October 15, 2012

NESCAC Weekly Release - October 15, 2012

NESCAC Fall Weekly Release #6 PDF
Volleyball Player of the Week
Lizzie Ahern Lizzie Ahern
 Amherst College
First Year • Outside Hitter • Corte Madera, Calif.

Ahern racked up 3.85 kills per set while hitting .363 in a perfect 3-0 week for the Lord Jeffs. The outside hitter also added 10 digs, five blocks and three service aces. After sending down 18 kills in a 3-1 victory over Westfield State on Wednesday, she lifted Amherst to a pair of key NESCAC wins over the weekend. She collected 19 kills in a dramatic 3-2 triumph over Middlebury on Friday before finishing the week with 13 kills in a 3-1 win over Williams on Saturday. Ahern also earned NESCAC Player of the Week honors on September 24.
Field Hockey Player of the Week
Katie Riley Katie Riley
 Bowdoin College
Junior • Forward • Hingham, Mass.

Riley piled up four goals to lead the Polar Bears to a pair of road wins over the weekend. After netting a hat trick in her team’s 6-0 win over Hamilton on Saturday, she scored 2:13 into overtime in their 1-0 triumph over Amherst on Sunday. Riley was also named NESCAC Player of the Week last Monday. She has amassed nine goals and four assists over her last five games.
Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Spencer Noon Spencer Noon
 Amherst College
Senior • Forward • Farmington, Conn.

Noon recorded five points in a perfect 3-0 week for the Lord Jeffs. In the process, he became the first player in program history to reach 100 career points. The forward was at his best on Tuesday, when he found the back of the net twice in Amherst’s 6-0 triumph over Trinity. He then assisted on what proved to be the winner in a 2-0 victory over Colby on Sunday. Noon also earned NESCAC Player of the Week honors on September 10.
Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Sarah Duffy
Sarah Duffy
 Amherst College
Junior • Forward • Fairfield, Conn.

Duffy found the back of the net in three straight games to lead the Lord Jeffs to a perfect 3-0 week. After recording a goal and an assist in her team’s 5-2 triumph over Eastern Connecticut State on Tuesday, the forward scored in conference wins over Colby (4-0) and Bowdoin (4-1) over the weekend.
Men's Cross Country Performer of the Week
Mike LeDuc Mike LeDuc
 Connecticut College
Junior • Canton, Conn.

LeDuc secured a second place finish in front of his home crowd at Harkness State Park on Saturday. The junior completed the 8,000-meter course in 24:54 to set the tone for the Camels, who placed second in the 22 team field with a score of 145 points. A total of 233 runners took part in Connecticut College’s annual Invitational. LeDuc was named to the All-Invitational Team.
Women's Cross Country Performer of the Week
Gabrielle Naranja Gabrielle Naranja
 Bates College
Junior • Fort Kent, Maine

Naranja took home second place at the State of Maine Championship on Saturday to set the tone for the Bobcats, who won the meet for the first time since 1990. The junior completed the 5,000-meter course in 18:19 and was one of seven Bates runners to finish in the top 15 overall. This year’s championship took place at the Narragansett School.
Offensive Player of the Week
Zach Driscoll

Zach Driscoll
 Middlebury College
Senior • Wide Receiver • Concord, Mass.

Driscoll racked up 12 receptions for a career-high 250 yards with three touchdowns in the Panthers’ 30-13 win at Williams on Saturday. The senior caught a 28-yard touchdown pass to open the game’s scoring, before hauling in a 50-yard strike in the third and a 41-yarder in the fourth. With the win, Middlebury improved to 4-0 for the first time since 1992. Driscoll also earned NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week honors on September 30.
Defensive Player of the Week
Robbie Heflin
Robbie Heflin
 Amherst College
Senior • Defensive Back • Wayzata, Minn.

Heflin came up with three interceptions in the Lord Jeffs’ 23-3 victory over Colby on Saturday. With his team clinging to a 9-3 lead late in the third quarter, the senior picked off an errant pass and returned it 24-yards for a touchdown. His first interception of the game came in the first quarter two plays after a Lord Jeff turnover. Heflin ended a Mule drive with another pick in the third quarter.
Special Teams Player of the Week
David Bendit
David Bendit
 Colby College
Senior • Kicker • Emmaus, Pa.

Bendit connected on a career-long 42-yard field goal in the Mules’ 23-3 setback at Amherst on Saturday. The kick cut Amherst’s lead to 9-3 with 4:51 remaining in the third quarter. Bendit has made eight field goals in his career at Colby.