The NESCAC has released its Players of the Week for the week ending of November 10. The conference recognizes student-athletes for each sport based on their contributions to their team each week based on information provided by the athletic communications offices on each campus. During the fall season, football, field hockey, men's soccer, women's soccer, and volleyball will be announced on Mondays.
NESCAC Field Hockey Player of the Week
Ava Donohue – Bates – So. – Goalie – Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.
Donohue played all 140 minutes in goal for the Bobcats and recorded 22 saves on her way to back-to-back shutouts to help Bates capture its first NESCAC Field Hockey title in program history. In the semifinals, the sophomore stopped 11 Middlebury shots and proceeded to deny four of the Panthers’ five attempts in the shootout as Bates prevailed by a score of 1-0, winning the shootout 2-1. In the championship game, Donohue once again stopped 11 shots as the Bobcats defeated Wesleyan 2-0 to win the NESCAC crown. Donohue owns an .816 save percentage, tied for the best mark in the NESCAC, and five shutouts lead the conference. Bates became the first team in the 26-year history of the NESCAC tournament to record three shutouts in pursuit of the title.
NESCAC Football Offensive Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Angelo LaRose – Wesleyan – Jr. – RB – Worcester, Mass.
LaRose, a junior running back, stepped into the lead back role for the first time in his career and posted 218 rushing yards on 26 carries and one touchdown in Wesleyan's 31-28 triumph over Trinity that earned the Cardinals back-to-back NESCAC titles for the first time in team history as co-champs. Coming in with 290 career rushing yards, LaRose's 218 yards were the most rushing yards in a single game by a Cardinal since Kyle Gibson rushed for 244 against Hamilton on September 29, 2012. LaRose broke free from the Trinity defense for a 78-yard touchdown in the second quarter and later picked up 65 yards on a handoff early in the third quarter.
NESCAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
John Young – Hamilton – Sr. – LB – Secaucus, N.Y.
Young led the Continentals with five tackles, including one for a loss of two yards, and added an interception and a quarterback hurry in their 24-21 win at Bates. Young's pick at the Hamilton 33 with 10:22 left in the fourth quarter came with the Continentals clinging to a 17-14 lead and set up their last touchdown. It was the first interception of the senior's career.
NESCAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Hudson Fulcher-Melendy – Amherst – So. – K – Easthampton, Mass.
Fulcher-Melendy went 4-for-4 in field goals on Saturday, including a game-winning 26-yard boot with 2:57 left in the game, to help the Mammoths edge Williams, 14-13, in the 139th Biggest Little Game in America. The four field goals in a single game tied the Amherst football program record set in 2014. Fulcher-Melendy made two field goals in the second quarter of 37 and 27 yards, to give Amherst a 6-0 lead, then converted a third field goal for a 9-7 lead and finally the game-winner in the fourth quarter to account for the final margin.
NESCAC Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Ben Brown – Tufts - Jr. – Defender – Concord, Mass.
Brown was instrumental in helping Tufts win its fourth NESCAC title in program history. The 6-5 junior defender scored the game-winning, sudden-victory goal in overtime of a 3-2 win over Middlebury in the NESCAC Semifinals and followed that up by helping Tufts to a 1-0 shutout win in the NESCAC Final against Connecticut College. Brown has two goals on the season, both of the game-winning variety.
NESCAC Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Emily Nicholas – Tufts – Jr. – Midfield – Avon, Conn.
Nicholas was the lynch pin for the Jumbos' midfield, helping Tufts win its second NESCAC title in team history and first since 2002. Nicholas consistently won the ball back in the midfield, providing link-up play and anchoring the defensive side of the ball to allow her attacking midfielders to get forward. The junior played all but six minutes of the two contests, helping Tufts to a 3-2 win over Colby in the NESCAC Semifinals, while playing all 110 minutes in a 1-1 draw in the title game, firing five shots. Nicholas also scored her penalty kick attempt in the shootout as Tufts earned the conference crown with a 5-3 edge.
NESCAC Volleyball Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Siena Steines – Wesleyan – So. – Outside Hitter - Hinsdale, Ill.
In Saturday’s four-set win over Bates in the NESCAC Quarterfinals, Steines totaled 17 kills on 39 attempts with 11 digs and three total blocks. Steines hit .308 in the match and had six kills in the fourth set alone, which the Cardinals won 25-11 to clinch the win and spot in the NESCAC Semifinals for the eighth straight season. Wesleyan will host the remaining rounds of the NESCAC Tournament on November 14 and 15 at Silloway Gymnasium.
