Nicholas, Riley named NFHCA Division III National Players of the Week

Nov 10, 2021 | 2021-2022, Division III, News

2021 NFHCA Division III National Players of the Week Cassidy Riley from Babson and Erin Nicholas from Middlebury

BROCKPORT, N.Y. — Senior goalkeeper from No. 3 Babson College, Cassidy Riley, and senior midfielder from No. 1 Middlebury College, Erin Nicholas, have been named this week’s NFHCA Division III Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week, respectively. The postseason performance of Ohio Wesleyan University’s sophomore midfielder/forward, Allie Crawford, merited an honorable mention.

NFHCA Division III Defensive Player of the Week

 

Cassidy Riley, No. 3 Babson College, Sr., Goalkeeper (Niantic, Connecticut)

  • Recorded back-to-back shutouts in No. 3 Babson College’s NEWMAC Tournament Championship run last weekend
  • Stopped the only shot faced in a 5-0 semifinal victory over Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Matched her season high with eight saves, including six in the second half, as the Beavers edged MIT 1-0 in the final to capture their first conference tournament title since 2016
  • Named NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player

NFHCA Division III Offensive Player of the Week

 

Erin Nicholas, No. 1 Middlebury College, Sr., Midfielder (Scarsdale, New York)

  • Scored a hat trick in No. 1 Middlebury’s 4-3 come-from-behind victory over No. 5 Bowdoin College in the NESCAC title game, earning Middlebury their fourth-consecutive NESCAC championship
  • Netted two goals to close the Panther’s 3-0 first-half deficit
  • Recorded the game-winning goal with under 10 minutes remaining in regulation for her conference-leading 22nd tally to complete the hat trick
  • Named NESCAC Player of the Week

Honorable Mention

 

Allie Crawford, Ohio Wesleyan University, So., Midfielder/Forward (West Hartford, Connecticut)

  • Scored two game-winning goals in Ohio Wesleyan’s first-ever North Coast Athletic Conference tournament title
  • Recorded the game-winning goal in OWU’s 1-0 win over top-seeded Kenyon in the tournament semifinal, making the Bishops the first No. 4 seed in the NCAC history to advance to the championship
  • Netted the game-winner just 33 seconds into overtime in the NCAC title game against Denison to give Ohio Wesleyan the 2-1 win
  • With the two wins, Ohio Wesleyan will be making its first NCAA Division III tournament appearance since 1995
  • Named to the All-NCAC tournament team

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a nonprofit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to champion, strengthen, and celebrate field hockey coaches and the game. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.