April 27, 2015
SUNYAC honors athletes of the week for performances during April 20-26
CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference honors twelve spring athletes going into championship week. The first round games for women's lacrosse will be played Tuesday, while the first round for men's lacrosse will be Wednesday. Softball kicks off Thursday and baseball Friday. The SUNYAC Track and Field Championships will run Friday and Saturday at Brockport.
BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK –  Fabio Ricci (JR) Â
Cortland, Outfield (Hawthorne, N.Y./Westlake)
Ricci made the most of his playing time during a 5-0 week for the Red Dragons. In four appearances, Ricci batted .875 (7-for-8) with three walks, a double, triple and six runs scored. He reached base in his first 10 plate appearances (seven hits, three walks) before grounding out in his final at-bat of the week. Ricci went 2-for-2 with a walk and run scored in a 5-1 win at Oswego that clinched the SUNYAC regular-season title for the Red Dragons and was a combined 5-for-6 with five runs scored in a three-game sweep at Plattsburgh.
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK – Jeffrey Prouse (SR) Â
Brockport (Eden, ONT/Glendale)
Jeffrey Prouse nearly threw nine straight perfect innings for The College at Brockport Baseball team. It all started with the first save of his career in a big win against SUNYAC opponent Fredonia on Tuesday. He came on in relief for the Golden Eagles in the eighth inning as Brockport clung to a one run lead. He threw two straight perfect innings while striking out two. In another big game for Brockport, with SUNYAC Tournament implications on the line, Prouse nearly threw a perfect complete game besides a runner reaching base on a passed ball strike out in the second inning. He threw six straight innings without allowing a single hit or granting a base on balls before New Paltz got its first hit of the game - an infield single - with two outs in the last frame. Prouse exited the game before the last out of the game having struck out nine Hawk batters. On the week he threw eight and two thirds innings allowing one hit, no walks and striking out 11.
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SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Niki Barbato (SO) Â
Cortland, Outfield (East Meadow, N.Y./Holy Trinity)
Barbato batted .588 (10-for-17) with two doubles, a homer, six RBI, two walks and three runs scored in a 6-0 week as Cortland clinched the SUNYAC regular-season title. She was 3-for-3 with a homer, double and two RBI in a 5-1 win over New Paltz and went 2-for-2 with three RBI in a 17-2 win at Potsdam. She finished the week by going a combined 4-for-7 with a walk in a doubleheader sweep at Plattsburgh.
SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK - Sarah Salamone (SR) Â
Cortland (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse)
Salamone was 3-0 with a 0.62 ERA in three appearances, two as a starter, as Cortland clinched the SUNYAC regular-season title. She opened the week by allowing only two hits and one walk in five scoreless innings in a 5-1 home win over New Paltz. She gave up six hits and one unearned run and fanned two in a 17-2 win at Potsdam, then earned a win in relief with one and a third scoreless innings in a 3-1 win at Plattsburgh. In the Plattsburgh game, Salamone entered with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the score tied a 1-1 and runners on first and third and got a fielder's choice force out to send the game to extra innings. Cortland scored twice in the eighth and Salamone retired the side in order for the win.
MEN'S LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Brendan Damm (JR)
Plattsburgh, Attack (Montauk, N.Y./East Hampton HS)
In the final regular-season chapter of his excellent junior campaign, Plattsburgh State attacker Brendan Damm further cemented his reputation as one of the most dangerous players in the land by registering six points (three goals and three assists) in the Cardinals' 16-11 win over SUNY Potsdam on Wednesday. The victory ensured Plattsburgh State the number-two seed in the upcoming SUNYAC Championship Tournament and now the Cardinals will host a conference playoff tilt for just the second time in program history. Damm, who hails from Montauk, N.Y., assisted on the game-winning goals and amassed five of his six points in the second half which helped Plattsburgh State overcome a two-goal deficit and seize the win. No man in the SUNYAC has more goals (47), points (76), a better goals per game average (2.76), or a higher points per game mark (4.47) than Damm. In the latest NCAA statistical rankings, the junior ranks 27th in the nation in points per game and 39th in goals per game.
