Six Lancer Athletes Earn Player of the Week Accolades (Oct. 26-Nov.1)

WORCESTER, Mass. – Six Worcester State University student-athletes earned player of the week accolades for the week of Oct. 26- Nov. 1 as named by the Massachusetts State Athletic Conference (MASCAC) and Little East Conference (LEC) Monday afternoon.

Women’s Cross Country:

Freshman runner, Mia Rogers (North Dighton, Mass.) earned her fourth MASCAC Rookie of the Week award while also being named the MASCAC Rookie of the Year at the MASCAC Championships this past weekend at Moore State Park in Paxton, Mass.

Rogers was the top first-time performer at the 2015 MASCAC Championships and covered the 5k course in 19:32 for a fourth place finish out of 96 total runners.

Rogers’ time was a 20-second personal best on the course, topping her previous mark of 19:52 at the Worcester City Meet. She also recorded the fastest time ever run by a Worcester State University woman runner on this course.

"Mia ran a tactically smart race, start to finish," said head coach Gary Jusseaume. "She was strong on the up-hills, forced her pace with a mile left in the race, and executed a formidable final kick over the last 150 meters of the race."

Field Hockey:

Sophomore midfielder, Hayley Sutherland (Tewksbury, Mass.) was named the LEC Defensive Player of the Week for her third time this season.

Sutherland played great on the defensive end in the midfield against Westfield State, winning many 50-50 balls. She also provided an offensive threat this weekend as she scored one goal for two points in the 3-2 setback against Westfield State.

Football:

Freshman kicker, Noah Hwang (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was awarded the MASCAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week for his second time this season.

Hwang finished 3-for-4 on PAT while also kicking the game-winning 23-yard field goal in overtime to give the Lancers a 30-27 victory over Plymouth State on Saturday.

Hwang has tallied a total of 25 points for the Lancers three games played. He currently holds a 100% field goal kicking percentage, and is 93% on PAT this season.

Men’s Ice Hockey:

Freshman goaltender, Max Kirkwood (Brunswick, Ohio) was named the MASCAC Goalie of the Week as he debuted his first game with the Lancers on Saturday.

Kirkwood recorded his first win at Worcester State, stopping all 32 shots he faced in the Lancers’ 4-0 shutout against Southern Maine at the ICFCU Shootout.

“As a staff we thought it was important to let Max see the tempo of college hockey Friday night,” stated head coach Shayne Toporowski. “We slated Max to start Saturday, we are very happy with how a freshmen came in and looked poised and tracked the puck.”

“Worcester State ice hockey looks forward to Max’s growth as a goaltender,” said Toporowski. “He is a valuable piece of the program and we would like to congratulate Max on the award.”

Women’s Soccer:

Senior forward, Alicia Macomber (Stoughton, Mass.) was named the MASCAC Women’s Soccer Player of the Week for the second time this season.

Macomber tallied eight points on three goals and two assists in a 1-1 week for the Lancers. She scored the only goal in the 2-1 setback to UMass-Dartmouth and then scored two goals and assisted on one in the 4-1 victory over Bridgewater State to claim the MASCAC regular season title and top seed in the MASCAC tournament.

Macomber currently leads the team with 25 points (10 goals, five assists). She currently stands first in the conference with points, goals, and assists.

Freshman midfielder, Tsara Leblanc (Gardner Mass.), was awarded her third-consecutive Rookie of the Week award.

LeBlanc scored the first and game-winning goal for the Lancers in the 4-1 victory over Bridgewater State to claim the MASCAC regular season title and top seed in the MASCAC tournament.

LeBlanc is currently second on the team with nine goals, and is second in the conference in goals, and third in the conference with 18 points so far on the season.

MASCAC Weekly Honor Roll

Senior running back, Kemani Jones (Milton, Mass.) rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the 30-27 overtime victory over Plymouth State. He also hauled in eight passes for 71 yards.

Sophomore defender, Alex Pommerville (Macedon, N.Y.) recorded one goal in the men’s ice hockey’s 4-0 shutout over Southern Maine at the ICFCU Shootout to earn All-Tournament Team honors.

Senior outside hitter, Jennifer Cabral (Swansea, Mass.) averaged 12.5 kills and 15.5 digs in a 1-1 week for the Lancers. She registered 18 kills and 25 digs in the 3-1 win over Anna Maria College. In the 3-0 setback to Framingham State she tallied seven kills, six digs, and a block assist.

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