Men's Lacrosse Southern Conference

SoCon Announces February Athletes of the Month

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its February athletes of the month for baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s golf, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, men’s lacrosse, softball, men’s and women’s tennis and wrestling Monday, highlighting excellence among student-athletes during the month.

BASEBALL
Player
Trey York, ETSU, Jr., 2B
ETSU second baseman Trey York hit .500 in February, scoring 11 runs and driving in 10 in seven games as the Bucs went 5-2. York hit safely in all seven games, turning in five multi-hit contests, with seven of his 11 hits going for extra bases. The Knoxville, Tenn., native opened the season with three home runs in the Bucs’ first two games, driving in six runs on the weekend en route to earning SoCon Player of the Week and Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week honors. York had three hits and tied his career high of four RBIs in ETSU’s second game of the season, against Eastern Kentucky, and became the sixth player in program history with two triples in a game when he hit a pair against USC Upstate on Feb. 22. York also had a pair of hits against UNC Asheville the day prior and collected three in a doubleheader split against Butler on Feb. 28, including a pair of doubles in a game-one win. York, who was named the SoCon Player of the Week after the Butler series, scored multiple runs in four contests in February. He slugged 1.077 and had an on-base percentage of .536.

Others nominated: Connor Walsh (The Citadel), Kyle Lewis (Mercer), Heath Quinn (Samford), Bradley Strong (Western Carolina) and James Plaisted (Wofford).

Pitcher
Will Stillman, Wofford, Jr., RHP
Wofford closer Will Stillman was 5-for-5 in save opportunities in February, compiling a 1.69 ERA as Wofford went 8-3 in the month. The junior from Charlotte, N.C., allowed just one run and one hit in the month, both coming in 1 1/3 innings of work in a save over Boston College on opening day. Four scoreless appearances followed, as Stillman picked up saves over Dayton, Presbyterian, Pittsburgh – his second over an ACC school – and UNC Asheville. Stillman struck out at least one batter in each appearance, including all three that he faced in a perfect ninth against Dayton. For the month, Stillman struck out eight and walked three (one intentionally), holding opposing batters to just a .059 batting average.

Others nominated: Skylar Hunter (The Citadel), Jimmy Nesselt (ETSU), Ryan Askew (Mercer), Parker Curry (Samford) and B.J. Nobles (Western Carolina).

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Casey Jones, Chattanooga, Jr., G
Chattanooga guard Casey Jones repeated as player of the month after averaging 15.0 points and 8.1 rebounds in eight February games, helping the Mocs to a 7-1 record. Jones scored in double figures seven times, highlighted by his 23-point, eight-rebound performance in a win over league-leading Wofford on Feb. 12. He had perhaps his most complete game of the month two days later, with 20 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots in a win over Samford and earned SoCon Player of the Week honors after those consecutive performances. Jones, a junior from New Orleans, La., added another double-double in a double-overtime win over VMI on Feb. 26, scoring 17 points and pulling down 10 rebounds and adding three blocked shots. He just missed two other double-doubles, scoring 14 points with nine rebounds at Furman and scoring 12 points with nine boards at UNCG. Jones also went for 17 and seven in a win over ETSU.

Other nominees: Ashton Moore (The Citadel), Jalen Riley (ETSU), Darious Moten (Mercer), R.J. White (UNCG), Tyler Hood (Samford), James Sinclair (Western Carolina) and Karl Cochran (Wofford).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Precious Bridges, Mercer, Sr., G
Mercer guard Precious Bridges earned an unprecedented fourth straight monthly honor after averaging a league-best 19.5 points per game and 3.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per contest. In doing so, she became the first player to earn four consecutive monthly honors in women’s basketball, surpassing Chattanooga’s Alex Anderson, who did it three straight times twice. Bridges scored in double figures in all eight of Mercer’s contests during the month, helping the Bears to a 6-2 mark. The senior from West Palm Beach, Fla., topped 20 points four times, including scoring 33 with seven rebounds in a win over UNCG on Feb. 7. Bridges opened her month with 24 points in a win over Samford and had 22 with five assists in an overtime victory at Furman. She scored 19 in Mercer’s 56-51 loss to league champion Chattanooga and closed her month with 21 points and a season-high-tying eight assists in another win over Samford. Bridges had at least one steal in each game, averaging 1.9 per contest, and played 38.5 minutes per game.

