Sept. 12, 2012
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - After capturing weekly awards from the Patriot League on Monday, six student-athletes were further honored Tuesday with recognition from the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
American and Bucknell shared the lead with two selections apiece, while Army and Fordham each had one. Both Bison representatives were in cross country, with sophomore John Dugan being named the Male Runner of the Week and senior Caroline Tolli the Women's Runner of the Week. The three remaining student-athletes were all named ECAC Defensive Player of the Week in their respective sports. American was represented by senior Gina Hofmann (field hockey) and junior Cristobal Soto (men's soccer). Rounding out the list of five was Army sophomore Linda Rosas (women's soccer) and Fordham's Patrick Murray (football).
Murray earned his second straight Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week honor Monday for his effort in Fordham's 28-13 loss to Villanova on Saturday, and added the ECAC Special Teams Player of the Week nod a day after. He made a pair of second-quarter field goals from 50 and 37 yards out, the first coming just two yards shy of the Patriot League record he set last week. Murray punted five times for a 44.0 average, and also gained 25 yards on a fake punt that set up Fordham's first-quarter touchdown. He also earned the College Football Performance Awards Placekicker of the Week honor for the second straight time. It was Murray's third career Special Teams Player of the Week honor.
Hofmann, the Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, lived up to her billing last week to help the Eagles to their first two victories of the season at the Terrapin Invitational. After helping the defense hold Dartmouth to four shots on goal in a 3-0 win on Saturday, Hofmann came through with the game-winning assist as American beat No. 19 Massachusetts 2-1 in double overtime on Sunday. She also made a number of goal line saves during the weekend. Hofmann was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on Monday for the fourth time in her career, and first since 2010.
Soto collected his second straight weekly honor from the Patriot League on Monday and added the ECAC hardware a day later after leading the American defensive efforts during a 2-0 week. He anchored the Eagles' D in surrendering just three shots on goal in the Friday win over St. Francis (N.Y.) and just four in the shutout victory against St. Peter's. The Eagles are now 4-2-0 on the season.
Rosas earned her first career weekly awards after going 2-1-0 for the Black Knights last week with a 0.67 goals-against average and 17 saves in two shutouts. She made four stops in a 1-0 victory over previously-unbeaten Seton Hall and stopped six in Sunday's 1-0 clean sheet against Syracuse. She also had seven saves in a 2-1 loss to undefeated Iowa.
Dugan earned his first collegiate victory by finishing in first place in a field of 106 runners at the Detroit Titan Invitational on Saturday. He ran the 4-mile race in a time of 20:31, topping the second-place finisher by 11 seconds. Dugan also helped Bucknell to first place in the eight-team field. The 2011 Patriot League Rookie of the Year was named M-F Athletic Male Runner of the Week for the first time on Monday
Tolli finished in first place in a field of 97 runners at the Detroit Titan Invitational on Saturday. She finished the 5K race in 18:27 for her first career victory, which also helped give Bucknell the title in the eight-team field. Tolli bested the second-place finisher by 23 seconds as she led the Bison for the second time in as many meets this season. Monday was Tolli's first M-F Athletic Female Runner of the Week honor from the League.
Tuesday's ECAC awards were the first of the fall season.
For more information on all of the fall sports, read the updated weekly releases on the Patriot League website.