CORTLAND — The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) announced the women’s soccer annual awards today and Buffalo State secured a clean sweep of the four major awards and place eight players in all on the All-SUNYAC teams.
Melissa Smith (N. Tonawanda/Niagara Wheatfield) and Kristin Seiferth (Brightwaters/Bay Shore) claimed the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year Awards respectively, while Taylor Carillo (Pine Bush/Pine Bush) is the Rookie of the Year. For the second-consecutive year, Nicholas DeMarsh was voted the conference Coach of the Year.
Breanna Knight (Valley Stream/Valley Stream South) joined Smith, Seiferth and Carillo on the first team, Tianna Hatch (Endicott/Elmira Free Acad.) and Jenna Smolinski (Hamburg/Hamburg) were named second team, and Catherine Mammoser (Eden/Eden) and Victoria Colotti (New Windsor/Newburgh Free) were honored on the third team.
Smith, a senior childhood education major, has captured the league’s top offensive player award for the second-straight season after transferring to Buffalo State as a junior. Smith leads the SUNYAC with 15 goals and 37 points in 20 games and has tallied eight game-winning goals, good for fourth in NCAA Division III. In just two seasons, Smith has tallied 64 points in 40 games, ranking her fifth on the school’s all-time scoring list.
Seiferth, a senior criminal justice major, earned the league’s top defensive honor after serving as the Bengals’ top shutdown defender. Seiferth has started every game in the back for Buffalo State and has played an integral role in the team’s 13 shutouts and limiting the opposition to a mere 6.4 shot attempts-per-game, with only 3.2 finding their way on goal. Seiferth was named second team All-SUNYAC last season as a junior.
Carillo, a freshman goalkeeper, earns the top rookie honor setting a school record with 13 shutouts and posting a 0.44 goals against average and a .855 save percentage, playing every minute this season in the Bengals’ goal. She also set a school record with a spanned parts of 10 game and lasted 871 minutes and 56 seconds.
DeMarsh was tabbed SUNYAC Coach of the Year for the second-straight year and for the third time in his 15th season. His Bengals have rewritten the school’s record books, posting a 17-1-2 record en route to the team’s first-ever SUNYAC Championship and appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Buffalo State is riding 14-game winning streak and has not trailed during its 15-game unbeaten streak. The team’s 17 wins and 13 shutouts also have set new program records.
Knight was a first time honoree, garnering first team accolades as a midfielder. The junior criminal justice major has started all 20 games and tallied one goal and four assists and has been a key contributor at both ends of the field.
Seniors Hatch and Smolinski captured second team honors. Hatch, a sociology major, grabs all-conference recognition for the second-straight year after being named first team a year ago. In just 15 games played this season, she has netted eight goals and 17 points, including four game-winning markers. Smolinski is a first-time honoree as a senior after transferring to Buffalo State last season. She appeared in 19 games this season, and the midfielder who majors in health and wellness, had a goal and an assist and played a vital role in the team’s defensive efforts.
Mammoser and Colotti added third team recognition. Mammoser, another senior transfer that spent two seasons at Buffalo State added to the Bengals offensive punch. The criminal justice major netted five goals to go with seven assists in 20 games played. Colotti, a junior health and wellness major, has been a key contributor in the midfield. She is a three-time All-SUNYAC honoree, earning third team as a freshman and second team as a sophomore. This year she has scored four goals and has played in all 20 games.
Buffalo State will continue its season this Saturday in the NCAA playoffs when it hosts Montclair State at 1:30 p.m.
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