Other nominees: Serena Clark (ETSU), Jasmine Joyner (Chattanooga), Hannah Nichols (Samford) and Justin Taylor (Western Carolina).

WOMEN’S GOLF
Taylor Totland, Furman, So.
Furman sophomore Taylor Totland tied for first at the Florida State Match-up in her lone tournament in February, finishing atop the 66-player field that featured eight players ranked in the top 50 nationally. Totland shot a 2-under 214 for the  tournament, opening with a 1-over 73 before recording a 2-under 70 in the second round and finishing with a 1-under 71 in round three. She lost a playoff for medalist honors when Texas A&M’s Bianca Fabrizio sank a 40-foot birdie on the second playoff hole. Totland’s first-place finish also helped the Paladins claim first in the 12-team tournament, which featured seven teams in the top 50 and four in the top 25. Her 71 in the final round was part of Furman’s school-record round of 281, which vaulted the Paladins from fourth in the team standings to first on the final day. Totland earned the initial SoCon Player of the Week honor of the season for her performance.

Other nominees: Sydney Needham (Samford) and Mariah Hopkins (Western Carolina).

MEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Track
Tripp Hurt, Furman, Sr.
Furman senior Tripp Hurt led the men with 20 points to claim the Most Outstanding Men’s Performer award at the SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 27-28. Hurt was also named Most Outstanding Men’s Track Performer by the league’s coaches. The Bogart, Ga., native won both the 3,000-meter run (8:29.31) and 5,000-meter run (14:18.23) and was the only male athlete to win two individual events at the SoCon Championships. Hurt’s 5,000m time was the second-best in the SoCon this indoor season.

Field
Jared Johnson, Western Carolina, Jr.
Western Carolina’s Jared Johnson was selected as the Most Outstanding Men’s Field Performer by the league’s coaches. Johnson won the weight throw with toss of 18.64 meters – the best mark in the SoCon this season – and finished second in the shot put to total 18 points at the SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championships on the final two days of February. The Fayetteville, Ga., native also finished second in the shot put at the Samford Invitational on Feb. 13 with a throw of 18.34 meters.

WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Track
Allie Buchalski, Furman, So.
Furman sophomore Allie Buchalski earned 26 points to garner Most Outstanding Women’s Performer honors at the SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Ala. to end the month. Buchalski was also named the SoCon’s Most Outstanding Track Performer by league’s coaches. The Johns Creek, Ga., native won the mile run with a time of 4:58.17 and finished second in both the 3,000-meter run (9:45.21) and the 5,000-meter run (17:08.87). Buchalski also briefly held a school record in February, turning in a time of 9:32.47 in the 3,000m at the Iowa State Classic to break teammate Sinead Haughey’s mark. Haughey reclaimed her school record at the SoCon Championships.

Field
Xaviera Bass, Western Carolina, Sr.
Western Carolina senior Xaviera Bass also earned 26 points to garner Most Outstanding Women’s Performer honors at the SoCon Indoor Championships on the final weekend of February. Bass was also named Most Outstanding Field Performer by the league’s coaches at the conference meet. Bass won the high jump with leap of 1.69 meters, the second-best mark in the SoCon this season. The Nashville, N.C., native finished second in the 60m hurdles (8.50 seconds) and also placed in the top eight in the long jump (fifth, 5.47m), triple jump (sixth, 10.94m) and 60-meter dash (t-seventh, 7.84 seconds) at the two-day event.

