LATHAM, N.Y. - Week 32 of the United East’s weekly honor roll has been released with eight student athletes from five different institutions represented. On the baseball diamond, Penn State Harrisburg’s Maddux Ryan was tabbed the Player of the Week while St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s Jakob Sandridge was named the Pitcher of the Week.
In softball, Penn State Berks’ Briana Smith earned the Pitcher of the Week nod. Player of the Week went to Penn State Abington’s Gretchen Yanss.
In men’s lacrosse, Keegan Pries (St. Mary’s College) earned Offensive Player of the Week honors while Michael Avgenikos (SUNY Morrisville) collected Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Rounding out the honor roll was a pair of women’s lacrosse players in Colin Horton (SMC) and Cara Walker (MOR) who were named Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively.
Read about all eight players HERE:
Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week
Keegan Preis
St. Mary’s College of Maryland | Sophomore | Attack
Preis set a pair of program records as he helped St. Mary’s College picked up a big conference win over Wells College last week. The sophomore racked up 16 points including 14 assists, both setting new program highs. He also tacked on two goals and a groundball to add to the historic performance.
Men’s Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Michael Avgenikos
SUNY Morrisville | Freshman | Faceoff Specialist
Avgenikos was electric on the restart, helping his Mustang squad notch a big conference win over La Roche University. The first year won 17 of his 19 attempts on the face off, leading to the majority of his team-high 13 groundballs. His efforts also showed up on the scoresheet as he collected an assist as well.
Women’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week
Colin Horton
St. Mary’s College of Maryland | Sophomore | Midfield
Horton had the offense flowing as she played a big part in the Seahawks 1-1 record on the week. In the setback to nationally-ranked Salisbury University, the sophomore dished out a pair of assists while scoring once herself. She then bettered that in the weekend victory over Mount Aloysius College as she posted five goals and one assist. Her nine points on the week were joined by six draw controls, including five in the conference win.
Women’s Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Cara Walker
SUNY Morrisville | Sophomore | Defensive Midfield
For the second-straight week (and third time this season), Walker earned Defensive Player of the Week honors as she helped the Mustangs defeat La Roche University over the weekend. Walker was a menace on defense, causing a career-best nine turnovers and scooping 10 groundballs. She also helped on the draw, controlling 14 restarts in the effort. Adding to her statsheet, Walker also picked up a goal and three assists.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Jake Sandridge
St. Mary’s College of Maryland | Senior | Pitcher
Sandridge used his first complete game effort of the season to help his Seahawks pick up a key conference win over Penn State Berks this week. The senior manned the mound all 9.0 innings, punching out 11 Nittany Lion batters. Over that time, he allowed just a single earned run on seven hits.
Baseball Player of the Week
Maddux Ryan
Penn State Harrisburg | Senior | First Base
Ryan made program history on Saturday before helping Penn State Harrisburg knock off the top-ranked team in the nation the next day. In a win over Wells on Saturday afternoon, the senior became just the third player in program history to hit for the cycle, going 4-for-4 with a walk, seven RBI, and two runs scored. In a win over No. 1 Salisbury on Sunday, the first baseman drove in the game’s final run after stealing a base earlier in the contest. Across five games last week, Ryan slashed .563/.632/1.000 with a 1.632 OPS. He went yard twice, added a triple and a double, drove in 11 runs, scored six more, swiped four bags, and tallied 16 total bases.
Softball Player of the Week
Gretchen Yanss
Penn State Abington | Sophomore | Outfield / Pitcher
Yanss did a little of everything this week, helping her Nittany Lions post a perfect 6-0 record against six conference foes. The sophomore finished the week going 7-for-13 from the dish, belting four doubles along the way. She’d tack on seven RBI while also scoring four runs. To add to her performance, Yanss also tossed a Perfect Game against Wells College and finished the week with a 3-0 record from the circle.
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Briana Smith
Penn State Berks | Senior | Pitcher
Smith turned in an exceptional week from the circle, finishing the stint with a 2-0 record. In the win over Wells, Smith notched a Perfect Game as she struck out seven Express batters. Prior to that, the senior went the distance in a win over Penn State Harrisburg, not allowing a single Lion run to cross the plate. She’d finish the week with an ERA of 0.00 and 10 punch outs.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram - gounitedeast | Twitter - @GoUnitedEast
******************************************************************************************************************************************
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 Clarks Summit University, Rosemont College, Rutgers University – Camden and Wilson College. Clarks Summit University is also an associate member in the sport of men’s tennis. The United East has also partnered with the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in the sports of men's and women's lacrosse. For more information, please visit: gounitedeast.com