Williams giving Uconn a boost
Since his days at the Hun School, Nick Williams has been returning punts and kickoffs.
Now a senior at the University of Connecticut, Williams has become one of the premier kick returners in the country.
When the Huskies met Maryland, it was Williams returning a punt 58 yards to the end zone in a very emotional 24-21 UConn win. His efforts earned Williams the Big East Special Teams Player of the Week honor.
Former Connecticut coach Randy Edsall, who was at UConn when Williams arr ived , coaches Maryland.
The East Windsor native has some very impressive numbers on the football field.
He has rushed for 20 yards, caught eight passes for 101 yards, fielded nine punts for 159 yards and returned nine kickoffs for 220 yards, Williams leads the Huskies with 500 allpurpose yards.
“I returned kicks at Hun and in my sophomore year I started in college,” said Williams. “It’s something at times that does get overlooked unless you fumble or get a touchdown. You have to be ready each time and you have to have the ability to make decisions.”
Williams readily admits one of his best decisions was to attend Hun.
“Hun is just a great place and going there was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” said Williams.
Both on and off the field, Williams credits the Hun experience with having a great influence on his life.
“Coach (Dave) Dudek and the principles he taught me had a great affect on me at a young age,” said Williams. “He was a big factor in my life.”
Williams has become a big factor in the success of Connecticut football. He averages 17.7 yards a punt and 24.4 on kickoffs.
“It’s been a fun ride,” said Williams. “It’s a reward seeing that all the hard work has been recognized, but it’s not just me. Everyone has to contribute to make a return a success.”
Returning kicks can definitely change a game. As Williams knows, bringing one back for a touchdown is one of the most exciting plays in football.
Despite a loss this week to Western Michigan, Williams and the Huskies just want to stay focused and keep their eyes on the Big East crown.
“I just want to keep winning,” Williams said. “There is a lot of season left and we all need to stay focused.”
Using the life skills — and his football talent — he enhanced at Hun, there is no doubt Williams will stay attentive to the task at hand.
Verdel Gets Commonwealth Honor
Alvernia’s Bridget Verdel (Notre Dame) was named the Commonwealth Conference Player of the Week.
Verdel netted a pair of goals and added an assist in the Crusaders’ 4-2 win over Kings.
She put her name in consideration for another Player of the Week honor with a hat trick in Alvernia’s win over Valley Forge Christian College.
Williams Sets New Career High Kendrick Williams (Nottingham) rushed for a career-high 151 yards in East Stroudsburg’s win over Cheyney.
Williams, who has rushed for 228 yards on the season, scored on runs of 3 and 56 yards. He finished with 13.7 yards a carry in the game. Carthan Named NEC Rookie of the Week Alicia Carthan (Bordentown) was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week after leading Rider to a pair of field hockey wins.
Carthan has started five straight games and had an amazing 1.04 goals against average for the week to earn the rookie honor. Sabatura Near Record Heidi Sabatura (Pennington) is just one assist shy of tying the Villanova record. Sabatura has 27 on her career.
“Heidi is so creative, but what people forget is that she’s such a hard worker,” said Villanova coach John Byford on the school’s athletic website “She can create from anywhere on the field.”
Sabatura is eighth in total points with 71 over her Villanova career. Cross Country: Jon
Sewnig (Notre Dame) helped Rowan to a seventhplace finish in the UMass Dartmouth Invitational. … Lisa Leszcynski (Robbinsville) helped Rowan to a third-place finish in the women’s UMass Dartmouth Invitational. … TCNJ won the Osprey Open with Robert Guiducci (Robbinsville) placing eighth. … Julie Jablonski (Hopewell Valley) placed third among the winning TCNJ women and Megan Flynn (Robbinsville) was ninth. … Daniel
Lee (WW-P North) was third for Rutgers in the Father Leeber Invitational.
Football: Drew Peterson (Truman) was the Middle Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Week after seven tackles and a pair of interceptions for Albright in a win over Wilkes. … Carlton Koonce (Rancocas Valley) was the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 176 yards in Fordham’s win over Cornell. … Keith Sherman (Lawrence) scored a touchdown for Lehigh against Princeton, … Ross
Scheuerman (Allentown) caught a 24-yard pass for Lafayette in a win over Bucknell.
Field Hockey: Kellye Statz (Robbinsville) had 10 saves in William Paterson’s win over Kean. Brianne Cox (Pemberton) added an assist. … McKenna Reynolds (Delran) scored for Paterson in a loss to Wesley. …Gabrielle Evans (Bordentown) had a defensive save for Richard Stockton against Eastern. … Lauren Pigott (Northern Burlington) had a defensive save for TCNJ in win over Juniata.
Golf: Beau Guarino
(Burlington Twp.) and
Evan McGrain (WW-P South) both placed for Rider in the Rutgers Invitational.
Men’s Soccer: Joe Kane (Delran) scored for Ramapo in a win over TCNJ. … Duke Lacroix (Lawrenceville) was named to the Ivy League Honor Roll after scoring two goals and five points in two games for Penn. … AJ Carnevale (WW-P North) scored the gamewinner for FDU-Florham in a win over TCNJ. … Tyler Cignarella (Hopewell Valley) has been stellar in the back for TCNJ. …
Jared Mangone (WW-P North) scored a goal and
Dylan Smith (Steinert) assisted for Rowan in a win over Montclair State. Smith added a goal in the win over FDU-Florham. … Clevon
McPherson (Pemberton) scored the game-winner and Bob Millar had four saves as Richard Stockton edged Kean. … Matt
Lanouette (Hopewell Valley) scored the gamewinner as Rutgers-Camden defeated Kean.
Tennis: Matt DiMartino (Neshaminy) had a come-from-behind win in singles for Rider against St. Thomas Aquinas. Milo
Milosovici (Florence) was a doubles winner for the Broncs.
Women’s Soccer: Erika Juricic (Hightstown) had a goal and an assist for William Paterson in a win over New Jersey City. Mary
Jane Seiler (Robbinsville) had one save for the Pioneers. She has 2.07 goals against average … Casey
McGuigan (Robbinsville) had an assist in William Paterson’s win over Centenary. … Lauren Smedley (Peddie) has four shutouts on the season for Lafayette and 24 in her career. … Jacque
Becker (Hamilton) notched a hat trick for Richard Stockton in a win over Immaculata. … Lexi Stasi (Princeton) scored for Stockton against Immaculata. … Vanessa
Hejnas (Delran) had six saves for Widener in a win over Delaware Valley. …Victoria Camera (Hamilton) had an assist for Rowan in a win over NJ City.