Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week | March 14 - 20, 2016
Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of March 14 - 20, 2016. Athletes are nominated by Sports Information Directors of member institutions.
Baseball
Alex Mateo / Nova Southeastern University / Sr. / RHP / Miami, Fla.
Mateo is named SSC Pitcher of the Week for the second time following a near complete game win over No. 1 Tampa. The Miami native limited a Spartans team that averages 13 hits per game to just four hits and one run over 8.1 innings pitched. Mateo surrendered only one walk while picking up six strikeouts in NSU’s 4-1 victory. Mateo’s ERA sits at 2.64 as he moves to 4-3 on the season. Nova Southeastern is 13-10 overall, 4-3 in SSC Play.
Alex Mata / Saint Leo University / Jr. / OF / Ft. Myers, Fla.
Mata is this week’s SSC Player of the Week posting a .625 batting average, .739 on base percentage, and 1.250 slugging percentage over five games last week. Mata was 10-for-16 at the plate with at least one hit in all five games. Six of Mata’s 10 hits were for extra bases with four doubles and two home runs. He also tallied 10 runs, 11 runs batted in, three walks, and was struck by a pitch three times over the five game set. Mata’s top game on the week was in a 19-15 win over Minnesota-Crookston where he went 3-3 with four RBIs, three runs scored, a homerun and was hit by a pitch twice. The Ft. Myers native went 2-5 with three RBIs, one run scored and a strikeout in the victory over Bridgeport, 7-6. In a sweep against Rollins, Mata went 5-for-8 picking up three runs scored, four RBIs, three walks, and was hit by pitch. Following the 5-0 week, the Lions are 17-10 overall, 3-3 in SSC play.
Softball
Alana Tabel / Saint Leo University / Sr. / Pitcher / Loxahatchee, Fla.
Tabel earns her second SSC Pitcher of the Week after picking up victories over No. 15 Caldwell and Florida Southern. Tabel pitched 12 innings, gave up just four hits, no runs, two walks, all while striking out 15 batters. The Loxahatchee, Florida native picked up the first of two wins as the Lions topped Caldwell, 8-0 in five innings. Tabel pitched all five innings giving up just two hits, no runs, one walk. The senior hurler picked up her second win in a 5-0 contest against Florida Southern. Tabel went the distance in a rain-shortened game. She pitched five innings giving up just one hit and a walk. Tabel came in for relief in the finale against FSC. She pitched two innings giving up just one hit. Saint Leo defeated FSC, 6-0. Tabel improves to 10-0 and owns an 0.24 ERA on the year after going 2-0 last week in three appearances with a 0.00 ERA. Saint Leo is 26-1 overall and 11-1 in SSC play.
Hailee Keisling / Rollins College / Jr. / 1B / Clearwater, Fla.
Keisling is awarded SSC Player of the Week honors following her eight hits from the leadoff spot in a three-game series against No. 24 Florida Tech. Her top performance came in the middle game where she went 3-4 with a stolen base and two runs scored as Rollins got the 6-4 victory. In the first game, she went 2-4 with a run scored and a RBI in a 9-1 victory. The Tars junior added another RBI and run scored to her weekend total as she went 3-5 from the plate in a 9-6 losing effort for FIT. For the week, Keisling recorded a .615 batting average, slugging percentage, and on base percentage. The Clearwater, Florida native had 19 putouts and three assists in 22 chances at first base. Rollins is 20-6-1 overall, 7-2 in SSC play.
Golf
John Coultas / Florida Southern College / So. / Valrico, Fla.
Coultas earns this week's SSC Men's Golfer of the Week honors after taking home medalist honors at the First Federal Southeastern Collegiate after firing a three-under 213 for 54 holes to win in a playoff over Lynn's Mateo Gomez. In the playoff, Coultas scored a birdie on the 18th, while Gomez had a par putt. At the tournament, Coultas tallied rounds of 68, 73, 72 respectively. The Valrico, Florida native’s first place finish helped the Moccasins take home the team title at the 18 team tournament sponsored by Valdosta State, held at Kinderlou Forest.
Krissy Ortiz / Lynn University / Fr. / Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Ortiz is this week's SSC Women's Golfer of the Week after setting a program and Barry Women's Golf Invitational record by shooting a 54-hole score of 210. Ortiz then defeated Florida Tech's Felicia Leftinger on the third playoff hole to claim the individual title. Ortiz was the only golfer to shoot under par all three rounds, finishing with scores of 70-69-71 for six-under par. Lynn's previous record was 216 held by two-time SSC and National Golfer of the Year Jessica Bradley. Ortiz also becomes the first freshman from Lynn to win a tournament since Bradley won twice in 2011-12.
Women's Rowing
Varsity 8 Boat / Nova Southeastern / Fort Laurderdale, Fla.
