Ercolino, Hanna, & Smalbraak Earn MAAC Field Hockey Awards
MAAC Sports
Offensive Player of the Week
Alyssa Ercolino, Monmouth
Jr., MF, 5-3, West Long Branch, NJ / Shore Regional
Alyssa Ercolino broke out offensively this weekend posting eight points on four goals, including a game-winning strike against Quinnipiac, to lead Monmouth to a pair of victories and a berth in the MAAC Field Hockey Championships. The junior, who posted her second and third multi-goal games of her career, scored to give MU a 1-0 lead against the Pioneers before adding an insurance marker in the 3-1 win. Two days later against the Bobcats, the local product put the Hawks on the board in the 46th minute with her goal off a rebound. With the score knotted at 1-1, Ercolino connected on a backhanded shot inside the near post for the game-winning goal. For the year, the midfielder now has 18 points on seven goals and four assists.
Defensive Player of the Week
Casey Hanna, Monmouth
Jr., D, 5-4, Seaville, NJ / Ocean City
Casey Hanna anchored the Monmouth defense in the 4-3 victory over rival Rider. The junior worked both ends of the field, disrupting numerous Broncs attacking possessions. The 2014 league defensive player of the year generated the Hawks’ first goal of the afternoon. After a tackle in the defensive end, Hanna carried the ball 30 yards between defenders before dishing off to Rachel Konowal, who set up Meg Donahue’s goal in the first half. Hanna, who also added a pair of shots in the victory, and the defense did not allow a Rider attacking opportunity in the final 11:03 of the game.
Rookie of the Week
Ruth Smalbraak, Fairfield
Fr., MF, 5-5, Suest, Holland / Johan van Oldebarnevelt
Ruth Smalbraak had another stellar week of play for Fairfield University. On Sunday, against Siena she had her best offensive performance of the season. The freshman had two goals and one assist on the day. Her two goals came just 58 seconds apart in the second half of Fairfield’s 6-1 win. Both goals were unassisted as the first was rocketed from the top of the circle right past the keeper. Her second goal came when she collected a loose ball in the circle and with her back to the goal, she quickly turned around to fire the shot into the back of the net. On the season she is second on the team in goals (5), assists (4), and points (14).