CAMBRIDGE, Mass - Two America East men's soccer teams in desperate need of wins to turn their seasons around got clutch performances from two players, who earned the conference's weekly award winners for the week ending Oct. 15 as a result. The award winners were announced Monday morning.
Pete Caringi III had an eight-point performance to deliver UMBC its first conference win of the season and was named Player of the Week, while Albany's Kit Alexieff scored his first two collegiate goals in a pair of Albany wins to earn Rookie of the Week honors.
Caringi (Perry Hall, Md.) racked up four goals and two assists in leading the Retrievers to a 1-1 week and picked up his second Player of the Week award (Sept. 4). After scoring once in a 2-1 loss to Albany Wednesday, the junior forward exploded for three goals and two assists in UMBC's 5-1 win over Boston U. Saturday, its first conference victory of the year. Caringi's three scores all came during a 13-minute stretch in the second half. The eight-point game was the first by an America East player since Stony Brook's Chris Megaloudis accomplished the feat on Sept. 11, 2005 and first in a conference game since Vermont's Matt Chavez had eight on Oct. 4, 2003 against Boston U. Caringi was also named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.
Alexieff (West Nyack, N.Y.) picked the ideal time to score his first two goals of the year, both game winners, in Albany's wins over UMBC and New Hampshire last week. The freshman forward put his team ahead with his goal in the 82nd minute of the Great Danes' 2-1 win over UMBC Wednesday, which snapped the team's eight game losing skid. He then provided the game winner again just four days later, scoring in the 72nd minute of a 3-1 win over UNH on Sunday. The two victories propelled the Great Danes from last place in the conference standings to tied for third in less than a week.
Elsewhere last week, Vermont (3-0-1 AE, 10 pts.) went 1-0-1 behind the play of junior goalkeeper Conor Leland, who recorded two shutouts while making 14 saves, to hold onto sole possession of first place in the America East standings. Stony Brook (3-1-0, 9) sits just one point behind after posting 2-1 victories over Binghamton and Hartford last week. The Bearcats (2-2-0, 6) are tied for third with the Great Danes (2-2-0, 6), one point ahead of Boston U. (1-1-2, 5). UMBC (1-2-1, 4), UNH (1-2-1, 4) and Hartford (0-3-1, 1) round out the conference standings.
Conference play will continue this weekend with Stony Brook hosting UMBC on Friday and Albany visiting Boston U., UNH heading to Vermont and Binghamton hosting Hartford Saturday.
2012 America East Men's Soccer Weekly Award Winners
Aug. 27 - Player of the Week: Scott Kisling (Vermont); Rookie of the Week: Alejandro Fritz (Stony Brook)
Sept. 4 - Player of the Week: Pete Caringi III (UMBC); Rookie of the Week: Anthony Rozzano (Albany)
Sept. 10 - Co-Players of the Week: Travis Worra (New Hampshire), Conor Leland (Vermont); Rookie of the Week: Javoni Simms (Hartford)
Sept. 17 - Player of the Week: Leonardo Fernandes (Stony Brook); Rookie of the Week: Javoni Simms (Hartford)
Sept. 24 - Player of the Week: Milo Kapor (UMBC); Rookie of the Week: Martin Giordano (Stony Brook)
Oct. 1 - Player of the Week: Jake Keegan (Binghamton); Rookie of the Week: Viltsu Tuumi (Hartford)
Oct. 8 - Player of the Week: Joe Losier (Vermont); Rookie of the Week: Carlos Ruiz (Boston U.)
Oct. 15 - Player of the Week: Pete Caringi III (UMBC); Rookie of the Week: Kit Alexieff (Albany)