RPI football hands out year-end awards
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TROY, N.Y. >>
The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) football team recently presented its year-end awards and numerous student-athletes were recognized after helping the Engineers to an 8-3 record, the Liberty League title and a bid to the NCAA Playoffs. Senior linebacker Oliver Kaija was chosen as the Player of the Year, while classmates Sean Egan and Bryan Hayes, both defensive backs, shared Defensive Player of the Year honors. Fellow senior Malik Joseph, a defensive tackle, was named the Defensive Lineman of the Year with the Offensive Lineman of the Year award being presented to junior tackle Chris Neu. The Offensive Player of the Year award was shared by senior running back Mike Tivinis and junior wide receiver Keaton Ackermann and senior kicker Christian Kapp and junior return specialist Conor Davies both garnered Special Teams Player of the Year. The Rookie of the Year awards went to quarterback George Marinopolous (offense) and defensive lineman Amaechi Konkwo (defensive), while senior Johnny Ramsdell earned the Scholar Athlete of the Year award. A captain, Kaija (Reading, VT / Woodstock Union) started 10 games, registering 50 tackles, including 23 unassisted. He had 3.5 tackles for lost yards (20) with two forced fumbles and two interceptions. He had at least four stops in eight contests, including two with nine tackles. Kaija, who also captains the lacrosse team, had four solo tackles and five assisted stops with 1.5 for lost yards (3) and a forced fumble at Hobart and three solo tackles with six assisted, plus an interception with a 10-yard return in the NCAA Playoffs at Wesley. Egan (Watervliet, NY / Shaker), a cornerback, started all 11 games, registering 34 solo and 13 assisted tackles with seven interceptions, five pass breakups and a forced fumble. He had 3.5 tackles for lost yards (9) and five interception return yards. He led the conference in interceptions and was third in passes defended (12). Hayes (Boyleston, MA / Tahanto Regional), a safety, led the team with 85 tackles, including a teambest 52 unassisted. He had two tackles for lost yards (2), two interceptions, four pass breakups and a blocked kick. In addition to Defensive Player of the Year, he was also the recipient of a George Bode Award for perseverance. Joseph (Bronx, NY / Iona Prep.) finished RPI senior linebacker and captain Oliver Kaija was chosen as Player of the Year by the Engineers football staff and squad. with 33 tackles, including 14 unassisted, 7.5 for lost yards (23) and three sacks (11 yards lost). A captain, he was first on the Engineers in sacks and tackles for lost yards and he led the defensive linemen in solo and total tackles. Joseph added a pass breakup, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Neu (Mokena, IL / Culver Academy), the Offensive Lineman of the Year, helped RPI average 177.7 rushing yards, 167.7 passing yards and 29.2 points. Rensselaer, which allowed just 20 sacks, was first in the league in rushing offense and second in scoring offense. In 10 games, Tivinis (Middleton, MA / Masconomet) led the Engineers in rushing with 635 yards on 111 carries. He averaged 5.7 yards per rush with six touchdowns and he caught 10 passes for 91 yards. Ackermann (Erieville, NY / Cazenovia) was the team’s leading receiver with 28 receptions for 395 yards and seven touchdowns. He had at least one TD catch in six different games. The team’s placekicker, Kapp (Amawalk, NY / Iona Prep.) made 9 of 12 field goal attempts, including a long of 47 yards. He was also successful on all 32 pointafter attempts and led the team with 69 points. He averaged 62.1 yards per kickoff (59 att. for 3664 yards) with 34 touchbacks before going on to earn the Special Teams Most Valuable Player award of the National Bowl Game. He had field goals of 37 and 48 yards, while also handling kickoff duties. As a punt returner, Davies (Lanoka Harbor, NJ / Lacey Township) was first in the conference with an average of 11.8 yards per attempt (23 att. for 271 yards) and a long of 68 yards in 11 games. He began bringing back kickoffs midway through the season and finished with nine returns for 193 yards (21.4 per) with a long of 41 yards. Also a slotback, Davies caught 12 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown, while rushing 11 times for 57 yards. A freshman quarterback, Marinopoulos (Slingerlands, NY / Guilderland) threw for 1031 yards (95 of 148) and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions in seven games. He started the final six contests, leading the Engineers to a 5-1 record. Konkwo (Alexandria, VA / Bishop Ireton) a freshman, totaled 24 tackles (13 unassisted) with four tackles for lost yards (22) in 11 games. He had three sacks (21 yards lost) and a fumble recovery. Ramsdell (Haverhill, MA / Haverhill), a senior slotback, is a biomedical engineering major with a 3.72 cumulative grade point average. He is a three-time Liberty League All-Academic honoree and a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District choice. On the field in 2017, he started all 11 games, running 22 times for 97 yards and a touchdown and catching 24 passes for 280 yards and four scores. He also returned seven kickoffs for 162 yards.
