Castellanos, Skonieczny, and Barbero Claim Weekly Awards

9/26/2011 8:14:00 PM

MAAC Sports

Offensive Player of the Week

Franklin Castellanos, Iona College

So., Midfielder, 5-6, 150, Dover, NJ/Dover

Castellanos quietly led Iona in a 2-0 week, recording three points in the Gaels' wins over Adelphi and Saint Joseph's. The 5'6" midfielder assisted on the game-winning goal against the Panthers for his sixth assist of the season. Castellanos put Iona on the scoreboard in the following game against the Hawks, earning his fourth career goal in the eighth minute.

Defensive Player of the Week

Steve Skonieczny, Marist College

Gr., Goalkeeper, 6-0, 185, LaGrangeville, N.Y./Arlington

In Marist's two road games this past week, at Fordham on Wednesday, Sept. 21 and Hartford on Saturday, Sept. 24, Skonieczny played a key role in allowing the Red Foxes to earn overtime ties in both contests. In the team's 0-0 double overtime tie versus Fordham, Skonieczny made five saves, including a huge stop in the 105^th minute to preserve the clean sheet and record his third shutout of 2011. In Saturday's contest at Hartford, Skonieczny backstopped the Red Foxes through another 110 minutes of action. Down the stretch in regulation, he made two saves in less than five minutes from 82:28 to 87:02. His sixth and final save was in the first overtime period as he stonewalled a Hartford shot in the 95^th minute. For the weekend, Skonieczny finished with 11 saves, a .917 save percentage, a 0.41 goals against average and two ties.

Rookie of the Week

Borja Barbero, Iona College

Fr., Goalkeeper, 6-2, 181, Valladolid, Spain/Apostolado

Barbero added career victories six and seven in Iona's 2-0 week.  The Spanish goalkeeper totaled six saves with just one goal allowed over 180 minutes. Barbero earned his third shutout of the year with four stops against Adelphi and saved two more in the Gaels' win over Saint Joseph's.