Male Student-Athlete of the Week
Lance Cruz, Niagara, Men’s Swimming & Diving
So. / Philippines, La Salle Green Hills
Lance Cruz has been a two year member of the Purple and White in his first season he was named the MAAC Men's Rookie of the Meet. Cruz this season has won a total of 14 events and 23 podium finishes only being knocked off the podium one time. The Philippines native has won the 200 IM a total of four times, 100 and 200 breast a total of three times.
Female Student-Athlete of the Week
Lydia Melaschenko, Merrimack, Women’s Basketball
So. / Ottawa, ON, Capital Courts Academy
In two games this week, Lydia Melaschenko, averaged 15 ppg and hit eight 3-pointers. Melaschenko led the team with a 22 point performance against Siena last Saturday shooting 6-10 from beyond the arc. This season Melaschenko is averaging 11.5 ppg and has hit a team leading 46 3-pointers. As well Lydia has scored the most points for the Warriors this season with 173. Melaschenko has been just as affective in the classroom, being selected to the presidents list every semester at Merrimack. In 2025, she was selected to the Tau Beta Pi honor society, the most prestigious society for engineering students in the United States. She currently serves as the treasurer for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers at Merrimack College. Along with being apart of the schools honors program (which makes up the top 10% of students), Melaschenko has been a tutor in subjects such as stats, mechanics, calculus, and chemistry. This past semester, Melaschenko's Senior Design robot finished in first and and will be representing Merrimack College at the Framingham VEX V5 Competition MS Push Back next month.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2024-25 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on
Twitter,
Facebook,
Instagram and
Threads or visit
MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.