UTICA, N.Y. >>
Sage’s women’s basketball team used a strong second half to remain perfect in the Empire 8 on Tuesday evening as the Gators beat Utica, 72-65. With the victory, Sage is now 10-3 overall and stays perfect at 4-0 in the Empire 8 and has watched their win streak grow to six games. Utica drops to 6-8 and 2-3 in the league. Sage’s junior guard Emily Parslow (Fonda, NY/FondaFultonville) poured in a career-high 24 points to lead the team to the road win after making 8-of-17 from the floor with four shots from the perimeter, seven assists and a 4-4 effort from the line. Joining Parslow with some big numbers is the team’s senior forward Genevieve Schoff (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) who moved into the No. 2 spot on Sage’s career scoring list as well on Tuesday. She finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, but more importantly surpassed Mary Leary (19801983) for the second spot in scoring. Leary is now third with 1,199 points behind Schoff’s 1,201 career points. She is now second only to Jocelyn Naple’s 1,412 points (1994-1998). The game was back and forth with two ties and seven lead changes before Sage took control down the stretch with some clutch three pointers and accurate free throw shooting. Sage hit 58.8% from three-point range in the game, making 10-of-17 from downtown. Sophomore forward Megan Flynn (Hoosick Falls, NY/ Hoosick Falls Central) added a double-double with 11 points and a personal-best 11 rebounds for Sage. Schoff, who is a candidate for the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team, has now played in 95 games (which is tied for 4th), while adding 772 rebounds (No. 3) with 105 blocks (No. 2), 351 made free throws (No. 1) and has 178 assists (No. 11), with 115 steals (14). Parslow has now played in 66 career games and moved into the No. 2 spot with her three point baskets. She has 132 career three-pointers and moved past Carly Vallee (126, 2009-2013) on Tuesday. She is also now 12th in career scoring with 762 points and fifth in career assists with 246. Sage will be in action next on Friday, January 19 travelling to Alfred University for an 8 p.m. Empire 8 contest.
UTICA, N.Y. >>
The Sage Colleges’ men’s basketball team travelled to Utica College for an Empire 8 match-up with the Pioneers on Tuesday night. In a game that featured six ties and 13 lead changes, Utica triumphed, 79-75 to improve to 8-6 overall and 3-2 in the league. Sage drops to 6-7 overall and 1-3 in the Empire 8. Utica held a 41-40 lead at the break and Sage would jump out to a 70-67 lead on a three-pointer by senior guard Jordan Devaughn (Jacksonville, FL/Flora McDonald Academy) at 6:03. Utica clawed their way back and Sage kept answering with clutch baskets of their own. Devaughn added a jumper at 1:03 to pull Sage back within two points, 7573. Utica’s Hunter Remley answered with a threepointer at 0:39 giving the Pioneers a 78-73 lead. Junior Kevin Lenehan (Delanson, NY/Duanesburg) added two free throws at 0:25 to keep Sage within striking distance, down 78-75. Utica’s Ivan Iton missed the first of his two free throws with 0:06 left and Sage was unable to cut into the score as time expired. Devaughn led Sage in the contest with 20 points. He converted 8-of-15 field goals in the contest with three baskets from threepoint range. Sage combined to shoot an impressive 47.4% from three-point range for the game as they hit 9-of-19 from down town. Senior center Barceem Dukes (Gloversville, NY/ Gloversville) collected a double-double as he added 14 points with 13 rebounds. Senior Stephen Paulk (West Palm Beach, FL/Palm Beach Lakes) tied his personalbest after adding 11 points off the bench in the contest and made all but one shot from the floor, converting 5-of-6 field goals on Tuesday night. Sophomore guard Isaiah Scurry (Albany, NY/ Albany) both finished with 12 points collecting all of his points from three-point range. Utica’s finished with a game-best 21 points and made 9-of-11 field goals for the Pioneers and was joined in double-digit scoring three teammates that all added 10 points apiece. Sage will return to action on Friday, January 19 travelling to Alfred University for a 6 p.m. for an Empire 8 contest.
Hudson Valley’s women’s basketball student-athlete Taylor Engster (Troy/Catholic Central) was named the NJCAA Region III Female Athlete of the Week on Tuesday afternoon for her game performances for the week of January 8 - January 14. Taylor averaged 27 points, 11 rebounds and 5.5 assists last week in a 1-1 week for the Vikings. Engster finished two assists shy from her first career triple-double (25 PTS, 13 REB, 8 AST) in their win over Clinton. Engster scored a game-high 29 points in a match-up against a Columbia-Greene. In her two games last week, Engster combined to shoot 21-30 (.700) from the floor, 4-8 (.500) from behind the arc and 8-10 (.800) from the free-throw line. Engster was also named Region 3 Player of the Week on Dec. 6, 2018. Engster is currently averaging 14.8 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game in 27.9 minutes per game for the Vikings. The women’s program is currently 9-6 on the year and return to action on Thursday, Jan. 18 when they welcome Mohawk Valley to the McDonough Sports Complex for a 5 p.m. start.
COLCHESTER, VT >>
Sophomore Reiley Adelson (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) was second in the 500-meter freestyle and third in the 1,000-free, only 0.14 ticks out of second for St. Michael’s College men’s and women’s swimming and diving team over the weekend. The Purple Knights suffered losses to SUNY Potsdam and The College of St. Rose on Sunday.
Bentley freshman Clayton Bennice captured the 100-freestyle in 50.55 seconds Saturday afternoon as the undefeated Falcons extended its dual win streak to 21 with a 20987 win over Keene State.