NEWTOWN, Pa. (Conference News) – The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) has announced its conference weekly award recipients for the week ending February 11, 2024. A total of 15 student-athletes were recognized for performances from Feb. 4, 2024 to Feb. 11, 2024.
WRESTLING (#MACwrestle)
Wrestler of the Week
Stefan Major (Stevens / Sr., 174 / Fort Salonga, N.Y.) went 2-0 for No. 10/9 Stevens in a 2-0 week for the program. Against No. 13/13 TCNJ, Major scored a major decision over the Lions' Jimmy Dolan in a 26-11 victory. The fourth-year wrestler then pinned #5/5 Jason Geyer for his 11th pin of the season in a 34-13 victory over No. 15/15 NYU.
MEN’S ICE HOCKEY (#MAChky)
MAC Offensive Player of the Week
Cameron Croteau (Lebanon Valley / So., C / Feeding Hills, Mass.) led the Dutchmen to a big weekend sweep at King's to keep LVC's playoff hopes alive with four points on three goals and one assist while winning 21 faceoffs and being a +4 on the ice. In Friday's 7-2 victory the sophomore scored the seventh goal of the game for the Dutchmen in the third period and won eight of 14 faceoff attempts with a blocked shot. Croteau had four shots in the game and was a
+2 on the ice. In Saturday's thrilling 5-3 victory he scored twice and had the primary assist on the game-winning goal. The sophomore's first goal gave LVC a 2-1 lead after the first period after King's scored the first goal of the game. He then assisted on the game-winning goal by Cade Helmer to break a 3-3 tie at 11:49 on the third. Croteau put the game away with an empty net goal with 1:11 left. He won 13 of 25 faceoffs in the game, took three shots, and was a +2 on the ice.
MAC Defensive Player of the Week
Ryan Burgess (Arcadia / So., G / Langhorne, Pa.) made 50 saves in a shootout win for Arcadia over Neumann. He made 16 saves in the third period to send the game to overtime, and then made 10 saves in the extra frame to send the game to a shootout. Burgess made three saves in the shootout to earn the extra conference point for the Knights.
WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY (#MAChky)
MAC Offensive Player of the Week
Meghan Croyle (Stevenson / So., F / Somers, Conn.) put up three goals this past weekend at Manhattanville. She scored the Mustangs’ first goal on both Friday and Saturday before adding her third goal of the weekend in the second period of game two. Croyle is the only MAC women’s hockey player to have scored multiple goals over the weekend.
MAC Defensive Player of the Week
Mia Frisoni (Lebanon Valley / Fy., G / Glenville, N.Y.) made 102 saves on 107 shots in a pair of tough defeats to UCHC Regular Season Champions Nazareth. The goaltender made 52 saves in Friday evening's tough 1-0 defeat allowing just a first period goal. She stopped 18 of 19 shots in the opening period, 21 in the second, and then 13 in the third period. Frisoni stopped 44 consecutive shots after allowing the only goal of the game including nine on three successful penalty kills. The first-year followed that performance up with 50 saves on 54 shots on Saturday in which the Golden Flyers scored two goals each in the second and third periods and two power play goals. Frisoni stopped 11 of 13 shots on the penalty kill and saved the first 21 shots of the game. She had 15 saves in the first period, 16 in the
second, and then 19 saves in the third period.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (#MAChoops)
MAC Commonwealth Player of the Week
Jaron Fairweather (Eastern / Gr., G / Tamarac, Fla.) helped the Eagles to a pair of critical MAC Commonwealth wins. He averaged 25.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists as Eastern beat Alvernia and Hood. In Saturday's win over Hood, he posted a career-best 39 points on 8-of-11 from behind the arc and 13-of-18 shooting overall. He also grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out five assists, and had two steals. He shot 54.8 percent from the floor for the week.