MEN’S LACROSSE
Offense
Matt Thistle, High Point, Jr., Attack
High Point attackman Matt Thistle notched 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points in six February games, helping High Point to a 3-3 mark. Thistle scored at least two points in each contest, opening the season with a seven-point outing (five goals, two assists) in a win over Delaware. The junior from Chelmsford, Mass., had four assists in the Panthers’ 16-13 loss to No. 3 Duke on Feb. 7 and notched two goals and two assists in a loss at No. 6 North Carolina. After recording two assists in HPU’s narrow, 12-11 loss at Saint Joseph’s, Thistle turned in two goals and two assists in a 13-5 win over Sacred Heart. He capped his month with three goals and an assist in High Point’s comeback win over Robert Morris on Feb. 28. For the month, Thistle led the SoCon with 4.17 points per game and 2.17 assists per game. He also scooped up 10 ground balls.

Other nominees: Austin Shanks (Bellarmine), Kenny Meinsen (Furman) and Chase McIntyre (Jacksonville).

Defense
Reilly McDermott, Furman, Jr., GK
Furman freshman goalkeeper Reilly McDermott allowed 41 goals in five February appearances, good for a goals-against average of 9.40, the second-best mark in the league in the month. McDermott recorded 45 total saves, including reaching double digits in three contests. The rookie from Washaw, N.C., had 12 saves in a 14-11 loss to No. 16 Lehigh on Feb. 14 and followed that up with 10 in a 9-8, overtime win over Canisius. Against No. 1 Denver on Feb. 22, McDermott allowed just 10 goals, the fewest the top-ranked Pioneers have scored this season, and had a season-best 13 saves. McDermott allowed just six goals with six saves against Air Force on Feb. 28 but was saddled with the loss as the Paladins matched their season low with four goals scored. McDermott, who assumed starting duties after coming on as a reserve against No. 6 North Carolina in the season-opener, posted a .523 save percentage in February, the third-best mark in the league.

Other nominees: Colin Hart (Bellarmine), Pat Farrell (High Point) and Sam Rosengarden (Jacksonville).

SOFTBALL
Player
Sam Taylor, Chattanooga, Jr., OF
Chattanooga junior outfielder Sam Taylor hit .449 with a league-leading eight doubles, a triple, a home run, seven RBIs and 15 runs scored in 15 February games, helping the Mocs to an 11-4 record. Taylor hit safely in 13 of those contests, including six multi-hit performances. She began and finished the month on six-game hitting streaks, wrapping up the first by going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored against UMass Lowell on Feb. 13. Taylor went 12-for-20 (.600) in the second streak, starting with a 3-for-4, two-RBI performance in a win over Arkansas on Feb. 15. In going 5-0 at the South Alabama Invitational from Feb. 20-22, Taylor posted three multi-hit games, collecting two each against Ball State and Sam Houston and going 3-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored against Jacksonville. The Ringgold, Ga., native also had a hit and a sacrifice in UTC’s 3-1 win over No. 22 South Alabama.

Others nominated: Taylor Miller (Mercer).

Pitcher
Taylor Deason, Chattanooga, Sr., RHP
Chattanooga senior right-hander Taylor Deason went 6-2 with a 1.54 ERA in 10 February appearances for the Mocs. In her first appearances of the season, Deason worked 6 1/3 scoreless innings against George Washington on Feb. 6, striking out seven and allowing just two hits. She followed that up with a complete game shutout against Appalachian State the next day, striking out nine and not walking a batter, allowing five hits. Deason struck out a season-high 10 in a loss to UMass Lowell on Feb. 13 and followed that up with a complete-game shutout against Cleveland State the next day, allowing just three hits and striking out eight. That started a streak of four straight wins, as she collected victories against Arkansas, Ball State and Jacksonville in succession.  Deason, a native of Clarksville, Tenn., allowed just six extra-base hits in 50 innings in February, striking out 57 against 24 walks.

Others nominated: Kirsten Stevens (Mercer)

MEN’S TENNIS
Haris Poric, Wofford, So.
Wofford sophomore Haris Poric went a combined 8-1 in February, going 4-1 at No. 2 singles and 4-0 at No. 1 doubles. The Sydney, Australia, native’s biggest win came against No. 83 Andrew Schafer of No. 23 South Carolina on Feb. 8, as Poric claimed a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 singles win. Poric picked up straight-sets wins over opponents from Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina, with his win over App’s Zach Bost proving crucial to the Terriers’ 4-3 victory after Wofford lost the doubles point. Paired with Rob Galloway in doubles, Poric was unblemished on the month, grabbing wins over the top duos from Appalachian State, Gardner-Webb, Coastal Carolina and NJIT. Poric and Galloway were tied with South Carolina’s 46th-ranked No. 1 duo when that match was abandoned and trailed Clemson’s 60th-ranked tandem just 4-3 when that doubles point was clinched.

