LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for October 9, 2023. This includes Athletes of the Week for both the Skye and Volt Divisions in Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, and Women’s Volleyball.
This week’s selections included contests from Monday, October 2 through Sunday, October 8. A total of 12 student-athletes were recognized for their performances.
Men’s Soccer
Offensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Tassilo Lehmkuhl / FY / Notre Dame of Maryland University / Potsdam, Germany / Katholische Marienschule
Lehmkuhl lead the Gators to earn their first two conference wins in 2023; the program’s first season. Trailing Wilson 1-0, Lehmkuhl scored twice in the first half to rally NDMU to the 2-1 victory for the program’s first United East victory. In the win over Clarks Summit, Lehmkuhl recorded an assist on NDMU's first goal and then struck in the ninth minute, scoring a goal from outside the 18-yard box. He would close out the victory, converting his first career PK. Lehmkuhl finished the week with four goals and one assist. At the end of the week, Lehmkuhl leads the United East in Game-Winning Goals (3) while sitting fourth in Total Points (14), fifth in Shots on Goal (17), and eighth in Shots (21).
Defensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Luke Hughen / Jr / Saint Elizabeth University / Jefferson, N.J. / Jefferson Township HS
Luke has been solid on the defensive backline, playing virtually every minute of conference play. He has been crucial to a defensive line that has only given up 1 goal in 3 conference games; a 2-1 win over Bryn Athyn on Saturday afternoon. .
Offensive Player of the Week - Volt Division
Andrew Cox / So / Lancaster Bible College / Sinking Spring, Pa. / High Point Baptist Academy
Cox scored three goals this week including two goals in the 3-3 tie with #6 Lebanon Valley on Tuesday. Lancaster Bible was up 2-0 on Cox’s goals before settling for a 3-3 tie on the road with the #6 rated team in NCAA Division III. Cox currently leads the Chargers with 12 goals, sitting in 2nd place in the conference for both goals (12) and points (24). Cox was the 2022 United East Rookie of the Year as well as a 2nd Team All-United East honoree.
Defensive Player of the Week - Volt Division
Matt Sheldon / Sr / Penn State Abington / Perkasie, Pa. / Pennridge HS
Sheldon recorded seven saves in the team's 2-1 victory over nationally ranked #3 Montclair State. The Nittany Lions held Amer Lukovic, the nation’s leading scorer, scoreless on four shots; including a PK save in the 50th minute. This is the first game of the season that Lukovic has not scored. Sheldon currently sits fourth in the United East in Shutouts (2) and sixth in Total Saves (41).
Women’s Soccer
Offensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Kira Bradley / So / Bryn Athyn College / Levittown, Pa. / Neshaminy HS
Bradley lead the Lions to a 2-0 week behind her 8 goals. The goal scoring forward scored all three goals in the 3-0 win over Rosemont. She followed up her performance with 5 goals against Keystone. Bradley has logged 16 goals in United East play and has had consecutive 8-goal weeks. Her 19 goals on the season lead the United East and are second in all of NCAA Division III. Bradley was previously Offensive Player of the Week for September 12, 2023 and was a Honorable Mention honoree in 2022.
Defensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Isabelle Portis / Sr / Cairn University / Midland Park, N.J. / Eastern Christian High School
Portis collected three saves this week in 2 shutouts against Valley Forge and Rosemont. The shutout on Wednesday at Valley Forge tied the Cairn University record for most career shutouts. With the victory on Saturday against Rosemont, Portis moved into sole possession of the record for most career shutouts in Cairn Women's Soccer program history at 16. This is first Athlete of the Week honor for Portis who previously earned Honorable Mention in 2022 and 2nd Team Honors in 2021.
Offensive Player of the Week - Volt Division
Kendal Ream / Sr / Lancaster Bible College / Willow Street, Pa. / Lampeter-Strasburg
Ream has continued her offensive prowess scoring four total goals over the three games this week. Ream had the lone goals in both the loss to Penn College and Marywood while scoring two goals in the 4-0 win over Gallaudet. Ream currently sits tied for 5th in NCAA Division III for total goals (17) and tied for 7th nationally for total points (36). Ream was the United East Offensive Player of the Week for October 2, 2023, September 25, 2023, September 4, 2023 and October 11, 2021 as well as a 2021 All-Conference First Team honoree.
Defensive Player of the Week - Volt Division
Makayla Bucks / FY / Pennsylvania College of Technology / Lebanon, Pa. / Palmyra
Bucks helped Penn College to 1-0-1 week with stellar defense that allowed the Wildcats to surrender just two goals. The freshman marked the opponents top scorers and held them scoreless.
Women’s Volleyball
Offensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Riley Breen / FY / Bryn Athyn College / Southampton, N.J. / Seneca HS
Breen carried the Lions offense in the 2-0 Skye Division start. The first year hitter scored 39 kills, 8 aces, and 3 assists. She also added 23 digs on the week. Her most all around performance came against Wilson in a 5 set thrilling win where Breen logged 19 kills and 15 digs. The 58 total attempts vs. Wilson is the 4th highest rate of attempts within the United East this season. The 20-kill performance, in 3 sets vs. Valley Forge on Wednesday, is the highest Kills in 3 Sets within the United East this season and also ranks 4th regardless of set length.
Defensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Paulina Hernandez / Sr / Notre Dame of Maryland University / El Paso, Tx / Perry Hall HS
Hernandez continues to be one of the best defenders in the league, anchoring NDMU's defense in their wins over Penn St. Mont Alto and Cairn. She totaled 21 digs in the match with Penn St. Mont Alto and 24 in the Cairn match, finishing the week with 45 digs. Hernandez has the most digs in the conference (322) and ranks second in digs per set (5.55). This is the seventh Defensive Player of the Week for Hernandez who previously earned the honor for the weeks of September 27, 2021, September 6, 2022, and September 19, 2022, September 11, 2023, September 18, 2023, and September 25, 2023. Hernandez earned a spot on the CSAC Second Team in 2022 as well.
Offensive Player of the Week - Volt Division
Ella Gamble / Jr / Gallaudet University / Cullowhee, N.C. / Smoky Mountain
Gamble tallied 75 assists, 23 digs, seven aces, two blocks and two kills in a 2-0 week for Gallaudet as the Bison began conference play. In a five-set thriller at St. Mary's (Md.) the junior setter passed out 42 assists and made 19 digs to secure a double-double. Gamble added four aces and one kill as GU won at St. Mary's for the first time in decades. Gamble followed that performance up with a 33-assist match at Penn St.-Abington. Gamble added four digs, three aces, two blocks and one kill. This is the second Athlete of the Week award for Gamble who previously won for the week of September 18, 2023.
Defensive Player of the Week - Volt Division
Leah Helman / Jr / Lancaster Bible College / Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro HS
Helman hit a major career milestone this week as she is just the 7th player in history to eclipse the 1000 career dig milestone and currently sits at 1051 digs after the weekend. Helping the Chargers to a 3-0 week including two conference wins over Penn St. Harrisburg (3-0) and Penn College (3-0), Helman averaged 23 digs, 2 aces, and 3 assists per set. Helman also had a season high 31 digs in a gritty 3-2 win over Arcadia to make it 11 wins on the season. This is the fourth Player of the Week for Helman, who previously received the award for the week(s) of: October 2, 2023, September 24, 2023, and October 3, 2022.
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The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Clarks Summit University, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.