defeated Nazareth, 152-148. Carlson scored a 348.75 off the 3-meter board. Off the 1-meter board, he earned a 301.75. Both scores were NCAA Zone Diving qualifiers.
MALE SWIMMER OF THE WEEK - Connor Mergler (SO)Nominator: Jeff Ventura
Buffalo State (E. Amherst, NY/Williamsville North)
Connor Mergler broke a 41-year-old school record in the 100 fly, touching first in a dual meet against Cortland with a time of 53.22 seconds. He also won the 50 free with a pool record time of 21.16 seconds, good for the 16th fastest time in Division III this season. Mergler also helped pace the 400 medley relay (3:50.13), and the 200 free relay (1:29.85) to victories.
ICE HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Brett Hope (SR) Â
Buffalo State, Forward (Blenheim, ON/Blenheim)
Brett Hope tallied six point in two big SUNYAC wins this past weekend. The senior captain tallied a goal and three assists in Friday's 7-4 win at Geneseo, and then added two more assists in Saturday's 6-4 home victory over Brockport.Â
ICE HOCKEY GOALIE OF THE WEEK - Spencer Finney (SR) Â
Plattsburgh, Goalie (Pontypool, Ontario/Colgate University)
Spencer Finney made 21 saves on 22 shots for .955 save percentage to help the No. 4 Cardinals remain unbeaten while handing No. 12 Potsdam its first loss of the season. At the time, Finney has now beat two ranked teams in his last two starts (No. 11 Oswego, No. 12 Potsdam).
ICE HOCKEY ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Cole Stallard (FR) Â
Plattsburgh, Forward (Waleska, Ga/New Hampshire Junior Monarchs)
In just one game this weekend, Cole Stallard netted his first career hat-trick to help lead the No. 4 Cardinals over No. 12 Potsdam in a North Country battle of undefeated teams. Two of Stallard's tallies came on the power play as the Cardinals went 4-5 against the Bears on the man advantage.
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MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Nico McLean (JR) Â
Buffalo State, Guard (Buffalo, NY/Amherst)
Nico McLean returned to the Bengals' lineup for the first time since the 2011-12 season and picked up right where he left off, averaging 21.7 points and 8.7 rebounds to go with 13 assists and eight steals in three games as the Bengals went 2-1 to open the season. McLean was named the MVP of the Coles Classic after the Bengals claimed the title with a 74-71 victory over Nazareth where he scored 19 points. He had 29 points, and 10 rebounds in a 100-91 win over Villa Maria, and earlier in the week had 17 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in a two-point loss to Point Park.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Devona Paul (SR) Â
Plattsburgh, Forward (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappen Zee HS)
Devona Paul has played an instrumental role in helping Plattsburgh State to a 3-0 start for the 2015-16 season. Over the first three games, Paul is averaging 17.6 ppg, 8 rpg and 2.3 apg. The Blauvelt, N.Y. native posted 25 points against Johnson State in the Cardinal Classic Tournament this past weekend. Plattsburgh State captured the Cardinal Classic crown over Bowdoin College with Paul earning All-Tournament and Tournament MVP honors.
FEMALE DIVER OF THE WEEK - Miranda Fergus (SR)
Cortland (Millbrook, N.Y./Millbrook)
Miranda Fergus won both diving events during Cortland's 182-72 dual-meet win at Buffalo State. She scored 279.70 points on the 3-meter board and 261.45 points on the 1-meter board. Both scores were NCAA Zone Diving qualifiers.
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FEMALE SWIMMER OF THE WEEK - Emily Smith (JR)
Geneseo (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley)
Emily Smith was a triple-winner as the Knights swept host Ithaca (W, 165-135) and Hartwick (W, 220-77) in tri-meet action on Saturday. She swept the 100 (1:00.02) and 200 (2:10.44) backstroke events with the two fastest times in the SUNYAC this season and added a leg to the winning 200 medley relay (1:52.54) which also posted the conference's top time this year. Smith's day also included logging the SUNYAC's fourth-fastest time of the year in finishing third in the 200 IM (2:16.72).Â
MALE DIVER OF THE WEEK - Arron Carlson (JR) Â
Fredonia (LeRoy, N.Y./Notre Dame)
Arron Carlson won both boards as the Fredonia men's swimming and diving team defeated Nazareth, 152-148. Carlson scored a 348.75 off the 3-meter board. Off the 1-meter board, he earned a 301.75. Both scores were NCAA Zone Diving qualifiers.
MALE SWIMMER OF THE WEEK - Connor Mergler (SO)Nominator: Jeff Ventura
Buffalo State (E. Amherst, NY/Williamsville North)
Connor Mergler broke a 41-year-old school record in the 100 fly, touching first in a dual meet against Cortland with a time of 53.22 seconds. He also won the 50 free with a pool record time of 21.16 seconds, good for the 16th fastest time in Division III this season. Mergler also helped pace the 400 medley relay (3:50.13), and the 200 free relay (1:29.85) to victories.
ICE HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Brett Hope (SR) Â
Buffalo State, Forward (Blenheim, ON/Blenheim)
Brett Hope tallied six point in two big SUNYAC wins this past weekend. The senior captain tallied a goal and three assists in Friday's 7-4 win at Geneseo, and then added two more assists in Saturday's 6-4 home victory over Brockport.Â
ICE HOCKEY GOALIE OF THE WEEK - Spencer Finney (SR) Â
Plattsburgh, Goalie (Pontypool, Ontario/Colgate University)
Spencer Finney made 21 saves on 22 shots for .955 save percentage to help the No. 4 Cardinals remain unbeaten while handing No. 12 Potsdam its first loss of the season. At the time, Finney has now beat two ranked teams in his last two starts (No. 11 Oswego, No. 12 Potsdam).
ICE HOCKEY ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Cole Stallard (FR) Â
Plattsburgh, Forward (Waleska, Ga/New Hampshire Junior Monarchs)
In just one game this weekend, Cole Stallard netted his first career hat-trick to help lead the No. 4 Cardinals over No. 12 Potsdam in a North Country battle of undefeated teams. Two of Stallard's tallies came on the power play as the Cardinals went 4-5 against the Bears on the man advantage.
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