Male Athlete of the Week - Austin MacDonell
Austin MacDonell of the Niagara College men’s soccer program has been selected as this week’s male athlete of the week. MacDonell was outstanding for the Knights last week recording four goals in two matches including the game winning goal in the 117th minute of the Knights 2-1 double-overtime victory over the St. Clair Saints.
The first-year forward and Pickering, Ontario native has enjoyed an outstanding 2013 season for the Knights. The Fitness and Health Promotion student has recorded five goals in eight matches, and has also served as a key setup man for the team combining with teammates Jordi Amores and Carlos Williams to form the driving forces behind the Knights offense in 2013.
Knights head coach Frank DeChellis commented “Austin has been working hard at his own game and in combining with others. His biggest improvement is putting bad plays behind him and looking to the next opportunity. He's learned to smile while he's playing and enjoying himself during games.”
MacDonell leads the team with three game winning goals this season and is the current OCAA Men’s Soccer athlete of the week.
Female Athlete of the Week - Kaitlyn McPherson
Kaitlyn McPherson of the Niagara College women’s basketball program has been named this week’s female athlete of the week. McPherson was outstanding during the Knights’ October 9th exhibition victory over the Centennial Colts recording 26 points and nine rebounds.
The five-foot-10 forward is one of the Knights three returning players from the 2012-13 season. The third-year Welland native is a graduate of Confederation and is enrolled in the Niagara College Early Childhood Education program.
During the Knights victory over Centennial, McPherson was an offensive catalyst shooting an impressive 75% in the contest.
The Knights are off to an impressive 2-0 start in the pre-season and Niagara College women’s basketball head coach Mike Becarria commented “Kaitlyn has been playing at a very high level, she has worked very hard and has really flourished in the up tempo style of play that we have adopted.”
McPherson and the rest of the Niagara College women’s basketball program will continue their 2013 preseason when the team visits the Durham Lords on October 16th. The Knights will tipoff their 2013-14 regular season on Saturday, October 26th when the team hosts the Sault College Cougars at 6:00pm.
