Sept. 17 Niagara College sports report
Alex Hebert, shown in this file shot, had two shutouts helping the Niagara College women’s soccer team win both its games this past weekend. Photos by RYAN MCCULLOUGH.
Members of the Niagara College athletics program have shown they have brains to go along with their athletic abilities.
Last week, the Canadian College Athletic Association announced that 37 Niagara Knights were named recipients of the 2017-18 CCAA National Scholar Award.
The award recognizes outstanding academic accomplishment and recipients must achieve honours standing at their respective institution — 80 per cent or higher at Niagara College — while competing as a member of an intercollegiate sport program.
“This award is one of the highest achievements at the collegiate level,” said Michele O’Keefe, Niagara’s associate director of athletics and recreation. “The individuals recognized with this award personify what it means to be a student-athlete.
“We are extremely proud of their accomplishments both on the playing field and in the classroom.”
Niagara had the most winners in Ontario and the fourth most in Canada. Last year, the school had a school record 42 winners.
Leading the way were men’s soccer player Alex Latham and women’s basketball player Hannah Baker. They were the winners of Niagara’s top scholastic awards at the spring athletic banquet.
Latham, cross country runner Gavin Martin and golfer Logan Lammerant are three-time recipients of the award.
Winning for the second time were women’s volleyball players Amy Bultje and Rachel Rivers, women’s soccer player Bethany Langendoen, and curler Renee Boyce,
Below is the complete list of recipients by team:
Women’s volleyball: Bultje; Natasha Desjardins; Tamara Edwards; Shayna Graham; Melissa McFadden; Nicole Pirillo; Rivers.
Women’s soccer: Kaylee Boulley; Ashley Bruzzese;; Shannon Halliday; Kandis Klipnich; Renee LaFrance; Langendoen.
Women’s basketball: Baker; Courtney Kilyk; Kaitlyn Mahu; Kim Shepard.
Men’s volleyball: Elijah Bugiardini; Ashton Fehr; Benjamin Fillmore; Dale VandenDool; Jacob Williamson; Robert Zalewski.
Men’s soccer: Latham; Anu Makinwa; Sam Robson; Eric Woodland.
Cross country: Dania Aljeilani; Nicholas Goffredo; Martin; Zachery Vanderkolk; Jennifer Winger.
Curling: Boyce; Chelsea Brandwood; David Cressman.
Golf: Lammerant.
NIAGARA’S TOP FEMALE
Port Colborne native Samantha Macsai was named Niagara College’s female athlete of the week.
The pesky defender played a significant role as the women’s soccer team won its first two games of the season.
The third-year player from Lakeshore Catholic graduate was all over the field to prevent any significant chances for the St. Clair Saints or Lambton Lions.
“Sam brought her A game this weekend,” head coach Rob Lalama said. “Despite the very hot temperatures, she ran miles through the weekend and has been able to bring her game to a completely new level this season.”
Kara Latham of Welland and Sophia Al-Kayed of St. Catharines scored in a 2-0 win over St Clair while rookies Madison Crowe-O’Brien and Katelyn Mix netted goals in a 2-0 win over Lambton.
Alexis Hebert recorded both victories in goal, making eight saves against the Saints and three against the Lions.
“We are so proud of the team,” Lalama said. “It was a tough weekend; the ladies worked hard dealing with a long road trip and very hot temperatures. We get an off day [on Monday] and then we will begin to prepare for Fanshawe.”
Niagara’s women host the Fanshawe Falcons (3-0) Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. at Youngs Sportsplex.
NIAGARA’S BEST MAN
Earning Niagara College’s male athlete of the week honours was soccer player Temi Makina from Brampton.
After missing the first game of the season, Makinwa played every minute of Niagara’s two games last week, proving to be a disruptive influence on the field and playing intelligently on both sides of the ball.
“Having Temi in the lineup gives us many options in the configuration of our starting 11,” head coach Frank DeChellis said. “His commitment to off-season training in the weight room and on the track paid off this weekend as he didn’t lose a step throughout either match.”
Makinwa was feeling the pressure to play well in his debut.
“Coming into this weekend, I felt like I had something to prove,” he said. “However, we had good communication across the backline which made my job easier during both games.”
Port Colborne’s Dean Miller scored for Niagara in a 1-0 shutout of St. Clair and Romario James notched the shutout.
Governor Simcoe grad Oti Frigole netted his third and fourth goals of the season in a 4-2 win over Lambton and Welland’s Noah DiEgidio and Zach DeWeerd also scored. Nolan Bradshaw of Niagara Falls picked up the win in goal.
“I was so happy for the players,” DeChellis said. “Despite a sweep for the men and women in Windsor on Saturday, the bus ride to Sarnia on Saturday night was very quiet as everybody was whipped.
“You always worry about that Sunday game on these trips. Finding a way to play and win is a great team building exercise because every player you have is part of the equation.”
Niagara’s men (3-0) host Fanshawe Falcons (2-0-1) on Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. at Youngs Sportsplex.
NIAGARA GOLF
Niagara’s men’s golf team placed third at the Fanshawe Invitational.
Coverage of the Niagara Knights is made possible with the support of the Niagara College Department of Athletics & Recreation. For more information, please visit www.goknights.ca.