The first Boat of the Week of 2016 belongs to the Varsity 8 from Nova Southeastern University. NSU wins the honor following a second-place finish at the UCF Regatta last Friday morning to open the season. The Sharks competed against host UCF and fellow Division I opponents UConn and Jacksonville University. The varsity eight claimed second place in 7:03.77. The team consisted of Amanda Hudon (Sr., Sebastian, Fla.), Adrianna Rosario (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.), Kamaye Nichols (So., Miami, Fla.), Daesha Roberts (Jr., Yulee, Fla.), Bethany Warlich (Jr., Galloway, N.Y.), Sarah Woelfer (Jr., Fishers, Ind.), Cassilly Lobaugh (Jr., Milton, Ga.), Marnie McLean (Fr., Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada) and McKenzie George (Fr., Loveland, Ohio).
Tennis
Arthur Viallaneix / Florida Southern College / So. / Apopka, Fla.
Villallanieix is named SSC Men’s Tennis Player of the Week following a 3-0 record on the week - all in straight sets. One win at #6 (6-4, 6-2) over Derek Sammons of Wayne State (MI). Two wins at #5 (6-1, 6-1) over Sebastian Ramirez of Southern New Hampshire and (6-4, 7-5) over Douglas Boe of #4 West Florida. Florida Southern is 9-5 overall, 0-1 in SSC play.
Zuza Maciejewska / Barry University / Fr. / Ciechocinek, Poland
Maciejewska earns her second SSC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week honor. She improves to 6-0 in singles with 6-0, 6-1 No. 2 singles win over Taisiia Andrieieva of 23rd-ranked Academy of Art. The Buccaneer Freshman improved to 8-0 in doubles with an 8-0 sweep of Annika Schneider and Taisiia Andrieieva at No. 1 doubles with partner Emma Onila.
Men's Lacrosse
Conor Whipple / University of Tampa / Jr. / Attack / Tampa, Fla.
Whipple is awarded SSC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time following his eight goals for the Spartans this week. In Tampa’s only game on the week, Whipple scored eight unassisted goals on 15 shots (11 on goal) and recorded one assist. Whipple also picked up two ground balls in the 15-10 conference victory over Lynn. His eight goal performance tied a school record for most goals in a single game. The Tampa native accounted for 60% of Tampa's offense in the win, including a hat trick in the fourth period which sparked a 6-0 run to give UT the comeback victory on the road. Tampa owns an overall record of 7-1 and are 1-0 in SSC play.
Dave Moore / Saint Leo University / Sr. / Goalkeeper / Lake Mary, Fla.
Moore takes SSC Defensive Player of the Week honors after going 2-0 in goal on the road this week. Moore recorded 30 saves over two-game stretch. In a win 9-7 over Colorado Mesa, Moore record 21 saves in 60 minutes between the pipes. Moore also added one ground ball in the victory. In a 17-7 win over Adams State, Moore recorded nine saves and picked up two ground balls. Win the win over Adams State, Moore tied the Saint Leo record for career wins by a keeper at 30. Saint Leo is now 7-1 overall and begins SSC play March 26th against Rollins.
Will Cothron / Saint Leo University / Sr. / Midfielder / Ocala, Fla.
Cothron earns his second SSC Specialist of the Week honor this season following 33 faceoff wins in two games. Cothron went 33-for-43 in face-offs over the week, tallying a winning percentage of 76.7-percent. In a 17-7 win over Adams State, he won 19-of-23 faceoffs and picked up ten ground balls. In a win 9-7 over Colorado Mesa, he won 14-of-20 faceoffs and picked up ten ground balls. Cothron now has 302 career ground balls, tying the Saint Leo record. The Lions are now 7-1 overall and begin SSC play March 26th against Rollins.
Women's Lacrosse
Caroline Dunleavy / Florida Tech / So. / Attack / Annapolis, Md.
Dunleavy is the SSC Offensive Player of the Week after registering three multi-goal games to help Florida Tech to a 2-1 record last week. In the Panthers upset overtime victory over #6 New Haven, 11-10, Dunleavy finished with two goals on two shots. She followed it up with two goals on three shots, two assists, and recorded a caused turnover against Indianapolis. Dunleavy recorded the game winning goal as FIT was victorious, 16-5. The sophomore closed out the week by scoring three goals (two unassisted) in the Panthers 15-4 loss to #13 Dowling. Florida Tech is 6-2 overall and begins SSC play April 9th at Tampa.
Malorie Olin / Rollins College / So. / Goal / Skaneateles, N.Y.
Olin, for the third time this season, is this the SSC Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Tars to victories over Lenoir-Rhyne, 15-2, and Mount Olive, 7-5. Olin held Lenoir-Rhyne, a team averaging 9.8 goals per game, to just two goals. She made seven saves while facing 17 shots, 11 on goal from the Bears. Against No. 19 Mount Olive, the Skaneateles, New York native made six saves while facing 14 shots and 11 shots on goal. Olin held Mount Olive to seven less goals than their season. Olin posted a .650 save percentage for the week, averaging 3.74 goals per game. Rollins, 8-0 overall and 1-0 in SSC play.