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MEN'S LACROSSE GOALIE OF THE WEEK – Scott Tota (SR) Â
Cortland (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder)
Tota helped lead Cortland to a pair of home conference wins last week as the Red Dragons improved to 12-4 overall and 6-0 in the SUNYAC. In a 14-4 win versus Oswego on Wednesday, he made six saves and allowed four goals in 53:00. In a 10-4 victory versus Brockport on Saturday, Tota stopped 10 shots and allowed four goals. For the two games, he posted a 4.25 GAA and a .667 save percentage.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Katie Kleine (SR) Â
Fredonia, Midfield (Cazenovia, N.Y./Cazenovia)
Katie Kleine led the Blue Devils to their third 14-win season last week and the No. 2 spot in the SUNYAC playoff bracket. Her eight goals and three assists during the week has now inched her closer to the school record for career points. She has 278 career points, eight shy of the school record held by current head coach Amy Simon (286). Kleine also had 11 ground balls and eight caused turnovers. She is now the SUNYAC leader in ground balls/game, assists/game, caused turnovers/game and is second in points/game behind teammate Marissa Cussins.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK –Claudia Coleates (JR)
Geneseo (Stanley, N.Y./ Marcus Whitman)
Coleates saved the Knights during a 3-0 week that included three one-goal victories. In Tuesday's 8-7 victory over Brockport, she totaled 10 saves, including one on a Golden Eagle free position attempt with 52 seconds left in regulation, to preserve the win. In Thursday's 8-7 OT victory opposite St. John Fisher, Coleates was credited with 12 saves, including one on a Cardinal free position attempt with two seconds left in OT. She finished the week with six saves in Geneseo's 8-7 win at Oneonta in a game that decided the third seed for the SUNYAC Tournament.Â
MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK –  Melique Garcia (SR) Â
Cortland (Watervliet, N.Y./Watervliet)
Garcia finished first of 30 in the 100-meter dash (10.78) and 2nd of 27 in the 200-meter dash (21.92) at the Cornell Big Red Invitational. Both times are ECAC qualifiers. In addition, Garcia anchored Cortland's winning 4x100-meter relay team that registered an ECAC-qualifying time of 42.03 seconds.
MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Luke Taverne (SR) Â
Geneseo (Westmoreland, N.Y./Westmoreland, N.Y.)
Taverne took the crown in the high jump to lead the Knights at the Cardinal Classic hosted by St. John Fisher, Saturday. Taverne's winning jump of 2.00m moves him into first in the SUNYAC.
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FEMALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Jess Huber (JR)
Plattsburgh (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown HS)
Huber posted victories in both the 100 (first out of 20) and 200-meter dashes (first out of 30) at Saturday's Capital District Classic, clocking in at 12.43 seconds and 25.32 seconds, respectively.
FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK -  Nicole Desens (SR) Â
Fredonia (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Arlington)
Desens, who became a SUNYAC champion in the indoor shot put this winter, threw a personal best 43.99 meters in the discus throw at the St. John Fisher Classic on Saturday. Previously ranked No. 35 in the country in the event (41.39 meters), her improvement of 2.60 meters will likely move her up the NCAA Division III rankings. Coming into the weekend, Desens's throw would have been good enough for No. 13 in the country. Desens also threw 11.88 meters in the shot put.
BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK –  Fabio Ricci (JR) Â
Cortland, Outfield (Hawthorne, N.Y./Westlake)
Ricci made the most of his playing time during a 5-0 week for the Red Dragons. In four appearances, Ricci batted .875 (7-for-8) with three walks, a double, triple and six runs scored. He reached base in his first 10 plate appearances (seven hits, three walks) before grounding out in his final at-bat of the week. Ricci went 2-for-2 with a walk and run scored in a 5-1 win at Oswego that clinched the SUNYAC regular-season title for the Red Dragons and was a combined 5-for-6 with five runs scored in a three-game sweep at Plattsburgh.
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK – Jeffrey Prouse (SR) Â
Brockport (Eden, ONT/Glendale)
Jeffrey Prouse nearly threw nine straight perfect innings for The College at Brockport Baseball team. It all started with the first save of his career in a big win against SUNYAC opponent Fredonia on Tuesday. He came on in relief for the Golden Eagles in the eighth inning as Brockport clung to a one run lead. He threw two straight perfect innings while striking out two. In another big game for Brockport, with SUNYAC Tournament implications on the line, Prouse nearly threw a perfect complete game besides a runner reaching base on a passed ball strike out in the second inning. He threw six straight innings without allowing a single hit or granting a base on balls before New Paltz got its first hit of the game - an infield single - with two outs in the last frame. Prouse exited the game before the last out of the game having struck out nine Hawk batters. On the week he threw eight and two thirds innings allowing one hit, no walks and striking out 11.
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SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Niki Barbato (SO) Â
Cortland, Outfield (East Meadow, N.Y./Holy Trinity)
Barbato batted .588 (10-for-17) with two doubles, a homer, six RBI, two walks and three runs scored in a 6-0 week as Cortland clinched the SUNYAC regular-season title. She was 3-for-3 with a homer, double and two RBI in a 5-1 win over New Paltz and went 2-for-2 with three RBI in a 17-2 win at Potsdam. She finished the week by going a combined 4-for-7 with a walk in a doubleheader sweep at Plattsburgh.
SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK - Sarah Salamone (SR) Â
Cortland (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse)
Salamone was 3-0 with a 0.62 ERA in three appearances, two as a starter, as Cortland clinched the SUNYAC regular-season title. She opened the week by allowing only two hits and one walk in five scoreless innings in a 5-1 home win over New Paltz. She gave up six hits and one unearned run and fanned two in a 17-2 win at Potsdam, then earned a win in relief with one and a third scoreless innings in a 3-1 win at Plattsburgh. In the Plattsburgh game, Salamone entered with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the score tied a 1-1 and runners on first and third and got a fielder's choice force out to send the game to extra innings. Cortland scored twice in the eighth and Salamone retired the side in order for the win.
MEN'S LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Brendan Damm (JR)
Plattsburgh, Attack (Montauk, N.Y./East Hampton HS)
In the final regular-season chapter of his excellent junior campaign, Plattsburgh State attacker Brendan Damm further cemented his reputation as one of the most dangerous players in the land by registering six points (three goals and three assists) in the Cardinals' 16-11 win over SUNY Potsdam on Wednesday. The victory ensured Plattsburgh State the number-two seed in the upcoming SUNYAC Championship Tournament and now the Cardinals will host a conference playoff tilt for just the second time in program history. Damm, who hails from Montauk, N.Y., assisted on the game-winning goals and amassed five of his six points in the second half which helped Plattsburgh State overcome a two-goal deficit and seize the win. No man in the SUNYAC has more goals (47), points (76), a better goals per game average (2.76), or a higher points per game mark (4.47) than Damm. In the latest NCAA statistical rankings, the junior ranks 27th in the nation in points per game and 39th in goals per game.
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MEN'S LACROSSE GOALIE OF THE WEEK – Scott Tota (SR) Â
Cortland (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder)
Tota helped lead Cortland to a pair of home conference wins last week as the Red Dragons improved to 12-4 overall and 6-0 in the SUNYAC. In a 14-4 win versus Oswego on Wednesday, he made six saves and allowed four goals in 53:00. In a 10-4 victory versus Brockport on Saturday, Tota stopped 10 shots and allowed four goals. For the two games, he posted a 4.25 GAA and a .667 save percentage.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Katie Kleine (SR) Â
Fredonia, Midfield (Cazenovia, N.Y./Cazenovia)
Katie Kleine led the Blue Devils to their third 14-win season last week and the No. 2 spot in the SUNYAC playoff bracket. Her eight goals and three assists during the week has now inched her closer to the school record for career points. She has 278 career points, eight shy of the school record held by current head coach Amy Simon (286). Kleine also had 11 ground balls and eight caused turnovers. She is now the SUNYAC leader in ground balls/game, assists/game, caused turnovers/game and is second in points/game behind teammate Marissa Cussins.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK –Claudia Coleates (JR)
Geneseo (Stanley, N.Y./ Marcus Whitman)
Coleates saved the Knights during a 3-0 week that included three one-goal victories. In Tuesday's 8-7 victory over Brockport, she totaled 10 saves, including one on a Golden Eagle free position attempt with 52 seconds left in regulation, to preserve the win. In Thursday's 8-7 OT victory opposite St. John Fisher, Coleates was credited with 12 saves, including one on a Cardinal free position attempt with two seconds left in OT. She finished the week with six saves in Geneseo's 8-7 win at Oneonta in a game that decided the third seed for the SUNYAC Tournament.Â
MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK –  Melique Garcia (SR) Â
Cortland (Watervliet, N.Y./Watervliet)
Garcia finished first of 30 in the 100-meter dash (10.78) and 2nd of 27 in the 200-meter dash (21.92) at the Cornell Big Red Invitational. Both times are ECAC qualifiers. In addition, Garcia anchored Cortland's winning 4x100-meter relay team that registered an ECAC-qualifying time of 42.03 seconds.
MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Luke Taverne (SR) Â
Geneseo (Westmoreland, N.Y./Westmoreland, N.Y.)
Taverne took the crown in the high jump to lead the Knights at the Cardinal Classic hosted by St. John Fisher, Saturday. Taverne's winning jump of 2.00m moves him into first in the SUNYAC.
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FEMALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Jess Huber (JR)
Plattsburgh (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown HS)
Huber posted victories in both the 100 (first out of 20) and 200-meter dashes (first out of 30) at Saturday's Capital District Classic, clocking in at 12.43 seconds and 25.32 seconds, respectively.
FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK -  Nicole Desens (SR) Â
Fredonia (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Arlington)
Desens, who became a SUNYAC champion in the indoor shot put this winter, threw a personal best 43.99 meters in the discus throw at the St. John Fisher Classic on Saturday. Previously ranked No. 35 in the country in the event (41.39 meters), her improvement of 2.60 meters will likely move her up the NCAA Division III rankings. Coming into the weekend, Desens's throw would have been good enough for No. 13 in the country. Desens also threw 11.88 meters in the shot put.
