College Field Hockey
Rider's Penas NEC Co-Player of the Week
SOMERSET--Junior Sandra Penas (Barcelona, Spain) of the Rider University field hockey team, was named the Northeast Conference Co-Player of the Week, it was announced Monday afternoon.
Penas, along with Michelle Pieczynski (Monmouth) were honored for all games played October 15-21.
The NEC Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore after earning NEC Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman, Penas had three goals this past week as Rider (11-5, 4-1 NEC) posted wins over Siena College and Bryant University.
"Sandra continues to be an offensive threat each time she has the ball on her stick," said head coach Lori Hussong. "Her ability to work her way into the opponent's circle is important to our offensive production."
The junior forward rattled the cage in the ninth minute against Siena, sending the Broncs on their way to a 3-0 lead in the eventual 3-1 triumph on October 19.
On Sunday, Penas single-handedly staked Rider to a 2-0 advantage against Bryant before the game was even eight minutes old. Penas tipped one past the Bulldogs' keeper off a corner play in the sixth minute and added a second tally only 1:32 later in the 4-2 win as Rider clinched a playoff berth for the 13th straight season.
"Sandra has been playing with intensity and determination," Hussong added. "She has done this even though she is being double-teamed most of the time."
This is the third time this season that Penas has earned NEC Player of the Week honors, having been recognized on September 17 and October 1.
Penas is 16th nationally in goals (0.81 per game) and 18th in the nation averaging 2.00 points per game.
Penas leads the NEC in points (32) and is second in the conference with 13 goals.
Penas is now sixth on Rider's all-time scoring list with 116 points (47g, 22a).
Winners of 22 of 23 games at Ben Cohen Field on the Lawrenceville campus, Rider completes the regular season with two NEC home games against first place Saint Francis (Pa.) October 26 (7pm) and Monmouth on October 28 at 3pm. The Red Flash enter the game 5-0 in the NEC with the Hawks tied with Rider for second place at 4-1.
Rider will honor its four graduating seniors, Jackie Adams (Medford Lakes/Shawnee), Gabby Burgo (Collingswood), Ellie LaBar (Oaklyn/Collingswood) and Marlaine Schneider (Feasterville, Pa./Neshaminy) prior to the Monmouth game on Sunday.
The conference regular season champion will host the playoffs November 2-3.
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