Several West Chester University athletes have recently been recognized by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference for their performance in their respective sports.
Starting with women’s soccer, Maggie Lena and Hayley McGee were named Athletes of the Week for the week of Oct. 25. Lena, a graduate student who previously played at Marquette University, was recognized as the Offensive Player of the Week as she scored two key goals which proved to be critical in both of the Golden Rams victories on the week. She has a total of 10 points this season with 22 shots on goal, and is one of the team’s leaders on the offensive end. She is not afraid to attack the zone, and she brings a lot of experience to a team that has a lot of youth on the roster. McGee was named Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts, and as the goalkeeper saved 14 shots over two games. She secured her fifth shutout of the campaign in a dominant performance against Millersville on Oct. 23. She has allowed a total of nine goals on the season, and has a save percentage of 87 percent, which shows that she has been very consistent in her play. Both players have been key contributors for the Golden Rams impressive season so far in which they have jumped out to a 10–2–1 start with three games to go before the NCAA tournament.
Staying on the women’s side, Ann Carozza was named Athlete of the Week for her performance in swimming individual and relay events. She won the 200 meter freestyle and butterfly races and helped lead the 200 meter medley relay team to a first place finish as well. Carozza, a senior, has carved out an impressive resume since her arrival at West Chester University, receiving All-American honors twice and reaching nationals in both her seasons at the helm. In 2019, she was named Freshman of the Year and helped lead the Golden Rams to their 13th straight conference title. This is the second consecutive week in which a West Chester athlete was recognized for their swimming performance, as last week Ben Desclous won the honor on the men’s side. Desclous is a freshman who was ranked 20th in the state of Maryland prior to his tenure at West Chester University. He has had a very good season so far and both athletes have represented the swimming program in a positive manner.
Switching over to men’s sports, goalkeeper Daniel Good was recognized for the second straight week as the Defensive Athlete of the Week for soccer. In three games last week, Good allowed a total of four goals (three of which came in a loss against Lock Haven) and helped lead the Golden Rams to two wins on the week, improving their overall record to 8–2–2. He has been dominant in goal this season for West Chester, allowing a total of 10 goals on 138 shots this season.
There are many exceptional athletes participating in college sports at West Chester University, and these are just several of them. The University has had a successful fall sports season so far and with the postseason approaching, these players and many more will look to lead their respective teams to the ultimate goal of winning an NCAA championship.
Erick Klambara is a third-year Media & Culture major with a minor in Journalism. EK924666@wcupa.edu