Freshman Kristin Murphy (Brandford, CT/Brandford) scored three goals against New Paltz to lead Union to a 3-1 victory, which snapped the Dutchwomen's season-opening nine-game losing streak. It was Murphy's team-high, and team-leading fifth goal of the season. She was selected as the UCAA” Rookie of the Week.”
Murphy, a forward, scored her other two goals against Oswego, in the third game of the season, and against Utica in the fourth game.
The Dutchwomen will play their final three games of the season on the road, starting with Saturday's (October 25) game against UCAA rival Rensselaer.
Freshman goaltender Kris Mayotte (Finleyville, PA) stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced in helping the Dutchmen win their first game of the season and even their record at 1-1-1. Mayotte finished the game with a save percentage of .937. He kicked out all 14 shots he faced in the second period while helping Union finish with a 4-1 advantage after the first 40 minuts. Mayotte was critical to the Dutchmen's penalty-kill team, which stopped all five Niagara powerplay opportunities, including three in the second period.
Mayotte came to Union from the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL, helping the Musketeers win the 2002 league championship. He finished that season with a 2.57 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.
Senior center Kris Goodjohn (Calgary, Alberta) was named to the “Honor Roll.” The center on the line that includes Mardc Neron, and Brian Kerr, Goodjohn had two assists and leads the Dutchmen in scoring.
In what very well could be an NCAA Division III record (research is currently being done to find out) and is certainly a Union single-game standard, senior linebacker Dan Lombreglia (Sparta, NJ/Blair Academy) was in on 21 total tackles (confirmed by game films) and earned the UCAA “Defensive Player of the Week” award. He was the first player this year to also pick up the ECAC's regional “Defensive Player of the Week” honor as well.
Lombreglia, who leads Union's tackle chart with 69 total tackles (29 first hits and 36 assists), also had a six-yard tackle for loss and a fumble recovery against the Yellowjackets.
To put into perspective how dominate Lombreglia was on the day of October 19, consider that he stopped or helped stop 38% of Rochester's 72 total plays.
Sports Illustrated, if you are looking for a “Faces in the Crowd,” here he is. Stay tuned.
Freshman quarterback Ryan Perry (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia), who took over for injured senior Bill Fitzgerald in the second half of the 20-12 loss to Alfred on October 5, made his first career start a memorable one as he led the Dutchmen to a 32-14 victory over Rensselaer. A season-high crowd of 3,093, many of whom were back to campus to celebrate Homecoming Weekend, saw Perry complete 19 of 34 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown (a 25-yard scoring strike to junior Carm Taglione). His efforts earned him his first UCAA “Rookie of the Week” honor.
As if his college debut wasn't enough, Perry picked up his second-straight UCAA “Rookie of the Week” award by leading the Dutchmen past homestanding Rochester, 31-14. Not only did the victory improve Union's record to 4-2, it gave the Garnet a 3-1 record in the UCAA.
The Yellowjackets' defense saw Perry complete 13 of 26 passes for 166 yards (with no interceptions). Perry helped Union open the scoring with a four-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Tony Metz, and threw his second scoring strike, a 20-yarder, to Taglione. In between, the 17-year old signal caller picked up his first collegiate rushing touchdown, a six-yard scamper that gave Union a 14-0 advantage.
Now 2-0 as a starter, Perry has completed 41 of 81 passes for 463 yards, three touchdowns, and just one interception.
Protecting Perry's pocket is senior center Alan Fiore (59).
Sophomore defensive end Alex Smith (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville High) put the final nail in RPI's coffin when he intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown with 6:38 left to play in the fourth quarter on October 12. The touchdown was the first of his11-year football career.
Not only did his return bring “THE SHOES” back to Union, it helped Smith earn UCAA “Defensive Player of the Week.”
Alex, who had seven total tackles, including two quarterback sacks in the Dutchmen's 32-14 victory, also knocked down a pass.
Smith, who goes into the game with Coast Guard sixth on the Dutchmen's tackle chart with 26, also leads Union with his three quarterback sacks.
Protecting Smith's blind side is senior defensive tackle Dan Croce (51).