MAC Freedom Player of the Week
Jalen Watkins (Arcadia / Gr., F / Philadelphia, Pa.) tallied 34 points, 27 rebounds and 3 assists in the Knights 2-0 in conference week. Against Misericordia, Watkins recorded a double-double with 19 points and 20 rebounds, shooting 66% in field goals. In Arcadia's win over Delaware Valley, he put up 15 more points, grabbed 7 boards and had 3 assists. Watkins' 27 rebounds this week made him the first player in program history to surpass 1000 rebounds.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (#MAChoops)
MAC Commonwealth Player of the Week
Jordan D’Ambrosio (Widener / Gr., G / Springfield, Pa.) led the Pride to a 2-0 week in MAC Commonwealth play. In a celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Wednesday evening, D'Ambrosio led a 56-50 upset over Messiah to hand them their first conference loss. In her 40 minutes of play she would shoot 2-of-3 from the arc and earn 18 points for the team. Defensively she picked up a rebound and a block. On Saturday, the Pride picked up their second win of the week against Alvernia to win 67-45. While only playing for 25 minutes, D'Ambrosio would run the offensive play calling and would score eight points, dish four assists, and pick up three rebounds on Senior Day.
MAC Freedom Player of the Week
Mikaela Reese (DeSales / Sr., F / Souderton, Pa.) had a dominating week averaging 24.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 4.5 blocks per game leading DeSales to a 2-0 record last week. She had 27 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and five blocks in the win over Stevens and finished the week with 21 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks in the win over Lebanon Valley. For the week, Reese shot 70.4 percent (19-for-27) from the field.
MEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD (#MACtf)
MAC Track Athlete of the Week
Samuel Knowles (Widener / Jr. / Ephrata, Pa.) competed at the 2024 Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invite on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, Knowles competed in the 400-meter dash amongst top runners in the nation. He would go on to clock a 48.17 to once again qualify for AARTFCs. His 48.17 moves him into 20th in the nation and continues to lead the MAC in rankings.
MAC Field Athlete of the Week
Andrew Mott (York / Sr. / Dillsburg, Pa.) had another strong showing in the Spartans' final regular season meet of the indoor season. He finished second in the shot put on Friday night at the Blue and White Invitational hosted by Franklin & Marshall. Mott's best throw for the meet was 15.70 meters. Mott owns the top throw in the conference this year as he is also ranked 13th in the country in the shot put heading into the postseason.
WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD (#MACtf)
MAC Track Athlete of the Week
Cera Gaston (Alvernia / Gr. / Lehighton, Pa.) broke her own program record in the 5,000m on Friday afternoon at the Fasttrack National Invitational in New York. Gaston ran an 18:22.23 to finish as the top Division III finisher in the event and second overall. She broke her own record by over 13 seconds.
MAC Field Athlete of the Week
Laura Mathews (Stevens / Gr. / Denville, N.J.) broke her own school record in the long jump, reaching 5.64 meters at the Fastrack National Invite. The Denville, New Jersey native finished second in a field largely comprised of Division I student-athletes and Mathews moved into eighth place in the country. She also posted a season-best in the 60-meter hurdles, placing second with a time of 8.65 seconds.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL (#MACvb)
MAC Offensive Player of the Week
Andrew Ahn (Arcadia / So., OH / Boyds, Md.) had 46 kills in three matches, averaging 4.6 kills per set. He also had 21 digs in the week, including a double-double against Olivet, tallying 14 kills and 10 digs. He had a week-high 20 kills against Mount Union. Ahn now has six double-digit kill matches this season, including five in a row.
MAC Defensive Player of the Week
Benjamin Clendening (Misericordia / So., MB / Langhorne, Pa.) averaged .56 blocks per set in a 1-2 week, including two matches against nationally-ranked opponents. Had five blocks in a 3-0 loss to Hobart. Had four blocks in a 3-0 loss to top-ranked Wentworth (all three sets were decided by two points). Had seven blocks in a win over #19 Baldwin Wallace.