The NESCAC has released its Players of the Week for the week of November 6. The conference recognizes student-athletes for each sport based on their contributions to their team each week. During the fall season, field hockey, men's soccer, women's soccer, and volleyball will be announced on Mondays.
Field Hockey Player of the Week
Sadie LeStage - Middlebury - Sr. - M - Milton, Mass.
LeStage helped Middlebury become the first NESCAC field hockey program to capture 10 championships and the program's sixth straight title. The Panther started and played all 60 minutes in the semifinal and final while tallying an assist in each contest. LeStage has been a critical part of the Panther midfield this season, starting in all 18 games. She is tied for second on the squad in helpers with eight, while tallying three goals, with a pair of those being game-winners.
Football | Weekly Release & Honor Roll
Offensive Player of the Week
Mike Piazza – Amherst – Sr. – QB – Wellesley, Mass.
Piazza completed 25-of-35 passes for a career-high 374 yards and two touchdowns in a come-from-behind 27-23 win at Bowdoin on Saturday. The 374 yards were 108 higher than his previous best, and it was his first multi-touchdown pass game of his career. The senior also ran for 23 yards in the victory.
Defensive Player of the Week
Wesley Abraham – Wesleyan – Jr. – CB – White Plains, N.Y.
Abraham made the game-sealing play in Saturday's 30-22 win at Williams with an interception with 1:03 remaining and the Ephs in possession on the Cardinals' 8-yard with a 1st-and-goal trailing by eight. The interception, which was Abraham's NESCAC-leading fifth of the season, sealed the win for the Cardinals who scored 22 unanswered points to erase a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Abraham added a season-high six tackles (all solo) to go along with one pass breakup to give him eight on the season in the win.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Matthew Jumes – Trinity – Jr. – K – Franklin, Mass.
Jumes maintained his streak of PAT perfection, connecting on 7-of-7, in a 52-7 victory over Bates. For the season, Jumes is 33-of-33 on PATs. Jumes opened the scoring in the contest with a 27-yard field goal to give the Bantams an early 3-0 lead on their first possession.
Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Max Landa - Amherst - Sr. - GK - La Crescenta, Calif.
Landa made six saves Sunday as the Mammoths shutout Tufts 1-0 in the NESCAC Championship game to help Amherst repeat as NESCAC Champions. The senior made one save in a 2-1 win Saturday in the semifinals against Conn. College. For the week Landa had a 0.50 goals against average and a .875 save percentage and ranks second in the NESCAC with a 0.71 GAA this season.
Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Patience Kum - Amherst - Jr. - F - Takoradi, Ghana
Kum scored the game-winner in the 81st minute Sunday as the Mammoths claimed their second consecutive NESCAC Championship with a 2-1 win over Bowdoin. Kum also assisted on the game-winning goal in the Mammoths' 1-0 win over Wesleyan in the semifinals on Saturday. Kum leads the NESCAC in goals (14), points (3), and game-winning goals (6).
Volleyball Player of the Week | Weekly Release & Honor Roll
Skye LaMendola – Bowdoin – Fy. – OH – Farmers Branch, Texas
LaMendola led the Polar Bears to a pair of upset wins on the first weekend of the NESCAC Championship, lifting No. 10 Bowdoin to the semifinals. LaMendola had a match-high 19 kills with nine digs at Hamilton on Friday before totaling 15 kills and 12 digs against second-seeded Colby on Sunday. For the weekend, she averaged 4.25 kills and 2.6 digs per set as the Polar Bears became the lowest seed to reach the semifinals of the championship.
