LATHAM, N.Y. - Getting into the thick of conference play means some timely performances as the United East doles out its Athletes of the Week for the week ending on April 17, 2022. On the baseball diamond, it was a Penn State Abington Sweep as Jaden Himmelreich was tabbed the Pitcher of the Week and Ryan McCarty the Player of the Week.
Over at the softball field, Penn College’s Kyla Benner was named the Pitcher of the Week while Penn State Berks’ Susan Duncan collected Player of the Week honors.
It was a pair of sweeps on the lacrosse side of things, with Hilbert’s Travis Kilanowski and Joey DiMaria named the Men’s Lacrosse Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week, respectively. On the women’s side, it was St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s Jayne Barkman and Lucy Gussio named the Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week.
Check out all of the players HERE:
WOMEN’S LACROSSE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lucy Gussio
St. Mary’s College (Md.) | Senior | A
Gussio continued her hot streak as her play secured a big non-conference win and her third Player of the Week nod. The senior piled up six goals against Randolph-Macon College including one on the free position. Gussio also registered three assists and a draw control.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jayne Barkman
St. Mary’s College (Md.) | Senior | M
Barkman had a career day from the midfield as she helped her Seahawks to a 20-15 road win over Randolph-Macon. The senior controlled six draws on the day while also picking up a caused turnover. She also scooped up a career best four groundballs in the winning effort.
SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Kyla Benner
Penn College | Senior | RHP
Benner was dominant from the circle all week as she picked up a record of 3-0, highlighted by a perfect game against Gallaudet. Across 16.0 innings of work, the junior punched out 31 batters matching a season-high 12 against Lancaster Bible. Over that span, she allowed just a trio of singles, while walking just one. She finished the week not allowing a single run, (earned and unearned).
SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Susan Duncan
Penn State Berks | Junior | OF
Duncan collected her second-straight Player of the Week nod as her offense helped the Nittany Lions to a 4-0 week. The junior combined to go 13-for-19 from the plate, racking up six doubles and four dingers. She would drive in 10 runners as well while also touching the plate 13 times herself. Duncan finished the week campaign slashing .684/1.632/.684.
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Jaden Himmelreich
Penn State Abington | SR | RHP
In game one of a doubleheader on Friday at Penn College, Himmelreich went the distance holding the Wildcats to just three hits in seven innings of work to complete the shutout victory for his fourth win of the season. He also struck out three batters. In addition to his appearance on the bump, Himmelreich also had two hits, 3 RBI and 7 runs scored on the week.
BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ryan McCarty
Penn State Abington | SR | INF
McCarty finished the week 11-for-22 with 10 runs, 13 RBI and four home runs as Penn State Abington posted a 4-1 record on the week. The senior increased his D-III lead with his 20th home run of the season while also becoming the program's single season record holder for runs and RBI in a season. McCarty highlighted the week with a 3-for-5 performance in the win over Muhlenberg where he drove in four runs, scored three times and hit two home runs. In Friday's doubleheader at Penn College, hit an inside the park home run in game one and launched his 20th home run of the season in game two.
MEN’S LACROSSE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Travis Kilanowski
Hilbert College | Junior | D
Kilanowski had a strong all around outing in the Hawks conference win over La Roche University. The senior defender caused five turnovers, scooped up three ground balls and won eight of 11 faceoffs that he took. He was also a key figure in the Hawks clearing game and controlled the tempo of the game throughout.
MEN’S LACROSSE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Joey DiMaria
Hilbert College | Freshman | A
DiMaria had a strong day in the Hawk’s lopsided conference win over La Roche. The rookie netted five goals and assisted on three others for an eight point outing. He also forced two turnovers which led to scoring chances in the ride game. The freshman is currently first on the team in goals (16) and second in points with (23).
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The United East has nine NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Gallaudet University, Lancaster Bible College, Morrisville State, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland and Wells College. The United East also includes three associate members in the sport of men’s golf including Rosemont College, Rutgers University – Camden and Wilson College. The United East has also partnered with the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in the sports of men's and women's lacrosse and the North Atlantic Conference in men's tennis and women's tennis. For more information, please visit: gounitedeast.com.