Fall Conference Award Winners Recognized
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College Athletic Department recognized athletes given fall honors by the New England Collegiate Conference during halftime of the women's basketball game Thursday night at the Yarnall Athletic Center.
16 athletes and one coach across six different sports received conference honors; Olivia DeLocach, Claire Binfield and Julia Lent for women's volleyball, Madison Nicynski, Mariah Travisano, Gemma Landry, and Isabella Avalos for women's soccer, Nick Ghirardi, Dylan Lucey, and Jeremy Gibbs for men's soccer, Shamus McLean for men's golf, Albert Franck, Collin Rider, Liam Rob, and Tim Strong for men's cross country, and Abigail Rasmussen and Katelyn Lipsky for women's cross country.
DeLoach, a senior from Spring Hill, Fla., was one of eight players selected to the NECC women's volleyball all-conference team, and anchored the Mariners attack, tallying 216 kills and 3.04 kills per set, second in the NECC in both categories. Earlier this season she recorded her 500th career kill and will end her career second all-time in total kills in Mitchell program history.
Binfield, a senior from Las Vegas N.V., was also one of eight players selected to the NECC women's all-conference team. She was third in the conference in assists per set and finished the regular season with 513 assists, tops in the NECC. She handed out the 1,000th assist of her Mariner career in a win over Regis College this fall, and finishes her career in second place on the Mitchell all-time assist list. Binfield also represented Mitchell on the Del Malloy Sportsmanship Team.
Lent, a freshman libero from Miller Place, N.Y., was an all-conference selection and shared Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors, becoming the first player in program history to claim a conference major award. She paced the Mariners with 261 digs, averaging 3.73 digs per set and finished the regular season second in the conference in both statistical categories.
Nicynski, a senior from Warwick, R.I., was an All-NECC selection and was also named NECC Defensive Player of the Year, the first time in the history of the conference that a Mitchell player has earned that major award. She started in all 16 games and anchored a defense which led the league with a 1.44 goals against average.
Travisano, a senior from Putnam, Conn, was a staple at the midfield all season long and was an all-conference selection for her efforts. She started all 16 games, scoring two goals for four points for the Mariners, who posted a 5-8-4 record on the season.
Landry, a sophomore from Lewiston, ME., established herself as the top goalkeeper in the NECC, earning all-conference honors by finishing with 158 saves while posting a conference best 1.50 goals against average. Her 158 saves were 32 saves more than second place, and she finished with double digit saves in eight games this fall.
Avalos, a sophomore from Chino, Calif., missed much of the year with an injury but represented Mitchell on the Del Malloy Sportsmanship Team.
Ghirardi, a senior from Salem, Conn, was one of 12 players - and only three defenders - who received first team all-conference recognition, the second time he has earned the distinction in his career. This season Ghirardi started in all 16 games, registering two goals and three assists for seven points.
Lucey, a sophomore from Lebanon, Conn., received first team All-NECC honors for the first time in his collegiate career after starting all 16 games during the regular season and leading the Mariners with seven goals.
Gibbs, a freshman from Waterford, Conn., represented Mitchell on the Del Malloy Sportsmanship Team. The rookie defenseman appeared in 13 games, making eight starts, and recorded two goals to go along with one assist.
McLean, a senior from Groton, Conn., competed in all eight regular season meets for the Mariners, earning medalist honors four times. At the MASCAC Championship in October, the junior finished tied for fifth overall, earning a spot on the All-MASCAC First Team. On the second day of the event, McLean shot a 71, good for the low round of the two-day tournament.
Franck, a freshman from Norwich, Conn., finished first overall with a time of 18:45 at the New England Collegiate Conference championship, leading Mitchell to the first conference title in program history. He subsequently was named 2022 NECC Runner and Rookie of the Year for his efforts.
Rider, a sophomore from Norwich, Conn., finished fifth at the New England Collegiate Conference championship with a time of 20:24, helping the Mariners earn their first ever conference title. He earned NECC All-Conference honors and also representing Mitchell on the Del Malloy Sportsmanship Team.
Robb, a sophomore from Westfield, N.J., also finished in the top seven at the New England Collegiate Conference championship with a time of 20:56, helping lead the Mariners to their first ever conference title as a program. He was named NECC All-Conference for his performance.
Additionally, Tim Strong, head coach for Mitchell College cross country, was named NECC Coach of the Year after leading the men's team to the first conference title in program history.
Rasmussen, a junior from Montville, Conn., had a strong season, notching a pair of third place finishes, and capping things off with a second place finish at the NECC Championship, earning All-Conference Honors for her performance while leading Mitchell to a runner-up finish.
Lipsky, a junior from Plantsville, Conn., represented the Mariners with a spot on the Del Malloy Sportsmanship Team.
