Allison Baligian - Rider University

Field Hockey, Sophomore, Forward, 5-0, Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central

A Criminal Justice major with a 3.64 grade point average, Baligian has been one of Rider’s most clutch performers. As strong as she is in the classroom, Baligian has been equally as strong on the playing field as she leads the MAAC in goals scored and shots per game and her 12 points are third best in the conference.  Baligian’s goals per game average is 10th best in the nation.  Of Baligian’s six goals this season, three have been game-winners and of her 14 career goals, six are game-winners over her 26-game career.  Baligian was named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week the second week of the season as her four goals helped Rider to a 4-0 start to the 2015 campaign.  As a Rider rookie, Baligian earned Second Team All-MAAC honors after starting all 20 games while playing 1,085 minutes as Rider advanced to the conference title game for the 11th time in 15 seasons.

 

Chris Stragapede - Saint Peter's University

Men’s Soccer, Junior, Defense, 6-0, Toms River, N.J./Toms River North

Chris Stragapede has been successful in the classroom with a 3.65 GPA as an Economics major and on the field this season in 2015, Stragapede has played in seven games, including six starts for the Peacocks defense, helping the team to a 1.28 goals against average and a 3-3-1 record in non-conference play. Saint Peter’s is 3-0-1 at home this season and has only allowed three goals in the four matches. The junior has appeared in 31 games in his three-year career and started 22 games in that stretch while recording his only point on an assist in his freshman campaign.