Three Keene State athletes were recognized by the Little East Conference (LEC) for their performance in the first week of November, earning honors in the first week of their respective seasons.
Sophomore goaltender Ai Chung was recognized as goaltender of the week by the LEC for her performance as the Owl’s netminder in two games against Plymouth State University and Norwich University. Chung amassed 101 saves across the two games. Facing Norwich, Chung made a program record 68 saves, facing 74 shots total for a .919 save percentage. Against Plymouth State, Chung allowed a single goal on 35 shots, giving the Owls room for a 2-1 victory. Chung is 6th in the LEC in save percentage and 7th in goals against average.
Senior Thupten Sherpa, a spectator at one of Chung’s games, has been impressed by her performance. “Wow, she’s really good. She put up a really good fight; she really is awesome,” Sherpa said.
First-year forward Sydney Cassidy was awarded women’s basketball rookie of the week, leading the rookie Owls with 12 points and five boards against Colby-Sawyer. Cassidy followed up with a 17 point game against New England College.
Additionally, Cassidy was the only first-year starter in either of the Owls’ wins. Head Coach Keith Boucher said he thinks Cassidy has a future as a starter for the Owls. “I think [being a starter] is like anything else in life,” said Boucher. “You earn it every day.”
Cassidy reflected on the positive impact that winning her first career award at KSC had. “I mean, coming in as a freshman, it’s hard to find a role. I think it helped,” Cassidy said. “I mean, especially playing all four years in high school, starting all four years, it was nerve-racking [to become a starter].”
Junior guard Brynn Rautiola was awarded women’s basketball player of the week for her performance for the Owls in the first game of their season. Rautiola put up 30 points in the Owls’ runaway 89-65 win against Colby-Sawyer College on Nov. 7. Rautiola also went 11 for 18 from the field. Rautiola followed up with a 32 point game against New England College, firmly taking her place as the LEC’s leading scorer through the first week of play.
Boucher said Rautiola’s work ethic is an important part of her success. “She’s a very good player. She’s always in the gym. The hardest thing you can say to someone like [her] is ‘you’re not working hard enough’.”
Rautiola said getting the award felt good. “Feels really good, really good to see my hard work pay off.”
Frank LeBlanc can be contacted at
fleblanc@kscequinox.com