2016 SSC Baseball Award Winners (Pitcher; Player)
Feb. 1: Ty Cohen, Florida Tech, Carlos Matamoros, Barry
Feb. 8: Christopher Williams, Tampa; Tyler Fairbanks, Rollins
Feb. 15: Logan Browning, Florida Southern; Alexander DeGoti, Barry
Feb. 21: Alex Mateo, Nova Southeastern; Peter Nicoletto, Rollins
Feb. 29: Frank Grandinette, Lynn; Casey Scoggins, Tampa
Mar. 7: Tyler Deel, Florida Tech;
Matt Piatt, Tampa
Mar. 14: Frank Grandinette, Lynn; Troy Sieber, Saint Leo
Mar. 21: Alex Mateo, Nova Southeastern; Alex Mata, Saint Leo
2016 SSC Softball Award Winners (Pitcher; Player)
Feb. 1: Rachel Pence, Florida Tech; Krista Patterson, Florida Tech
Feb. 8: Stephanie Adkins, Saint Leo; Brooke Samios-Uy, Saint Leo
Feb. 15: Rachel Pence, Florida Tech; Samantha Ohmie, Saint Leo
Feb. 21: Stephanie Adkins, Saint Leo; Brooke Samios-Uy, Saint Leo
Feb. 29: Alyssa Bache, Tampa; Sommer Pollard, Saint Leo
Mar. 7: Alana Tabel, Saint Leo;
Tiffany Thompson, Saint Leo
Mar. 14: Alyssa Bache, Tampa; Dajia Jones, Nova Southeastern
Mar. 21: Alana Tabel, Saint Leo;
Hailee Keisling, Rollins
2016 SSC Golf Award Winners (Men; Women)
Feb. 8: None; Abbey Williams, Florida Southern
Feb. 15: Liam Ainsworth, Saint Leo; Cheyanne Head, Barry
Feb. 21: None
Feb. 29: None; Jenny Ayala, Lynn
Mar. 7: Martin Cancino, Lynn, Aldana Foigel, Nova Southeastern
Mar. 14: Niclas Weiland, Barry; Tilda Larsson, Barry
Mar. 21: John Coultas, Florida Southern; Krissy Ortiz, Lynn
2016 SSC Rowing Award Winners (Women)
Mar. 21: Varsity 8 Boat, Nova Southeastern
2016 SSC Tennis Award Winners (Men; Women)
Feb. 8: Pavel Mojha, Lynn;
Grace Mpassy, Lynn
Feb. 15: Alberto Barroso-Campos, Saint Leo; Klaudia Boczova, Nova Southeastern
Feb. 21: Ahmed Triki, Barry; Zuza Maciejewska, Barry
Feb. 29: Mehdi Laalej, Lynn; Grace Mpassy, Lynn
Mar. 7: Alberto Barroso-Campos, Saint Leo; Pauline Helgesson, Saint Leo
Mar. 14: Alberto Barroso-Campos, Saint Leo; Isabella Robbiani, Saint Leo
Mar. 21: Arthur Viallaneix, Florida Southern; Zuza Maciejewska, Barry
2016 SSC Men's Lacrosse Award Winners (Offense; Defense; Specialty)
Feb. 8: Justin Diamond, Rollins;
Jake Hogan, Rollins;
Travis Wunder, Florida Tech
Feb. 15: Conor Whipple, Tampa; Matt Lalli, Florida Southern; Travis Wunder, Florida Tech
Feb. 21: Andrew Kew, Tampa; A.J. Ferraro, Tampa; Alex Patton, Tampa
Feb. 29: Justin Diamond, Rollins;
Matt Lalli, Florida Southern; Will Cothron, Saint Leo
Mar. 7: Dylan Yonts, Saint Leo; AJ Arnold, Tampa, Joseph Biondi, Florida Southern
Mar. 14: Jake Gilmour, Saint Leo; Addison Abramson, Florida Tech; Alex Pestos, Rollins
Mar. 21: Conor Whipple, Tampa; Dave Moore, Saine Leo, Will Cothron, Saint Leo
2016 SSC Women's Lacrosse Award Winners (Offense; Defense)
Feb. 8: Tyler Thomas, Rollins;
Malorie Olin, Rollins
Feb. 15: None
Feb. 21: Sara Grenier, Florida Tech;
Sam Schiano, Florida Tech
Feb. 29: Kendall Kerge, Florida Southern;
Malorie Olin, Rollins
Mar. 7: Sara Grenier, Florida Tech;
Taylor Gillis, Florida Southern
Mar. 14: Tyler Thomas, Rollins;
Taylor Gillis, Florida Southern
Mar. 21: Caroline Dunleavy, Florida Tech;
Malorie Olin, Rollins