Other nominees: Cameron Green (Furman), Jake Faundez (Samford) and Nic Wilson (Chattanooga).

WOMEN’S TENNIS
Carita Moolman, Samford, Jr.
Samford junior Carita Moolman went a combined 9-1 in February, going 4-1 in singles play and 5-0 at No. 1 doubles. In singles play, the Aranos, Namibia, native started out at No. 6 and won in straight sets against UAB’s Paula Castro. Moolman moved up to No. 5 after that, topping Jacksonville State’s Danielle Kerindi in straight sets and moving up another spot in the lineup. Moolman stayed at No. 4 for the rest of February, winning her next two bouts in straight sets, including against her opponent from No. 71 Mississippi State, before falling in a grueling 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (5-7) decision to Guilia Squadrain of Middle Tennessee for her lone loss of the month. In doubles play, Moolman teamed with Stephanie N’tcha to go undefeated in the month, highlighted by the duo’s 6-2 demolition of No. 7 Emily Flickinger and Pleun Burgmans of No. 28 Auburn. Moolman and N’tcha, who jumped into the national rankings at No. 57 after that triumph, also downed the top duos from UAB, Jacksonville State, Lamar and Middle Tennessee in February.

Other nominees: Jessica Brumit (ETSU), Ansley Speaks (Furman) and Claire Mulyadi (Chattanooga).

WRESTLING
Sean Boyle, Chattanooga, R-Sr., 125 pounds
Sixth-year senior Sean Boyle of Chattanooga went 4-0 at 125 pounds in February, highlighted by his win over No. 5 Thomas Gilman of Iowa on Feb. 21. Boyle used a takedown 35 seconds into overtime for the 3-1 win over Gilman as the Mocs took on the then-undefeated and No. 1 team in the nation in the NWCA National Duals. Boyle earned a 9-3 win over Oklahoma’s Ryan Mulhof on Feb. 15 in Chattanooga’s 19-16 upset win in the first round of the NWCA National Duals. Boyle, from Lowell, Mass., also claimed a pair of SoCon road wins in February, taking a 9-6 decision over Appalachian State’s Dominic Parisi on Feb. 7 and rolling to a 17-1 technical fall over SIUE’s Nathan Day on Feb. 22. Boyle, ranked No. 8 in the nation at 125, was named the SoCon Wrestler of the Week on Feb. 25. He helped Chattanooga wrap up its third straight undefeated SoCon slate and regular-season title.

Other nominees: Nick Kee (Appalachian State), Matt Frisch (The Citadel), Scott Patrick (Davidson), Ryan Mosley (Gardner-Webb), Angelo Silvestro (SIUE) and Juan Adams (VMI).

Southern Conference February Athletes of the Month
Baseball – player                            Trey York, ETSU
Baseball – pitcher                           Will Stillman, Wofford
Men’s basketball                            Casey Jones, Chattanooga
Women’s basketball                       Precious Bridges, Mercer
Women’s golf                                 Taylor Totland, Furman
Men’s indoor track and field – track    Tripp Hurt, Furman
Men’s indoor track and field – field    Jared Johnson, Western Carolina
Women’s indoor track and field – track    Allie Buchalski, Furman
Women’s indoor track and field – field    Xaviera Bass, Western Carolina
Men’s lacrosse – offense                  Matt Thistle, High Point
Men’s lacrosse – defense                 Reilly McDermott, Furman
Softball – player                               Sam Taylor, Chattanooga
Softball – pitcher                              Taylor Deason, Chattanooga
Men’s tennis                                    Haris Poric, Wofford
Women’s tennis                               Carita Moolman, Samford
Wrestling                                         Sean Boyle, Chattanooga

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