The NESCAC has released its Players of the Week for the week of September 23. The conference recognizes student-athletes for each sport based on their contributions to their team each week. During the fall season, football, field hockey, men's soccer, women's soccer, and volleyball will be announced on Mondays.
Field Hockey | Weekly Release & Honor Roll
Amy Griffin - Sr. - M - Wilmette, Ill.
Griffin registered seven points (2G, 3A) and factored into five of Middlebury’s seven goals in a 2-0 NESCAC weekend. The Panther recorded a pair of helpers in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Amherst, before scoring twice and assisting on a third marker to help Middlebury top Wesleyan 5-0.
Football | Weekly Release and Honor Roll
Offensive Player of the Week
Mason Morrow – Amherst – Jr. – QB – West Des Moines, Iowa
Morrow threw the first two touchdowns of his career in a come-from-behind 21-7 win at Hamilton. Trailing 7-0 heading into the third quarter, the junior connected for a 12-yard strike with Owen Gaydos to tie the game. Then with the Mammoths leading 14-7 in the final quarter, Morrow teamed up with Sam Gerber for a 24-yard touchdown strike. Morrow threw for 206 yards, completing 23-of-33 passes, and rushed for 18 yards on four carries in the win.
Defensive Player of the Week
Dave Filias – Middlebury – Sr. – DL – Lynn, Mass.
Filias helped Middlebury come from behind to top Bowdoin 39-15 on Saturday. The Panther tied for the team lead with eight tackles (6 solo) and 2.0 sacks for a loss of 12 yards. Trailing 12-7 at the half, the senior was part of a defense that shut down the Polar Bears in the second, not allowing a touchdown as the Middlebury offense posted 32 unanswered points. Filias moved into fifth place on Middlebury’s career lists in sacks (13.5) and yards from sacks (78).
Special Teams Player of the Week
Austin Baker – Wesleyan – So. – LB – Bend, Ore.
Baker made two game-changing special teams plays in Saturday's 20-9 home win over Tufts. The sophomore blocked a punt deep in the Jumbos' side of the field that led to a Wesleyan touchdown that gave the Cardinals a 13-6 halftime lead. In the fourth quarter with Wesleyan leading by 11 and just over five minutes left, Baker forced a fumble on a Tufts punt return that allowed Wesleyan to seal the game in the late stages.
Men’s Soccer | Weekly Release & Honor Roll
Liam Gerken - Gr. - M – Palos Verdes, Calif.
Gerken scored in each game in a 2-0-0 week for the Jumbos. Against Salem State, Gerken accounted for the game-winning tally in a 2-1 victory over the Vikings. Gerken struck for his second goal in as many games just 66 seconds into the match at Hamilton to help the Jumbos earn three points in NESCAC action with a 4-1 win over the Continentals.
Women’s Soccer | Weekly Release & Honor Roll
MK Marshall - Colby - Jr. - GK - Pomfret, Conn.
Marshall collected her third shutout of the season matching a season-high with six saves in Colby's 1-0 win over Conn. College on Saturday. In the final 25 seconds, the goalkeeper successfully defended two corner kicks, collecting a save on the first attempt and punching the second service out of bounds. The result was Marshall’s second 1-0 shutout of the season against a NESCAC opponent.
Volleyball | Weekly Release & Honor Roll
Skye Higashihara - Bates - Fy. - S – Honolulu, Hawaii
Higashihara averaged 13.0 assists per set in a 2-0 NESCAC weekend for the Bobcats. On Friday, the rookie dished out 40 assists and recorded eight digs in a 3-0 win over Amherst, the first win for the Bobcats over the Mammoths since 2003. On Saturday, Higashihara tallied a season-high 51 assists, a season-high four service aces, and a season-high seven kills to go along with seven digs in a 3-1 win over Hamilton, moving Bates to 2-0 in NESCAC play for the first time since 2015. Higashihara ranks second in the NESCAC at 9.54 assists per set.
