Each week during the academic year, the NE10 honors
Athletes of the Week for all of its 24 sponsored sports while they are in season. Faces in the Crowd shines a spotlight on outstanding on-field performances that didn't earn Athlete of the Week recognition, while also highlighting academic or community efforts from student-athletes across the league.
Below are this week's
NE10 Faces in the Crowd.
ALBERT VARGAS
School: SCSU
Sport: Basketball
Position: Guard
Class: Junior
Hometown: New York, N.Y.
In his first game in an Owls’ uniform, Junior Albert Vargas called game, knocking down a buzzer-beating fadeaway jumper to defeat College of Staten Island 82-80. The game winner capped off an 18-point performance for the Monroe transfer.
DAYSHAUN WALTON
School: Adelphi
Sport: Basketball
Position: Guard
Class: Junior
Hometown: Albany, N.Y.
A better shooting night and Walton would have opened the 2024 season with a triple-double. Adelphi's leader dropped 11 rebounds and 10 assists on Molloy this weekend. He finished with just six points, but his assist total is the best in the NE10 this year and will likely hold up as one of the better helper performances through the year.
EMILY MUNAYIRJI
School: Adelphi
Sport: Swimming
Class: Junior
Hometown: Plainview, N.Y.
Munayirji was the high point earner for the Cats, coming away with two top swims and two second place finishes in dual meet action against reigning NE10 champion SCSU. She was first in the 100 backstroke with a sub-60 second time (59.70) which is best in the NE10 and first in the 200 backstroke - her 2:09.68 ranks her seconds in the league. She clocked in at 25.66 in the 50 freestyle for a new personal best, which ranks 10th overall in the league.
JORDAN CLANTON
School: Pace
Sport: Football
Position: Linebacker
Class: Junior
Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y.
Clanton got after the QB in Saturday's one-score loss against Assumption. The junior helped keep Pace in the game, nearly matching his career output in one game, racking up 2.5 sacks. Clanton entered the week with three career sacks and did not appear in a game for the Setters last season.
KAYLEIGH GOODRICH
School: Adelphi
Sport: Soccer
Position: Forward
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Hicksville, N.Y.
Goodrich has put together one of the best seasons in the NE10 this year and, most recently, has kept the season going for Adelphi. Goodrich scored both the first and last goal in the NE10 Quarterfinals, the latter coming in overtime to push the Panthers forward in the tournament.
MARINA CALLAHAN
School: Assumption
Sport: Basketball
Position: Forward
Class: Senior
Hometown: Burlington, Mass.
Callahan's teammate, Molly Stokes, was named NE10 Player of the Week to open the season. Without Stokes, that award may very well have gone to Callahan. The senior dropped 29 points on Daeman in addition to 10 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals. It's not hyperbole to think Callahan goes on to be an all-conference performer and still not play a better statistical game this year.
RASHON BRADFORD
School: Bentley
Sport: Football
Position: Wide Receiver
Class: Senior
Hometown: Rahway, N.J.
A victim of his quarterback having Player of the Week performances that keep Bradford himself from winning the award, the wideout hauled in 10 catches for 117 yards and two scores. Bradford leads the NE10 by 18 receptions this season and is 75 yards away from 100 yards. His 11 touchdowns are tied with Post's Josh Tracey to lead the league.
RAY PORTER
School: AIC
Sport: Basketball
Position: Center
Class: Senior
Hometown: Scotia, N.Y.
Porter put together an incredible statline in a sweep at D'Youville and Saint Thomas Aquinas, grabbing 16 rebounds both nights and blocking eight shots. She leads the entire NE10 - men and women - in blocks and rebounds and is the only player to already have 30 boards. Proving she's more than just a defender, six of her rebounds both games were on the offensive glass, and she narrowly missed a triple double in the win at STAC with 10 points, 16 rebounds, and seven blocks.
SABIRA AHAYEVA
School: New Haven
Sport: Basketball
Position: Guard
Class: Senior
Hometown: Minsk, Bellarus
The senior did not score a point in the first two games of the season, but that didn't mean she didn't have an impact. Against Wilmington on Friday, Ahayeva dished out 10 helpers and added eight steals on the defensive side. Both were league-bests last week.
SIDIKI KONE
School: AIC
Sport: Football
Position: Running Back
Class: Senior
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.
Kone's return to the lineup has directly been tied to his team's three-game win streak. Saturday against Post the senior rumbled for 167 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 11 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
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