Six Owls Earn Player of the Week Honors

North Dartmouth, Mass. 4/30/12 – Six Keene State College spring student-athletes were named Player of the Week, as announced by the Little East Conference office on Monday afternoon.

Men’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Week
Kevin Carey (Mahopac, N.Y.), Freshman, Keene State College
Carey utilized a balanced scoring attack of four goals and four assists to help Keene State post a 2-0 record this past week. The freshman attacker registered a marker and three helpers at Plymouth State on April 24. Four days later, he handed out three assists and added a goal against Western Connecticut.

Men’s Lacrosse Goalie of the Week
Jason Leser (Brewster, N.Y.), Junior, Keene State College
Leser boasted a 5.43 goals against average and a 74.4 save percentage as Keene State clinched the second seed in the Little East Men’s Lacrosse Championship this past weekend. The junior from Brewster, N.Y. reached double figures in saves in each appearance to backstop the Owls to a 2-0 mark. Leser made a season-high 18 stops against Western Connecticut in the regular-season finale.

Softball Rookie of the Week
Samantha Nitso (Londonderry, N.H.), Freshman, Keene State College
Nitso hit safely in each of her five games to post a .600 batting average (9-for-15) with six extra base hits and eight runs batted in. The freshman from Londonderry, N.H. registered two doubles, a triple, and three home runs to boast a 1.467 slugging percentage. She launched a home run against Plymouth State, UMass Dartmouth, and Rhode Island College. 

Player of the Week
Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.), Senior, Keene State College
Chandler registered a .600 batting average (12-for-20) with a home run and four runs batted in to help Keene State post a 5-1 mark this past week in the conference circuit and secure the No. 2 seed in the Little East Softball Championship. The senior from Wakefield, Mass. hit safely in each of her six contests to raise her current hitting streak to eight games. Chandler feasted on Plymouth State pitching on April 24, sporting a .750 batting average (6-for-8) in the doubleheader sweep. She launched a home run in the first game of a doubleheader with UMass Dartmouth. Chandler capped the week with a 2-for-3 performance as the Owls salvaged a split at Rhode Island College on April 29.

Women’s Lacrosse Goalie of the Week
Erin Taylor (Brewster, N.Y.), Sophomore, Keene State College
Taylor posted a 8.50 goals against average and a 59.5 save percentage to backstop Keene State to a 2-0 mark this past week. The sophomore from Brewster, N.Y. reached double figures in saves in each appearance. She made 10 stops as the Owls edged Castleton State on April 24. Four days later, Taylor made a season-high 15 saves as Keene State defeated Western Connecticut and locked up the second seed in the Little East Women’s Lacrosse Tournament.

Women’s Field Athlete of the Week
Kristen Huckins (Westmoreland, N.H.), Sophomore, Keene State College
Huckins earned her first Little East Championship title in the javelin this past weekend. The sophomore from Westmoreland, N.H. tossed the javelin 35.99 meters to defeat the 12-person field.